IBM ThinkPad T42 Laptop (1.70 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 40 GB Hard Drive) 23734WU

by IBM

Product Details

• Item Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002MRLVM
• Item model number: 23734WU
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 15, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

IBM's ThinkPad T42 offers the power of professional business workstation in a highly mobile notebook at just under 5 pounds. This ThinkPad T42 (model 23734WU) features one of the most powerful Intel Centrino processors available, with a 1.7 GHz speed, as well as some of the strongest security measures found on notebook, including a built-in fingerprint reader. Other features include a 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, 14.1-inch display, 54g wi-fi connectivity, and Windows XP Professional operating system.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 1.7 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor sits near the top of the currently available speed spectrum and will be fast enough for gaming and multimedia applications. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. The T42 has a large 2 MB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 333 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has an ergonomic keyboard with palm rest, IBM ThinkPad UltraNav multipointing system, Internet scroll bar, and volume control.

  This IBM ThinkPad T42 notebook also features Embedded Security Subsystem, which allows users to authenticate with unique fingerprints instead of passwords with an optional fingerprint reader (sold separately).

Sound and Graphics
This T42 notebook has an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 video/graphics card with 32 MB of video RAM. It's not the strongest card for rendering 3D images, but it is strong enough for demanding business productivity software. The 14.1-inch TFT active matrix screen has a native 1024 x 768 resolution and can drive a 2048 x 1536-pixel external monitor. It also includes an integrated audio card and internal stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This T42 model has an integrated 802.11b wireless LAN (which is offers slower wireless speeds compared to 802.11g LANs, which are becoming more and more standard). You get a limited offering of connectivity options, but it does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Gigabit Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
This notebook comes with the Windows XP Professional operating system (which adds Microsoft's IIS Web server, back-up and recovery utilities, Remote Desktop, and other enhanced business features), and it features Lotus SmartSuite and Lotus Notes business productivity software packages. Other preloaded software includes Norton AntiVirus 2004 (with 90 days of free updates), InterVideo WinDVD and Sonic RecordNow.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 12.2 x 10 x 1.2 inches (WxDxH) and weighs just 4.9 pounds.

Power
This T42 notebook comes with a standard 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an average battery life of 4.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the ThinkPad T42 (model 23734WU) notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a three-year limiited hardware warranty and one-year warranty for the battery.

Product Description

Includes: 6-cell lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, & Microsoft Windows XP Pro. IBM ThinkPad T42 Notebook Computer - Providing you with an Intel Pentium M Processor 735 (1.7GHz), and 512MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM, you get plenty of power to be productive while you're on the road. It also features some great multimedia technologies for a more well rounded computing experience. Like the ATI Mobility RADEON 7500 that provides increased game support over other laptop computers. 14.1 LCD with a native resolution of 1024x768 40GB HDD DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive - up to 24x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 24x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM SoundMAX Audio with 2 integrated speakers 56k v.92 Fax Modem Ports - 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB 2.0, S-Video Out, Microphone, Headphone, VGA Out, & Parallel Unit Dimensions - 1 (h) x 12.2 (w) x 10 (d) Unit Weight - 4.9 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Laptop, December 11, 2004

By 

(ph ) (NYC, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IBM ThinkPad T42 Laptop (1.70 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 40 GB Hard Drive) 23734WU (Personal Computers)

Even though IBM sold their pc division shortly after I purchased this machine, I would purchase it still. It is pretty close to the perfect laptop in almost every respect.

It's lightweight yet durable - a machine that is meant to travel. The speed is really good. The screen is really nice, bright and crisp. I picked the 14.1" version of the laptop because I wanted the smallest full featured machine possible and I was not disappointed.

The fingerprint reader is great and easy to use. I have it set up to require a fingerprint scan at boot up for security and from there it will log me into windows as well. I even have different fingers set-up to allow different Windows privileges (admin vs restricted user).

There are a lot of nice little features in this machine that make a big difference. I'm a big fan of the mouse pointer in the on the keyboard and would not know what to do with out it. The extra scroll button for the mouse is really handy as well as the keyboard light built into the screen. The keyboard is comfortable and well laid out.

The software that comes with the machine is very good, especially if you are moving from network to network. For the most part it does a great job of figuring out what environment you are working and configures itself appropriately.

About the only drawback to the machine is the price, but what you pay extra you get back in less aggravation and a better experience with a machine that (if you are like me) use every day.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I wanted, April 2, 2008

By 

Mark R. Myers (Bentonville, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IBM ThinkPad T42 Laptop (1.70 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 40 GB Hard Drive) 23734WU (Personal Computers)

This is a great little laptop. My wife has a Dell widescreen and it is just too bulky and heavy for what I wanted. I wanted a lightweight laptop that had a nubby pointing device. My old laptop (Compaq Armada) has a nubby and I love it. The T42 has both the nubby and the touch pad--both of which are fully configurable. I turned the tap option off on the touch pad because it drives me crazy.

The only thing I would change on this laptop is add some more USB 2 ports. This laptop only has two of them on the left-hand side. In the back of the laptop it has a standard parallel port for a printer. They could have easily not have up that on and instead added four more USB ports. I also like it because it has 2 PC-Card (PCMCIA)slots. Most laptops have express card slots. I am sure express card is good, but all of my cards for laptops happen to be PCMCIA.

I would definitely consider buying another ThinkPad.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars IBM THINKPAD T43, April 1, 2008

By 

Victor Trang (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IBM ThinkPad T42 Laptop (1.70 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 40 GB Hard Drive) 23734WU (Personal Computers)

In my other reviews I can't say enough good things about the IBM ThinkPad. The T43 is an awesome machine. Very tough and smooth. The screen is very plush and worth the money. I've used Dell,HP,Gateway,Compaq,Sony and pretty much every kind there is, but I've always had a love for the ThinkPad. The touchpad, the reconizable red pointer, and scroll button are so convenient. Much more durable than the Dell. The material use is much better quality than the Dell,or HP. No issues with this at all. The only down side is that it runs Windows. But that can be changed. T43 is worth the price. You pay for quality. I've dropped my ThinkPad many times and no cracks or anything. My old Dell on the other hand is a different story. Also doesn't get as hot as the HP.