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I use an IBM ThinkPad R51. Let me give you the specifications and such first, then I shall give my view of it.

Specifications
•15" XGA
•768mb PC-2700 RAM (256mb stock + 512mb Crucial.com)
•Pentium M 1.5ghz
•2200BG Intel Integrated Wireless (Supports WPA)
•Intel Extreme Graphics 2 - 64mb
•Centrino Laptop
•Upgraded the 30gb hdd to a 40gb 5400 RPM Samsung. This sucker is dead quiet and uses less power than the stock hdd; there were no issues whatsoever with the stock, I just wanted more space
•DVD-ROM/CD-RW (Removeable without tools)
•Parallel
•Integrated ethernet/phone
•Mic/Headphones and built-in Speakers
•Touchpad AND Navigation Stick
•Two PCMCIA slots
•2xUSB
•S-Video
•VGA
•5.5 lbs

Observations, Cost & Support
The stock battery lasts about 4 hours. You can buy a larger battery for the normal battery slot (it will stick out) and even a battery that would replace the DVD/CD drive in that bay (so batteries in two bays) for perhaps 8 hours of solid computer use.

Lucky me, I even managed to grab a spare power supply from a fellow DSLR member for a mere $15 shipped. I use one in my room, and one at my workstation.

Total cost all said and done was a cool $1150 shipped, including the Crucial 512mb stick and Samsung hdd.

The IBM warranty service is also top notch. I have had to call 3x now, once for a new keyboard, once for the recovery CDs (XP Pro), and lastly a small question on hard drives. They kept me on hold for only a minute at most and the techs are in Atlanta, GA. They even DHL overnight me the packages for free and I can call 24/7. (I called about the CDs at 3am EST)

I thoroughly love the look and feel of this laptop. IBM's ThinkPads are black, professional, can take a beating, and are wonderfully smooth. (I did NOT like the look and [cheap] feel of the Dell and HP laptops I had to work with.) The placement of the ThinkPad fan is on the side, unlike some Dells where the fan is on the bottom. The keyboard itself is very sturdy and can take a very serious beating. I did have to get the first keyboard replaced though due to a sluggish 'M' key, but after a painless call and fast installation, all was good again. I also got to see that the IBM keyboards have a metal backing that should stop most crumbs from entering the computer if they fall into the keys.

This laptop is highly expandable given its price range. You can easily remove/replace the hard drive, ram, CD-RW/DVD-ROM, battery, and keyboard without much trouble at all. Each upgradable component has its own dedicated slot that is usually accessible with only 1-2 screws. Mind you, the components are still locked in place and are very sturdy.

The ThinkPad also comes with a plethora of programs that you can remove without too much trouble. One program I left on was 'IBM Active Protection'. The laptop/program can detect when the laptop is being moved, and can be configured in a number of ways to stop hard drive activity when motion is detected to help prevent data loss should the unit be dropped or something. Everything else I removed. (Note: This laptop has no Windows key, but you can configure a key to become the Windows key.)

Personal Review

I mainly use this laptop for school work. I can type my papers, look up words, research assignments, listen to music (both stream and MP3), and even chat without too much aggravation from the noise. Yes, this laptop is dead silent. There is but one CPU fan that rarely turns on. When it does, it is still quiet and almost soothing. I like to concentrate on my work, not on how loud my laptop is, or if my laptop is overheating on the carpet. (I used to worry because the old Dell laptop I used to work with had a fan [yes, it had 2 large and loud fans] on the bottom of the computer. The R51 has one fan on the side.)

But when I'm not doing school work, I watch DVDs and downloaded TV shows with this sucker. Both the speakers and the headphone jack can produce a passable volume. I usually just wear my Shure E2C earbuds as that masks the sound of the DVD-ROM drive reading the DVD. I have casually viewed CSI seasons 1 and 2, Cowboy Bebop, and countless episodes of Family Guy on my ThinkPad in only a few months.

I also sometimes work as 'the computer guy' for non-profits or small companies in my city. My ThinkPad has sometimes come with me to help fix computers on-site. Not only does it manage to impress the people in the office with its "professional look", it whips through applications and runs quieter than most rival Pentium 4 desktops at the offices.

I've also learned to effectively utilize my touchpad so I don't have to lug a mouse with the laptop; I can click, scroll, and manipulate documents and webpages very quickly. This has come in very handy as I like to work in the dark at night.

That's right, I've used my ThinkPad to format/mount/configure a new hard drive on my linux server via SSH, designed a few XHTML compliant webpages, and even made a few touchups to images in Photoshop with my ThinkPad in the dark without a mouse! (Hey, sometimes you get inspiration/insomnia at 3am.) The ThinkPad even has a small built-in light to illuminate the keyboard just enough in even the darkest room or plane, though you really don't have to use it as the keyboard is easy to type on so you don't have to look down... ever. And of course, the laptop is silent so I didn't even wake anyone else in my home. The battery life is also generous enough for me to: chat, SSH, surf BBR, edit about 3 text documents and listen to music all at the same time for a solid 2 hours.

But besides school, work, and watching shows, I also like to play the occasional game. I have played Ages of Empires II: the Conquerors Expansion and Counter-Strike 1.6 on this laptop without a hitch for about 10 hours total; sometimes I don't feel like getting on my main gaming desktop downstairs. (I ordered a spare Logitech MX 510 gaming mouse just for my beloved ThinkPad.) It's amazing how well this non-gaming machine manages to play DX7-esque games on a more-than-playable level. And this is only an 'R-Series', the lowest of the IBM ThinkPad line... I can only imagine what a mid-level T-Series could do...

The wireless portion of this laptop is also amazing and allows me to connect to the world. One of the main reasons for getting a laptop was to do all non-gaming work AWAY from my desktop PC area. I love the freedom of being able to work/play/relax outside in the shade of a tree, in a rarely visited hallway, on my bed, or in a warm couch. This laptop also helped me pass the time while my flight got delayed at O'Hare for 8 hours. The 15" screen is wonderful.

Overall, I love my ThinkPad. Quiet, powerful, and it helps me get things done... whatever it may be.

'Nuf said. ;)


Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • Hello..My friend just gave me this same lap top and I can't get it to turn on.. but when its plugged in to charge the battery light is on and blinking. Do you have any advice to help me? I'm trying to figure it out myself first before I go and spend a bunch of money on it. My friend said it was turning on for him a couple weeks ago just fine so I really don't know what to do... Can you email me if you have any advice to help me please?? TalBalok939@yahoo.com Thanks, Tal

    2009-09-26 18:50:56



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by freeze See Profile edited by fire100 See Profile
last modified: 2005-08-14 08:47:54