Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T43

Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T43
The Bottom Line
The Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T43 is an example of a design that is squarely aimed at corporate customers and lacks the features that are standard for a consumer system.

Pros

* Durable Construction
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Dedicated Graphics

Cons

* Limited Expansion
* Small Hard Drive
* No DVD Burner

Description

* Intel Pentium M 725 (1.6GHz) Processor
* 256MB PC2700 DDR Memory
* 40GB 5,400rpm Hard Drive
* 24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
* 14.1" XGA LCD and ATI Mobility 7500 Graphics with 32MB Memory
* AC'97 Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless
* Two USB 2.0 Ports and One Type II PC Card Slot
* 12.2" x 10" x 1" @ 4.9 lbs.
* Windows XP Pro, IBM Access and Norton Anti-Virus

Guide Review - Lenovo IBM ThinkPad T43

5/26/05 – With the final approvals of IBM's computer division sale to Lenovo, the Chinese manufacturer now has a foothold in the US market. For now though, things will remain pretty much as they are with the ThinkPad retaining its name and specifications.

The ThinkPad T43 is powered by the Pentium M 725 (1.6GHz) processor that allows the system to have a very strong battery life but still run programs quickly. It is only matched up with 256MB of PC2700 DDR memory, well below the standard 512MB. This is really the bare minimum that a system needs to run Windows XP Professional.

Storage on the T43 is below average. While the hard drive does have a good 5,400rpm rotational speed, the 40GB of storage space is very limiting. The system also comes with a 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive. DVD burners are pretty much standard on all consumer systems, but corporate customers don't really require this ability.

Graphics are a bit better than average since the system comes with a dedicated ATI Mobility 7500 graphics processor. The problem is that the graphics processor is very dated and does not have the same capabilities as newer models. It lacks DirectX 9 and 8 support. The 14.1” LCD is a bit smaller than usual but still very functional.

The problem with the ThinkPad T43 is that it really is geared towards corporate customers that have different needs from consumers. This makes the T43 less practical for an individual but very desirable for a company.