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IBM ThinkPad T23 Review
ThinkPad T23 is the latest model from IBM T2x series. It's one of the most often meet
refurbished IBM laptops, probably because of many improvements comparing
to previous models. There is also a huge price difference between T23 and next models like
T30 or T4x. While you can have refurbished T23 for about $600-$800 USD, refurbished T30
or T4x costs much more than $1000 USD. But there is also huge difference in technology
between models T23 and newer, which explains the difference in price. However, most people do not
need the fastest processors or graphic cards on the market. ThinkPad T23 offers much more
than majority of users need if it comes to performance.
Improved Performance
Model T23 runs on Intel Pentium III Mobile like previous versions, however it has twice as much L2 cache memory - 512kB. There are four ThinkPad T23 versions with different processors - 866MHz, 1GHz, 1.13GHz or 1.2GHz. Another thing that makes this model faster is 133MHz system bus, and hard disk running on Ultra-ATA/100 interface comparing to Ultra-ATA/66 in T21 and T22. Faster system bus requires also faster memory modules. This model comes with 128MB or 256MB of PC133 SDRAM by default. All these things together give easily visible speed boost, comparing to previous models.
Storage and Optical Drives
This model comes with one of the wide range of HDDs - 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, 48GB or 60GB. Hard disks installed in T23 are high quality products, designed to fulfill requirements of the most demanding users. They greatly cooperate with a whole system, what also have big influence on laptop performance.
You have also bigger choice if it comes to optical drives than in previous models. You can have standard CD-ROM drive, DVD, CD-RW recorder or DVD/CD-RW combo drive. They are installed in Ultrabay, what makes them easily swappable.
Ultrabay 2000
Ultrabay 2000 is a very useful feature of IBM laptops. It universal bay that supports all kinds of optical drives, like CD-ROM, CD burners, DVD, combo drives, as well as 1.44MB floppy, additional hard drives, batteries etc. It allows you to easily and quickly replace currently installed device to other that you need at the moment. T23 do not have floppy drive integrated, however it is available as Ultrabay module, so you can install it in one move. If you are going to work for long hours without possibility to recharge the battery, you can install additional one into Ultrabay 2000 and double the battery lifetime.
Ultrabay 2000 Plus
ThinkPad T23 is the first T-Series model that introduces Ultrabay 2000 Plus. It is compatible with Ultrabay 2000 but additionally supports WorkPad cradle and external numeric keyboard.
Screen
Display is one of the strongest points of IBM laptops. It provides you with high quality image. It is sharp and easily visible even in the sunlight, when many laptop screens are getting dimmed. You will also have no problem looking at it from various angles. T23 comes with 13.3" or 14.1" TFT and 16MB S3 SuperSavage/IXC SDR graphics card. You can get maximum resolution of 1400 x 1050 on 14.1" matrix and 1024 x 768 on 13.3" TFT. ThinkPad T23 also has VGA output port, where you can attach external monitor or projector. Maximum external resolution is 1600 x 1200.
Networking
ThinkPad T23 comes with all needed network devices. It has integrated Mini-PCI V.90 56.6kbps modem, 10/100Mbit Ethernet card and 802.11b wireless card and antenna installed. With this laptop you have all possible Internet connection methods available. Of course you can still install some additional network device as PC Card if you want to.
Ports and Expansion Slots
Although T-Series of ThinkPads is designed for highly mobile users, it has nearly every port that you might need. It has serial RS232, parallel (LPT) ports available, which many today laptops lack. There is one PS/2 port, which supports both external keyboard and mouse. You may find also two USB 1.1 ports, which is nice change comparing to previous models that had only one USB. You can easily use ThinkPad T23 for presentations using VGA or S-Video TV-Out ports. There is also IrDA 1.1 4Mbps available. Some users may miss FireWire but none of T-Series laptops have it installed.
Batteries
Battery is the same as in previous models. It's 6-cell Li-Ion 4400mAh battery, which lasts for about 3.5 hours of use. Battery lifetime depends of course on how you are using your laptop. Optical drives and HDD consumes a lot of energy, so if you want to extend work time you should delimit their use. Also devices like Wi-Fi or Ethernet cards as well as PC Card extensions require a lot of energy. Fortunately, thanks to universality of UltraBay 2000 Plus, you can install additional battery giving yourself few additional hours of work time.
Quality of Product
It's hard to find user that is not pleased with his IBM laptop. They are all high quality products designed with care and user's comfort in mind. ThinkPads are build from the best materials, which do not crack, break or rub away so easily as in some other notebooks. Even after few years of use, your laptop may look almost like new one. People appreciate great finish, comfort of use and durability of ThinkPad laptops. It's definitely product worth buying.
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