IBM ThinkPad R51 – 15″ – Pentium M – 2GB RAM – 40GB HDD – Window XP Professional

Description

Review summary

IBM’s new ThinkPad R51 focuses on function. The mainstream laptop’s plain black case doesn’t elicit excitement, but its fast Pentium M processor and ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chip deliver ample horsepower for the average user in the home or business. In addition to speed, the IBM ThinkPad R51 boasts some cool component options, such as a 15-inch display with a fine 1,400×1,050 native resolution, a DVD-RW drive, and integrated 802.11b/g wireless. Load up on these options, however, and you could owe IBM a pretty penny, because high-end configurations are pricey. If you’re a typical business or home user on a budget and you’d be satisfied with a basic configuration, give the IBM ThinkPad R51 a try. Those with a few more Ben Franklins, however, should graduate to a better-equipped thin-and-light laptop, such as the IBM ThinkPad T41 or the HP nc8000. The IBM ThinkPad R51’s no-nonsense design doesn’t knock our socks off, but this mainstream laptop successfully meets the demands of mobile computing on a tight budget. The 1.5-by-10.6-by-13.1-inch laptop weighs 6.5 pounds on its own, and it’s 7.3 pounds with the AC adapter. One of its best features is a big, 15-inch screen with a high 1,400×1,050 native resolution that renders crisp graphics. The wide, comfortable keyboard comes in a close second, offering a familiar, desktoplike layout with one glaring omission: a useful Windows key that activates the Windows Start menu and gives you instant access to applications and system tools. IBM’s signature red pointing stick rests above the B key, with a trio of complementary mouse and scroll buttons in the wrist rest below. The company also keeps touch-pad fans in mind, including a pad with two additional mouse buttons. Three handy volume-up, volume-down, and mute buttons sit in the upper-left corner above the board, along with an Access IBM button that connects you to online help and support for the R51.

The IBM ThinkPad R51 includes one convenient, swappable drive bay that supports various modules, including a cutting-edge DVD-RW drive. The 9.5mm-high modules for the thin-and-light IBM ThinkPad T42 conveniently fit in the R51’s 12.7mm bay, but not vice versa. The bay opens out of the right edge, which also has a VGA port. A smattering of standard ports and slots reside on the left edge: there are ports for 56Kbps modem, Ethernet (either 10/100 or Gigabit, depending on which configuration you choose), headphone, microphone, S-Video out, two USB 2.0, and two Type II (one Type III) PC Card slots. FireWire isn’t included in the offering. A lone parallel port occupies the back edge. The front edge slopes in, making the system appear slightly slimmer from a head-on view. Unfortunately, however, this design also points the speakers and their tinny sound down at your desk rather than straight at you. IBM offers a dizzying array of component options for the ThinkPad R51, including Celeron M or Pentium M processors, ranging from 1.3GHz to 1.7GHz; up to 2GB of fast 333MHz SDRAM; a CD, DVD, DVD/CD-RW, or DVD-RW drive; a 4,200rpm hard drive measuring between 20GB and 80GB; and a 5,400rpm hard drive at 40GB or 80GB. The R51 comes with IBM’s Active Protection System, designed to protect your hard drive from sudden jolts. You can choose among three graphics options: the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (855GME) integrated graphics subsystem, which borrows up to 64MB of video memory from system RAM, as well as ATI’s Mobility Radeon 7500 or 9000 graphics chips with 32MB of dedicated video memory. Screen sizes range from 14.1 to 15 inches, and they feature native resolutions of either 1,024×768, which makes for large, easily readable text, or 1,400×1,050, which results in smaller text but more detailed graphics. You can also choose between 802.11g and dual-band 802.11g/a adapters.

The IBM Web site doesn’t list all of these options, though. If you don’t see an option online, order your system by phone. Keep in mind, however, that you can usually save a little cash by choosing an Express (that is, preconfigured) model from the site.

With all these options, how do you configure the ideal laptop? Luckily, based on the IBM ThinkPad R51’s impressive performance in CNET Labs’ tests, you can likely pick low-end parts without sacrificing too much speed. Plus, high-end models tend to cost more than comparably configured systems, such as the Gateway M405XL.

General

• Packaged Quantity
  1
• Embedded Security
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Chip
• Operating System
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Manufacturer
  Lenovo

Processor / Chipset

• CPU
  Intel Pentium M 735 / 1.4 GHz / 1.5 GHz / 1.7 GHz
• Cache
  L2 – 2 MB
• Data Bus Speed
  400 MHz
• Chipset Type
  Intel 855GME
• Features
  Enhanced SpeedStep technology, power-optimized processor system bus

Cache Memory

• Type
  L2 cache
• Installed Size
  2 MB

RAM

• Memory Speed
  333 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance
  PC2700
• Technology
  DDR SDRAM
• Installed Size from Factory
  512 MB / All have been expanded to 2 GB

Memory

• Max Supported Size
  2 GB
• Technology
  DDR SDRAM
• Speed
  333 MHz / PC2700
• Form Factor
  SO-DIMM 200-pin
• Slots Qty
  2
• Empty Slots
  1

Storage

• Optical Drive
  CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo – removable
• Type
  none
• Read Speed
  24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
• Write Speed
  24x
• Rewrite Speed
  24x
• Type
  portable

Display

• Widescreen Display
  No
• Color Support
  24-bit (16.7 million colors)
• Diagonal Size (metric)
  38.1 cm
• Display Resolution Abbreviation
  XGA

Environmental Parameters

• Sound Emission
  40 dB

Hard Drive

• Spindle Speed
  5400 rpm
• Type
  HDD
• Capacity
  40 GB

Audio & Video

• Graphics Processor
  Intel Extreme Graphics 2
• Memory Allocation Technology
  Dynamic Video Memory Technology 2.0
• Sound
  Stereo speakers , microphone
• Audio Codec
  AD1981B

Input

• Type
  TrackPoint, UltraNav, keyboard

Communications

• Wireless Protocol
  802.11a/b/g
• Wired Protocol
  Gigabit Ethernet

Processor

• Type
  Pentium M
• Processor Number
  735
• Manufacturer
  Intel
• Clock Speed
  1.7 GHz

Optical Storage

• Drive Type
  CD-RW / DVD
• Type
  CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo
• Form Factor
  removable

Floppy Drive

• Type
  none

Modem

• Features
  V.92 upgradable
• Type
  fax / modem

Battery

• Installed Qty
  1
• Capacity
  4000 mAh
• Run Time (Up To)
  4 sec

AC Adapter

• Input
  AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Connections & Expansion

• Expansion Bays
  1 x Ultrabay Enhanced
• Slots
  2 x memory ( 1 free )
  1 x CardBus ( 1 free )
• Interfaces
  1 x docking / port replicator
  1 x audio – line-out/headphones – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
  1 x microphone – input – mini-phone 3.5 mm
  1 x infrared – IrDA
  1 x parallel – IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) – 15 pin D-Sub (DB-15)
  1 x modem – phone line – RJ-11
  1 x display / video – S-video output – 4 pin mini-DIN
  2 x USB 2.0 – 4 pin USB Type A
  1 x parallel – IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) – 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25)
  1 x display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
  1 x network – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T – RJ-45
  1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) – 4 pin FireWire

Header

• Brand
  Lenovo
• Product Line
  Lenovo ThinkPad R51
• Model
  2888
• Packaged Quantity
  1
• Compatibility
  PC

Miscellaneous

• Integrated Options
  ThinkLight
• Security
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Chip
• Features
  ThinkVantage Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0, administrator password, hard drive password, power-on password, security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), wake on LAN
• Compliant Standards
  ACPI 1.0b, ACPI 2.0, DDC-2B

Networking

• Max Transfer Rate
  56 Kbps
• Data Link Protocol
  Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
• Wireless LAN Supported
  Yes

System

• Notebook Type
  notebook
• Platform
  Windows
• Hard Drive Capacity
  40 GB
• Embedded Security
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Chip

Monitor

• Diagonal Size
  15 in
• Color Support
  24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Dimensions & Weight

• Width
  13.1 in
• Depth
  10.6 in
• Height
  1.6 in

Chassis

• Built-in Devices
  ThinkLight

Audio Output

• Compliant Standards
  AC ’97, DirectSound
• Type
  stereo speakers

Mainboard

• Data Bus Speed
  400 MHz
• Chipset Type
  Intel 855GME

Audio Input

• Type
  microphone

Operating System / Software

• OS Provided: Type
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Video Output

• Graphics Processor
  Intel Extreme Graphics 2

Video Memory

• Memory Allocation Technology
  Dynamic Video Memory Technology 2.0

Input Device

• Type
  TrackPoint, UltraNav, keyboard

Expansion Bays

• Specific Bay Type
  Ultrabay Enhanced
• Total Qty
  1

Expansion Slots

• Type
  CardBus, memory
• Form Factor
  SO-DIMM 200-pin, type I/II/III
• Total Qty
  1, 2
• Free Qty
  1, 1

OS Provided

• Family
  Windows XP
• Edition
  Windows XP Professional
• Type
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Power Device

• Nominal Voltage
  AC 120/230 V
• Frequency Required
  50/60 Hz

Supported Battery

• Max Supported Qty
  2

General

• Manufacturer
  Lenovo