IBM ThinkPad T42 to Start Selling This Week (Pictures)

Tonight IBM displayed its new ThinkPad T42 at the DigitalFocus event in New York City. The ThinkPad T42 is a notebook that incorporates the new Dothen Pentium M processor and IBM Flexview technology in the 15" display configuration. Representatives said the ThinkPad T42 will show up this week for sale via IBM.com.

IBM climbs to an even number with the release of the T42!

The IBM ThinkPad T42 14.4" version has the exact same shell and form factor as the current IBM ThinkPad T41. The 15" screen version will of course be slightly larger to accomodate the larger screen. The 15-inch screen will use IBM's Flexview technology, which is designed to offer 170-degree viewing in any direction — well-suited for those sales calls on the road when a projector isn't available.

Click for larger image

The new T42 and T42p mark the first time IBM has outfitted its T Series with 15-inch screens. "IBM is committed to providing customers with the best computing experience possible," says Bob Galush, vice president of product marketing. "Customer feedback indicates that a larger screen would be ideal for engineers, students and mobile workers of all kinds. IBM's ThinkPad T42 and T42p notebook computers will offer industry-leading battery life in a thin and light package with a desktop-PC-sized screen."

In addition to a larger screen, the T serieswill includeIntel's new mobile Pentium M processors (model numbers 735, 745 and 755) with 2MB of L2 cache along with the Intel Pentium M 1.5GHz processor with 1MB L2 cache.

The T42p's configuration rivals that of a desk-bound workstation. Along with its large screen, the features include ATI's Mobility FireGL T2 with 128MB memory for graphics, a UXGA screen with 1600 x 1200 resolution, Wi-fi capability — compatible with all 802.11versions (a, b and g) and the ThinkPad Multi-Burner Ultrabay Slim Drive — a 9.5 optical drive that records data, video, music and photos on either CDs or DVDs.

And the battery life? IBM is claiming 6.4 hours, so the T42 should be as road-ready as it is powerful. According to Robert Enochs, worldwide segment manager for ThinkPad T series. "We put a lot of emphasis on battery life, size and weight."

The T42 should be on sale starting midweek from IBM.com.

 

How does the ATI Mobility FireGL T2 with 128MB compare to the ATI Radeon 9700 128MB? I think the FireGL is more streamlined for CAD work right?

I am a software developer (.Net, Delphi etc) that is also an avid gamer. Would the FireGL be a good or bad choice?

I cant seem to find a laptop (other than Dell) that has all the options I want. I like the quality of the IBMs and the keyboard (very important to me), and hate the crap Dell cases.

Would the T42 be a good fit for me?

 

i would say that the IBM T42 is a very good fit for developers that also want a bit of power to play some games...but it certainly won't match the top of the line ATI Radeon 9800 cards still. As a developer in the same line of work as you though, I say it's a green light on this notebook in terms of purchasing and fitting your needs.

 

Thanks for the reply! I am seriously thinking about biting the bullet and getting this laptop! I meant ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, not the desktop card (when I asked how it compared to the FireGL card)

 

what kind of differences are there between the 9600 and firegl t2? If I get this notebook should I go for one over the other?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jaholbro

 

I actually found an answer to my question last nite, thh 9600 and firegl T2 hardware is identicle, except for the extra ram. The drivers for the cards are different, with the 9600 beeing optimized for games and the firegl beeing optimized for buisness apps

 

I have been reading some things that worry me about the 15" flexview screens. Mainly that in action (games) sequences, there is a noticable "ghosting" problem... This worries me, especially with the amount of money I plan on dropping on this.

Check out the T Series forums:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/

 

Yea I've been reading that too, I would like the flexview screen, its a little brighter and stuff but I think I am going to go with the 14" instead