Editors' Rating
Published: 25 May 2005
The latest iteration of IBM's corporate thin-and-light, the ThinkPad T43, features the same sturdy case as that of the previous model, the ThinkPad T42 -- an Editors' Choice. The T43 also features some new components, including Intel's latest-generation Centrino chipset. Unfortunately, the T43's new parts fail to match the performance and battery life we got from its predecessor. As a result, we think the ThinkPad T42 remains the better buy.
Our ThinkPad T43 test model measured 32.9cm wide, 26.8cm deep and just 3.1-3.6cm high. At 2.4kg, the ThinkPad T43 is of average weight for the thin-and-light category. The blackboard eraser-size AC adapter adds another 360g to the overall travel weight.
It's far from the sexiest notebook on the market, but the ThinkPad T43 is well designed, with a number of thoughtful touches -- including a spill-proof keyboard with drain holes. The notebook includes IBM's signature red eraser-head pointing stick, which has a nice flat top that supports your finger better than the rounded tops on most pointing sticks; two corresponding mouse buttons and a handy scroll button sit just below the keyboard. Below the keyboard, the ThinkPad T43 also features a touch pad with its own two mouse buttons, which are a bit too small.
The keyboard itself is wide and comfortable to use. There aren't many multimedia controls here -- this is a business notebook, after all -- but you do get external volume controls, including a mute button, as well as a blue IBM button that brings up support information. Our ThinkPad T43 test unit featured a fingerprint sensor on the right-hand side of the wrist rest; swiping your finger over the sensor logs you onto the notebook instead of typing in a password (for more details about this biometric security feature, check out our review of the ThinkPad T42).
Priced at £1,134 (ex. VAT, as of May 2005), our ThinkPad T43 test unit featured a nice array of components, including a fast 1.86GHz Intel Pentium M 750 processor, 512MB of speedy 533MHz RAM and an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 graphics chip with 64MB of dedicated video memory. Also on-board was a 60GB hard drive spinning at 5,400rpm, a 15in. screen with an XGA (1,024 by 768) native resolution, a DVD/CD-RW combo drive in a hot-swappable bay and an Intel 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi card. Configured this way, our test unit cost more than some competing corporate thin-and-lights we've reviewed, such as the HP Compaq nc6130 -- which included a 1.73GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB of 533MHz memory, integrated Intel graphics, a 15in. XGA screen, a 60GB 5,400rpm hard drive, and a multi-format DVD burner.
In our benchmark tests, the ThinkPad T43 turned in a solid but unspectacular performance. With a MobileMark 2002 score of 182, the ThinkPad T43 was slower than both the HP Compaq n6120 (197) and its T42 predecessor (201). Equipped with the standard 6-cell battery, the T43 lasted for 199 minutes in our rundown test -- again, less than both the nc6120 (222 min.) and the T42 (217min.). You'll get more battery life if you purchase the optional 9-cell extended-life battery.
The ThinkPad T43 includes all of the ports and slots we'd expect to see in a thin-and-light notebook for business use. You get Gigabit Ethernet, S-Video out, audio in and out, and parallel, plus one Type II PC Card slot and an ExpressCard/54 slot. It has only two USB 2.0 ports -- probably enough for most users, but fewer than on many competing systems. Our test unit came loaded with Windows XP Professional; like nearly all corporate notebooks, it came without a productivity suite. IBM bundles some other helpful applications, however, such as IBM-branded versions of Sonic's RecordNow and DLA, as well as InterVideo's WinDVD and WinDVD Creator, for your various CD and DVD burning and playing needs.
The ThinkPad T43's security features will reassure even the utterly paranoid: you get the Active Protection System, which, according to IBM, shuts down the hard drive if it detects 'excessive' motion, as well as an Embedded Security Subsystem -- a hardware encryption feature similar to a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
IBM backs the ThinkPad T43 with a standard three-year warranty, which is longer than the industry-average one-year of parts and labour coverage. The term has some generous features, including onsite service and 24/7, toll-free technical support for the life of the warranty. You can choose to configure the system with a shorter or longer warranty, as well as other service options, such as next-business day help. Although IBM's support Web site offers plenty of troubleshooting tips on the ThinkPad T43, the site doesn't include the helpful user forums or real-time tech-support chat features in other support Web sites from Dell and HP.
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