IBM ThinkPad X41 First Thoughts Review (pics, specs)

by Andrew Baxter, New York USA

The IBM ThinkPad X41 notebook is a 12.1" screen ultraportable style machine that follows in the footsteps of last years ThinkPad X40 release. Noteworthy for the X41 is thatit has a 1.50 GHz Pentium M 758 processorthat uses thelatest Intel 915GMchipset. So while most ultraportables on the market sport a 1.10 GHz or 1.20 GHz Pentium M, IBM is able to leverage its design prowess to keep this tiny laptop cool while running a faster processor. Decent speed and performance are two things people generally expect to give up when using an ultraportable, but the X41shows this does not have to be the case.

IBM ThinkPad X41 collapsed out above view (view larger image)

The ThinkPad X41 is built in the same rugged manner as any other X or T series notebook from IBM. Don't let the size of the X41 fool you, it may look cute and small, but once you pick it up and feel the titanium reinforced plasticcase you'll understand this is a device that's been designed to take a beating and not just to look suave. There's just nothing chintzy about this machine; the hinges, keyboard, screen cover, caseand trackpoint buttons all exude physical quality.

IBM X41 Specs and Configuration Options (text in blue indicates review unit configuration when there is a choiceavailable)

• Processor: Intel Pentium M LV 758 (1.50GHz, 90nm technology, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB)
• Wireless: Intel PRO 2200BG or 2915ABG, Bluetooth optional
• OS: Windows XP Home/Pro
• Screen: 12.1" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)
• RAM: 256MB or 512MB/1536MB PC-4200 DDR-2 SDRAM
• Hard Drive: 1.8" 20GB, 30GB, 40GB or60GB @ 4200RPM
• Battery: 2.5 hr (4-cell) 5.7 hr (8-cell) (extended-life battery optionadds 3- 4 hours of life on top of quoted numbers for each respective battery)
• Ports: 2 USB 2.0 (1 IBM Powered USB 2.0), Infrared, expansion bus (for optional ThinkPad X4 Ultra Base Doc); external display; AC adapter; RJ-11 modem port;RJ-45 ethernet port; audio: headphone/line-out, external microphone.
• Slots: 1 PCMCIA card slot, 1 Secure Digital card slot
• Dimensions: 10.5" x 8.3" x 1.06" (w x d x h) (with 8-cell battery it's 10.5" x 9.3" x 1.06")
• Weight: 2.7lb with 4-cell battery, 3.2lb with 8-cell battery
• Expansion: ThinkPad X4 UltraBase dock optional
• Warranty: 3-year

Design& Build /Overview

The X41 is wonderfully light and thin. The X41 is 1.06" inches thin and with the longerlife 8-cell battery I have the X41 weighs 3.2lbs, if you use a 4-cell battery the weight is cut down to 2.7lbs. Even at 3.2lbs it's easy and fun to pick up the X41 and wave it around with one hand, just because you can. Try doing that with a notebook that has a screen over 15" in size. After 2-weeks I still get a kick out of throwing the X41 in my notebook bag and not even noticing it's there, my back thanking me all the while. And all those folks on the subway wonder why I'm smiling.

One thing that is common in ultraportables, but that must be pointed out, is that there is no built in optical drive for the X41, nor has there ever been for the X-series. That's part of the formula for keeping the weight down and the overall package thin. So what happens when you need to load software from a DVD or CD? That's when you'll needan expansion base such as the ThinkPad X4 UltraBase Dock. This dock has a built-in optical drive a bunch of ports, you simply slot the X41 into it when you arrive at the office and away you go. One great option is to have an external monitor and all your favorite accessories hooked up to the base so that when you get to the office or home you slide the X41 into the UltraBase and then start working right away, and while on the road just use the X41 in its raw form factor.

ThinkPad X41 Right-side (view larger image)

ThinkPad X41 Left-side (view larger image)

ThinkPad X41 underneath (view larger image)

If you don't want the expansion base, you can always use a fast network to access drives on other machines to read large amounts of data, but the UltraBase is a highly recommended and virtually necessary accessory option.

IBM ThinkPad X41 UltraBase X4 (view larger image)

Processor and Performance

The X41 provides much better performance than your average ultraportable due to the fact it has a 1.50 GHz Pentium M that uses the latest Intel 915 chipset. Not only is this processor running at a faster clockspeed than the typical 1.1 or 1.2 GHz ultraportable processor, butthe updatedchipset provides superior graphics performance (up to 76%)and better overall calculation performance (about 10%)relative to the older 855 chipset seen in last years Pentium M line and most (if not all other) of today's ultraportables on the market.

We've done a few benchmarks to give a feel for where the X41 stands relative to other laptops in terms of performance.

The program Super Pi is used to get a benchmark of raw processor speed. The Super Pi program simply forces the processor to calculate Pi to a selected number of digits of accuracy. Calculating to 2 million digits is our chosen benchmark:

Comparison of notebooks using Super Pi to calculate Pi to 2 million digits (plugged in):

Notebook	Time to Calculate Pi to 2 Million Digits
IBM ThinkPadX41(1.50 GHzAlviso Pentium M)	2m 02s
IBM ThinkPad T43(1.86 GHzAlviso Pentium M)	1m 45s
Fujitsu LifeBook N3510 (1.73 GHz Alviso Pentium M)	1m 48s
IBM ThinkPad T41 (1.6GHz Banias Pentium M)	2m 23s
Compaq R3000T (Celeron 2.8GHz)	3m 3s
Dell Inspiron 600m(1.6 GHz Dothan Pentium M)	2m 10s
Dell Inspiron 8600 (1.7GHz Banias Pentium M)	2m 28s

So we can see from the numbers above that the processor is able to outpace much larger laptops from just last year. Not bad.

Benchmarks for ThinkPadX41 (integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, 1.50GHz Pentium M, 512MB RAM) compared tothe ThinkPadT43(ATI X300 64MB Graphics Card, 1.86GHzPentium M, 512MB RAM)

[/TD]

Futuremark PCMark04 Scores
	IBM T43 (1.86GHz)	IBM X41 (1.50 GHz)
Multithreaded Test 1 / File Compression	3.33 MB/s	2.66MB/s
Multithreaded Test 1 / File Encryption	27.19 MB/s	21.81 MB/s
Multithreaded Test 2 / File Decompression	23.4 MB/s	19.03MB/s
Multithreaded Test 2 / Image Processing	10.88 MPixels/s	8.65MPixels/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / Virus Scanning	1914.17 MB/s	1349.58MB/s
Multithreaded Test 3 / Grammar Check	2.82 KB/s	2.09 KB/s
File Decryption	54.11 MB/s	43.78 MB/s
Audio Conversion	2496.87 KB/s	2014.01 KB/s
Web Page Rendering	5.27 Pages/s	4.43Pages/s
DivX Video Compression	51.71 FPS	39.19FPS
Physics Calculation and 3D	159.19 FPS	79.59FPS
Graphics Memory - 64 Lines	868.44 FPS	399.62FPS
Futuremark 3DMark05 Scores
3DMark Score	727 3DMarks	1603D Marks
CPU Score	3414 CPUMarks	1598CPUMarks
Gaming Tests
GT1 - Return To Proxycon	3.3 FPS	.6FPS
GT2 - Firefly Forest	2.2 FPS	.5FPS
GT3 - Canyon Flight	3.4 FPS	.9FPS
CPU Tests
CPU Test 1	1.18 FPS	.9FPS
CPU Test 2	2.9 FPS	1.3FPS

So by looking above we see that the PCMark04 numbers show overall performance and processor speed are pretty good and can actually come close to our well performing ThinkPad T43 notebook in some cases. But the graphics performance, as you would expect for an ultraportable, is much left to be desired. Playing any game such as Half Life 2 on a 12.1" screen with no dedicated graphics card is just not recommended anyway, so these graphics performance numbers arejust posted to emphasize this laptop is not meant for games!

Here's a size comparison of the X41 to the T40, the X41 has an 8-cell battery in so it adds an extra 1-inch to the back notice (view larger image)

Perceived performance for using Office applications, browsing the web and using such programs as Visual Studio for programming is very good. I have 12 programs open right now as I type and they all work fine whenever I switch to the program to use its specific utilities. No lag whatsoever. The X41 most certainly is an ultraportable that willenable you to get work done.

The hard drive speed of 4200RPM is often pointed to as being too slow. And the problem with the hard drive size on the X41 (1.8") is that there is no upgrading to a faster hard drive. With extra RAM that will provide less need to hit the hard drive, you'll be able to overcome performance issues, and with the included processor you'll be humming a happy tune anyway. To me the 4200RPM limitation hard drive isn't a big deal.

Keyboard and Input

The X41, despite its size, comes with a keyboard that is amazingly comfortable to use and fantastic for typing on. Keys are slightly smaller to fit everything on there, but no space is spared as the keys are pushed right out to the edge so you know IBM has done everything they can to make the keyboard usable. Feedback from the keys is great, there is not even an ounce of flex to this keyboard -- it is completely rigid in build -- and it is also spill resistant. The trackpoint navigation is fantastic, the pointing stick makes it easy to navigate the cursor to the area on the screen you wish. Some complain about lack of a touchpad, but I've never come across a touchpad I've ever liked or used so for me this is a good riddance. On the X41 that I have as a review unit, where the touchpad is placed on manyother laptops,there is instead a finger reader for use with the optional built in biometric login software.

Screen

The 12.1" screen on the X41 is XGA resolution and there's nothing fancy about it. It has a matte finish and is not widescreen. But this is perfect for use of Office applications and what not. You'll only be able to see one application at a time on the screen given the fact the resolution is XGA (1024 x 768). The screen is bright and easy on the eyes, you'll get no glare or reflection on the screenin an office environment with lots of ugly fluorescent style lights.

More to Come

There's much more to cover on the X41 of course, we just wanted to get some first thoughts and pictures out there for people to see.We'll be back with a full review of the X41 in the next couple of weeks. Feel free to post questions in the forum regarding this ultraportable.

Availability and Pricing

Some gadgets (Sony PSP and Apple iPod Mini) next to the X41 for the sake of size comparison (view larger image)

 

abaxter I am not sure I understand the battery life on this unit. Does the 8-cell last 5.7 or 8.1 hrs.

BTW gorgeous machine. I think I am gonna have a tough choice at the end of the summer when I order an ultra portable. Every ultra portable seems to be just one feature short of what I want!

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N6010: P4M 3.2G, 512MB Dual 333MHz, 60GB 7200RPM, ATI 9700M, 17" WXGA+
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hey qwester, that's a good question. I'm not clear on that at all in this article so sorry (i'll update it to make it clearer).

Basically the extended life battery is something you slot the x41 (or x40) onto, it connects to the bottom of the ThinkPad via the UltraBase dock and when you have an 8-cell battery in your notebook and this extended life battery attached IBM claims you'll get an extra 3-hours (so 9 - 10 hours of life with the 8-cell).

The bad news is that when the extended life battery is in you can't connect to the UltraBase X4 dock, but then again if you're connected to the dock it's 99% reasonable to say you'll be plugged into an outlet anyway. The other downside of the extended life battery system is the extra weight too of course.

Here's a link to the product on IBM's site:

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=-840&langId=-1&partNumber=92P1006&storeId=1

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Thanx for the explanation. Now it makes sense.

It's not too bad, only 1 extra pound. As long as it fits in firmly and doesn't wiggle around.

But I think for an ultra portable 8 hrs is good enough. It lasts a whole day of usage and when you get back home at night you just plug it in. I cannot imagine someone will actually need his portable on 12 hrs a day and not be at home or in the office during any of this time to recharge.

Personally I think I would be needing upto 6 hours of battery life, but want to get something capable of running 8 hrs, just in case I have to stay late at the lab or library. And of course I would like to leave the power brick at home and just carry my notebook in a hard sleeve.

I guess I'll leave the decision till august, the time I actually intend to buy. Top runners IBM and Fujitsu, like no duh! [ ]

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N6010: P4M 3.2G, 512MB Dual 333MHz, 60GB 7200RPM, ATI 9700M, 17" WXGA+
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two good choices as top contenders....don't forget that in June we'll see this X41 in a Tablet PC to Notebook convertible format (thanks to the lead of FCC pictures we know that). Don't know if the Tablet form factor and functionality will be of use to you though.

DigitalCameraReview.com | BargainPDA.com | TabletPCReviewSpot.com

 

Not really. Tablets don't appeal to me much, plus I will be using it mostly for word processing and internet. But I am willing to consider it since anyway I'll be buying after its release date.

I just wish IBM would include a touchpad, I still cannot get myself to use that stick. I am the enemy of change [ ].

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N6010: P4M 3.2G, 512MB Dual 333MHz, 60GB 7200RPM, ATI 9700M, 17" WXGA+
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Hi, thanks for the info on the X41. I'm thinking of going to a ultraportable but am concerned about its ability to handle multimedia presentations. Right now I have a back breaking Dell 8600 which is very powerful. Powerpoint talks with embedded videos (mpeg, wmv, quicktime format) run fine. Will these be a problem on the X41?[?]

 

No, you won't have any trouble with presentations like that, those will run on just about anything.

Brian

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Great introduction to the X41 I must say! There are, however, two things I'd really love to get cleared up... How does the GMA900 stack up versus the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 chip? And what's the final verdict on battery life? (I've read everywhere that it's gone down from 7.5 hours to 5.7 hours with the 8-cell battery!)

Looking forward to answers and/or the final review Any ETA btw?

 

Great review.
A few questions please:
1. In your review section "IBM X41 Specs and Configuration Options")it is stated "Wireless: Intel PRO 2200BG or 2915ABG, Bluetooth optional."
What is meant by Bluetooth optional? Is that an internal option or a USB dongle?

2. What's the difference in the two wireless options?Intel PRO 2200BG or 2915ABG?

3. Does the unit have a built in mic similar to previous Thinkpads?

4. How about video/audio out to attach to TV (to watch DVDs, etc)? It doesn't seem to, but wishfull thinking (used to have a TP770ED which did, then moved to Vaio 505 which didn't)

5. Can you shed some light on the Biometric fingerprint reader? Also, is it optional? Is the S/W optional?

6. Do you think the X41 Tablet will be similar thickness/weight (my most critical feature of a notebook regardless of price)?