IBM ThinkPad T-Series Laptops Overview
About year 2000 IBM rebranded its ThinkPad range of notebooks into two brand series - A-Series and T-Series. T-Series models are designed to be highly portable. They deliver high performance together with long battery life and thin-and-light casing. The most often meet ThinkPad T Series refurbished laptops are T20, T21, T22 and T23. There are also newer T-models - T30, T40/p, T41/p and T42/p but these are new models and are not so popular among refurbished IBM laptops.
Processor
All T-Series models are running on Intel Pentium III Mobile processors, making battery life much longer and reducing heat emission. Processor speed range from 650MHz to 2.4GHz depending on model. Older, and most often meet among refurbished laptops - T20-T23, contain Intel Pentium III M in range of 650Mhz - 1.2GHz. L2 Cache size also differ a lot between T models. T20,T21 and T22 models have 256kB of L2 cache memory. T23 and T30 have 512kB and new models like T40,T41 and T42 contain 1MB. ThinkPad T42 with 735-755MHz processor speed range contain 2MB of cache memory. Such big ammount of L2 Cache memory gives your laptop real performance boost.
Chipset and Memory
All T-Series ThinkPads are built on Intel chipset. Models T20,T21,T22 are running on Intel
440BX/ZX chipset. This chipset supports up to 512MB of RAM memory in two PC100 SDRAM modules.
By default they come with 128MB of RAM installed in one slot, so you have one slot left for
memory upgrades. Of cource you can always change default 128MB module to bigger one too.
Model T23 is running on Intel 830MP chipset, which supports up to 1GB of RAM memory in two
PC133 SDRAM modules. It comes with 128MB or 256MB installed by default.
Newer models like T30,T40,T41 and T42 are running on Intel 845MP/855PM - special
Intel chipsets for mobile computers. These chipsets support memory modules of new type -
64-bit DDR SDRAM. Version 845MP supports up to 1GB of RAM in two PC2100 (266MHz) modules,
while 855PM support up to 2GB in two PC2700 (333MHz) modules.
Ultrabay 2000 and Optical, Floppy and Hard-Drives
ThinkPad T-Series laptops comes in many different versions - with standard CD-ROM drive,
DVD, CD-RW, DVD/CD-RW combo drive etc. They are easily upgradeable and customizable thanks
to UltraBay 2000 (Plus) modular bay. There is no floppy drive installed in T-Series
laptops. You can install one instead of optical drive in UltraBay. It can be also
attached externally by using an optional adapter and cable.
You can buy ThinkPad T models in different HDD configurations. Usually they come with
three or four different hard drive size options. For example T21 and T22 come with
10GB, 20GB or 32GB hard drive. Newer models can have even 80GB HDD installed. You can
also install additional hard drive into UltraBay 2000 (Plus).
Communication and Networking
T-Series ThinkPads are greatly equipped in networking and communication devices. They all
come with integrated V.90 56kbit Mini-PCI modem, sometimes integrated together with
10/100Mbit ethernet card. All models newer than T22 have 10/100Mbit or even 1GB Ethernet
integrated with mainboard. Generally, it's hard to find ThinkPad T without ethernet card
installed.
Wireless 802.11a/b/g cards are available in all models except T20,T21 and T22, but you can
always install one into PCMCIA port. Many different wireless cards are meet in T-Series
laptops - Intel PRO/Wireless 802.11b, Cisco Aironet 802.11b, IBM High Rate 802.11a/b/g.
Some, better models have bluetooth card installed, or 802.11b + bluetooth combo card.
Display
Because T-Series is designed for mobility, they come with 13.3" or 14.1" active TFT matrix.
Only T42/p model can have 15" matrix. The maximum resolution that you can get on 13.3" matrix
is 1024x768 which is standard nowaday. 14.1" matrix can come in two versions - XGA on which
you can also get maximal resolution of 1024x768, or SXGA+ which support up to 1400x1050.
15" matrix from T42/p model is UXGA type and supports resolution up to 1600x1200, but this is
the best, and the most expensive model from T-Series and is not available among refurbished
hardware. Majority of people mention great image quality from various angles as big advantage.
The most popular models, T20 to T23, come with 8MB S3 Savage/IX or 16 MB S3 SuperSavage/IXC SDR
in case of T23. More expensive models can come with few graphic cards by ATI, in range of
16MB ATI Mobility RADEON to even 128MB ATI Fire GL T2. All models come with S-Video TV-Out port
and VGA out port, which allows you to use TV or CRT monitor as external display.
Ports and Expansion Slots
Models up to T30 come with complete set of standard ports, which include Parallel, Serial RS232, PS/2, VGA, USB, S-Video, IrDA and Port Replicator/Docking Station port. Newer models, from T30 up, have no PS/2 and Serial RS232 port at all. However it can be obtained from port replicator. All models come with S-Video TV-Out port and VGA port. There is also at least one USB 1.1 (2.0 on new models) available, but no model includes FireWire/IEEE-1394 port. IrDA 1.1 is available on every T-Series model.
Batteries
As T models were intended to be series for highly mobile users, they were designed to be as power-saving as possible. They usually come with six cell 4400mAh battery which lasts for 3.5 - 4 hours of use. There is also nine cell 6600mAh battery available for higher models, which lasts for for about 7 hours. Additionally, you can install second battery into Ultrabay, which can give you even 10 hours of continuous use.
Input devices
All models come with TrackPoint device. Additionally models T40,T41 and T42 contain touch pad installed.
Check IBM ThinkPad T-Series Specification, Comparison Table for detailed specifications of all T-Series notebooks.
