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IBM Thinkpad R50

Viliyana Filipova — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:50:44 +0000

The laptops with S-IPS matrix are extremely rare and deserve detailed review. The review of IBM Thinkpad R50 will consist of two parts (two separate articles). In this first part will mainly explore the theme of the display of the IBM Thinkpad R50, compared with a standard TN + Film displays and TN LCD screens of modern high-end laptops, including wide, opaque, and modern “glossy panel. Mediocrity has captured the world markets for consumer laptops, and similar trends are observed even in the corporate markets. Hardware parameters such as processor and graphics card, of course, each year becoming better, although the Conroe architecture is based on over 80% of the Pentium III technology adopted by Tualatin and much less costly to manufacture as compared to expensive NetBurst. TN + Film matrix LCD displays is the subject of much misinformation about marketing techniques, and thus mislead the consumer. This cheap and terrible features real matrices 2-3 years ago were used almost 99% of laptops, but these days in 100% of mobile computing, while remaining true colors, correct color reproduction, good viewing angles only for the desktop S -IPS and * VA monitors. Exceptions are only some of the HP Compaq tablet PCs with AFFS display. While there was a production unit of IBM laptops, the American giant boldly introducing laptops in their matrices, other than standard. IBM laptop usually means that have S-IPS matrix with “p” after the number of the standard model, for example Thinkpad T40p, T41p, T42p, T43p, R50p. Like most “p”-th in the electronic equipment and that means Professional, and unlike other companies, making it a pseudo-professional performances, IBM has made professional machine with resolution 1600 * 1200, professional S-IPS matrix video card for 3D and CAD (ATI FireGL). IBM produces and workstations with 1400 x 1050 S-IPS matrix, and good video card ATI Radeon no great claims for 3D design, which is also the protagonist in this review. Actually there is much information on the Internet for modification of the drivers of the mobile in a mobile Radeon FireGL.
Today’s laptop has just been tested by real time IBM and is equipped with the best quality of LCD technology – S-IPS. Let us recall that our site has an overview of IBM Thinkpad R50p, which has the same body, and the only awards of R50 described in this article are better video card (FireGL T2), and higher resolution S-IPS display (1600 x 1200). Let us recall that IBM Thinkpad R50 is a cheap and modification of TN + Film matrix, resolution 1027 x 768 only and video with pathetic parameters – integrated Intel 855G. Today’s laptop has just been tested by real time IBM and is equipped with the best quality of LCD technology – S-IPS.

IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad T60

Viliyana Filipova — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:47:41 +0000

After the failure of some modifications of the Thinkpad T43 and not very strong impression on Thinkpad Z60t, we were almost sure that the last real quality and maximum balanced model is Thinkpad T42. This impression is further reinforced by the weak receiver models of IBM, the Chinese company Lenovo. There are many consumers who know that the Lenovo factory actually produced the best models of IBM (Thinkpad T40/40p, T41/41p, T42/42p, X31/32/40). Accumulation of the image maker of the best mobile computing, IBM was a monopolist in corporate markets and is becoming a dream acquisition, for each customer. Everything in the series Thinkpad is Refined to perfection – tough, expensive materials – copper, titanium, composites, perfect keyboard, joystick and touch-pod. IBM is a generator of new technologies in notebook PCs by selling its innovative solutions Toshiba, DELL, HP and others. No coincidence of all NASA space missions are equipped with technology from IBM (Thinkpad-series). INTEL and Microsoft also trust corporation as a Thinkpad laptop, and with them, and many IT-companies, banks, universities, public administrations and others. Surprisingly, users (corporate and end) in 2005 IBM sold its production facilities to the Chinese Lenovo. Is sold and the legendary brand – THINKPAD. Economic and financial experts of IBM apparently felt that the hardware is not as profitable as the sale of technology, innovation, software solutions. Selling trade name “Thinkpad”, IBM commitment for 5 years to maintain a technology (design, monitoring, maintenance, marketing) its probably the most famous brand “Thinkpad”.
First Lenovo Thinkpad, still carry the spirit of IBM – quality materials and innovation without precedent competitors. IBM’s corporate customers may have reservations about the Lenovo, but the quality of the “new” Thinkpad are still above those offered by corporate series of HP, DELL, Toshiba. Now we are in 2009, the last year in the life of the legendary Thinkpad series. This is the year of senseless exploitation of a unique trade name. Lenovo last offer models bearing the logo “Thinkpad”. Inertia consumers buy incredibly low prices on equipment, which has nothing to do with the qualities of a true IBM Thinkpad. Sleek and cheap materials, low chassis, mediocre hardware and medium-sized opportunities – this is a feature of recent Thinkpad. An example of this pseudo-”Thinkpad” is the cheapest new model Thinkpad SL500, which has no trace of expensive materials, solid chassis and most powerful to date of exit hardware and new technologies. Sorry end to a great series …
But let’s get back in the early years of Lenovo Thinkpad, when ambitious Chinese company has been firmly decided to show the world that truly Thinkpad can be done entirely by Chinese companies, albeit with the aid of power engineering giant IBM. We have available Thinkpad T60, which still remains the name “IBM – Registered Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Used Under Licence”. In the interest of truth we must mention that we had available and Thinkpad T60 with the logo of Lenovo and no mention of IBM.
At first glance Thinkpad T60 has the same proportions and weight as Thinkpad T42. Perceptions of housing, keyboard, screen is very similar to IBM Thinkpad. But let’s systematize descriptions of various elements of the Thinkpad T60. And to be more interesting description, will allow to compare T60 with perhaps the strongest opponent – a business model DELL Latitude D620. Short can describe Latitude D620 as the most successful model of DELL – beautiful and stylish design, extremely tough casing and magnesium frame, quiet and stable operation, bright widescreen display. D620 is a real phenomenon for its time, surprisingly strong producer of model less expensive laptops. The design of the D620 goes back to the 12-inch D410 and successfully used today by corporate laptops and expensive graphics stations DELL. Latitude D620 has numerous modifications, including military laptops with reinforced shock-and water-resistant housing. There is no strong competitor for the T60 from D620, a review today can be described as “space” Thinkpad against the “military” Latitude.

TOSHIBA TECRA is the Japanese ThinkPad

Viliyana Filipova — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:59:09 +0000

After IBM has withdrawn from the market of laptops is felt an urgent need for reliable high-end laptops. Sole market leader ThinkPad raised very high level of quality and reliability. Other large manufacturers since the time of the ThinkPad business had prepared a series of good quality. Similar to ThinkPad T-series is from DELL Latitude, from Toshiba is TECRA. Along often defective “satellites”, the Bulgarian consumer is left with the impression of poor reliability of laptops TOSHIBA. Tecra However, “S-class, Toshiba and unlike the image and expensive Qosmio series is designed to work – engineering, design, diagnostics and others. In our office we have several models TECRA from different generations, including dual-core model. Is commendable that all TECRA models with external video card (ATI Radeon, NVidia GeForce or professional Quadro). TECRA interesting feature of the model is setting the volume, which is based on the classic disk controller rather than buttons “+” and “-” or “<” and “>”. TOSHIBA TECRA M5. Traditional, refined and very stylish design business – black and dark gray metallic, metal lid. Very solid hull and hinges. Incredibly comfortable keyboard and joystick, which is very close to the benchmark ThinkPad. Extremely agile and economical processor Intel Core DUO T2600 (2.17GHz) laptop made suitable for heavy applications. Graphic orientation of the laptop is due to productive graphics card – NVidia Quadro NVS110M. Display, despite its 14 inches offers good resolution – 1400 * 1050, which is suitable for graphic design, modeling and simulation, processing photographs. Unique system for reporting the movement and stopping work on a hard disk is successfully copied from the Thinkpad in the Tecra M5, but is supported by the hardware protection similar to that in business laptops, HP. Fingerprint scanner has excellent visibility, and unlike a cheap laptop detects finger saved without error. Special attention deserves grid bottom of the laptop, which helps air circulation and stability at work even in the hottest days. Unlike some older series Toshiba, this model is completely silent. The laptop has all the extras without the camera, which is unnecessary and even banned at work in big companies.

IBM Thinkpad T43

Viliyana Filipova — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:06:21 +0000

IBM Thinkpad T43 laptop the last produced by IBM. Although the logo is legendary Thinkpad laptops live in the Chinese company Lenovo, quality and innovation are not at that level compared to competitors, as in the years before the 2005th. In fact Lenovo are a good manufacturer of laptops, albeit supported by powerful research development center of IBM. Printed materials for thousands of quality Thinkpad, many videos of extreme ruggedness and reliability of T-series can be found on the Internet. Only the quality of the Thinkpad meet the requirements of NASA, military applications, geophysical research, science and business. Each remaining choice of laptop was more of a compromise because of its lower price. This article will test the latest T-Series laptop to IBM. In our test lab we have two options placed on IBM Thinkpad T43 – Complete one standard video and Intel GMA900, other IBM T43 is equipped with a fingerprint scanner, a video card is ATI Mobility Radeon X300. It is interesting to note that the cheaper model has the logo of Lenovo, a more expensive T43 has a logo of IBM. Competition between the two versions of the T43 is not very interesting, so Test added in more modern laptop – dual DELL Latitude D420 and Netbook DELL Mini9, also participated in our test and HP Compaq nc6230 with a powerful Pentium M 2.00GHz, who also has a video system-ATI Radeon X300. Unlike our previous articles, we will not describe in detail block, a display, keyboard, design, etc. a Thinkpad T43. This is redundant to that just Thinkpad is a benchmark for all indicators, which are repeatedly comparing other laptops. Tests were conducted on OS – Windows XP Pro. Mentioning that Lenovo’s website helpfully provides drivers for all OS from DOS to Windows 7 for IBM Thinkpad T43. This is not observed in HP, DELL, Toshiba, or at least very least their models. So – IBM Thinkpad T43 is ideal for a comfortable keyboard, owns one of the strongest hulls built from magnesium, titanium and composite materials, copper completely silent cooling, zero-clearance hinges, slim and stylish body, constant screen, actual video.