« Kodak Shutters 35mm, Focuses on Digital | Main | Saddle Up, Hoss, We're A-Goin' To Mars »
January 15, 2004
Thinkpad X40
I was doing a driver update for my Thinkpad T41p and discovered that IBM is updating drivers for the new Thinkpad X40. Well I did a search on Google, and it turns out IBM is already marketing this laptop in Japan. It looks like the new Thinkpad will be smaller and lighter than the previous X31 (2.8 lbs vs 3.6lbs) and will come with a SD slot instead of a CF slot (interesting transition I might add--personally I prefer the CF slot since my digital SLR uses the CF card). It looks like IBM is outsourcing its production to Winstron, a company that also manufactures another Thinkpad series.
One thing that's puzzling is the performance specs. It looks like the CPU in the machine is Intel Pentium M 1.0 GHz and the maximum memory capacity is 1.25G (256M preinstalled + 1G add-on). In comparison, the X31 comes with the CPU up to 1.6 GHz and has the maximum memory of 2G. However, the new chip in the X40 is the new Intel ultra-low voltage chip (1.0 volt instead of 1.48 for regular M chips), which should boost the battery life. The laptop should last about 3.5 hours with the small four-cell Li-Ion battery pack that ships with the system. The laptop still uses the 12.1" XGA screen as does the X31. Unfortunately, the unit seems to be using the slowest (4200 rpm) hard disk as well.
All in all, I'm not sure this is a great upgrade in my book. It looks like you are trading off one thing for another, and I think IBM can do a better job than this. Perhaps road warriors should wait for the Thinkpad X41 in the future.
Comments
thank you for the info. i was interested in the x40, but i think i will take your advise and wait for the x41. do you have any idea what the price for the x40 will be?
Posted by: steffie at January 19, 2004 1:13 AM
the specs on the website represent only one specific model of the X40. Keep in mind that IBM often has several different speed bins, hard drive sizes/speeds, base memory, etc, available for their laptops. i'm VERY willing to bet that we'll see some variations that put it a little closer to x31 performance levels. but in general, you are correct about the tradeoffs. it's hard to put the fastest parts into a chassis that small. the thermal envelope of hotter cpu's... the size, noise, and vibration levels of faster/bigger hard drives... etc, etc...
Posted by: aaron at February 3, 2004 5:02 PM