New IBM ThinkPad X41

April 6, 2005

Building on trends in biometric adoption, identity verification costs and government compliance, IBM today announced the ThinkPad X41 ultraportable notebook -- its lightest and smallest ThinkPad with a built-in fingerprint reader. And IBM also announced new ThinkPad software that automatically performs a complete system hardware check and installs the latest drivers, BIOS, and options required for peak performance.

Weighing in at only 2.7 pounds(1), the new X41 combines advanced biometric capabilities with an ultraportable design and extended battery life, providing road warriors and traveling business users with power, performance and versatility. Without passwords that could be stolen, lost or misplaced, fingerprint identification helps reduce the number of help desk calls and costs associated with password resets and system lock out, which can be extremely costly for business travelers.

Havertys Furniture, an Atlanta-based company with more than 115 showrooms in 16 states, uses ThinkPad notebooks equipped with fingerprint readers to add an extra layer of security as well as restrict access to sensitive data and customer information. The ThinkPad notebooks have also helped improve employee productivity and reduce PC downtime for the furniture and accessories company.

"We have employees who work both in the office and on the go and the ThinkPad with integrated fingerprint reader enables them to quickly access files without the hassle of keying-in passwords, helping ensure that our intellectual capital and company information are protected on the PC," said Pat Zurica, Director of Technical Services at Havertys Furniture. "The fingerprint reader is an added layer of security and peace-of-mind, allowing us to remain focused on our top priority, customer service."

Since the deployment of the first ThinkPad T42 notebooks with the integrated fingerprint reader, customers have told IBM that the new technology helps people identify themselves without remembering complex passwords, helps them meet new regulatory compliance requirements, and helps reduce the number of calls to help desks for password resets.

Prices for the ThinkPad X41 start at $1,999.

ThinkPad - The Traveling IT Help Desk

IBM today unveiled new Thinkpad software that can automatically perform a check of your system's software and compare it to a list of available updates. Users will be able to obtain available files such as drivers and BIOS updates or even updates to system utilities. The new software helps each user obtain the most up-to-date and critical system upgrades that are available (2). Combined with the latest version of Rescue and Recovery, a ThinkVantage Technology preloaded in an embedded, pre-boot emergency system providing one-button access to tools that can recover from a software failure, the new downloadable tool further empowers users to be self-sufficient by enabling them to easily update and monitor their PCs and repair their software images.

Improved Performance, Ease-of-Use and Serviceability

The new ThinkPad X41 is equipped with the Intel Pentium M Processor, Intel 915GM chipset with 400MHz front side bus, and robust graphics capabilities through the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900. Supporting all of the power and graphics capabilities, the ThinkPad X41 includes the ThinkPad Power Manager, allowing end-users to have control over the thermal management of their notebook PC, specifically the processor speed and the speed of the fan that cools the processor, two devices that significantly impact battery life. Power Manager also includes additional power management features that let users create battery schemes tailored for their specific computing needs.

Along with the cost saving benefits of the complete suite of ThinkVantage Technologies, the ThinkPad X41 shares a common image with the ThinkPad T43 and ThinkPad R52, helping businesses to simplify integration of the new ThinkPad X41 into their PC environment, and helping reduce the overall total cost of PC ownership.

Today's announcement also includes a number of options that enhance the mobile computing experience. The ThinkPad X41 is designed to work with the optional X4 UltraBase Dock, providing an additional expansion option for mobile workers while bringing the combined weight to only 4 pounds. With the X4 UltraBase Dock, people have the flexibility of UltraBay Slim devices such as additional batteries, CD or DVD optical drives, added media options and increased storage capacity.

ThinkPad X41 Express Models Swipe Away Costs for SMBs

Express models of the ThinkPad X41 notebook announced today help small- and medium-sized businesses reduce the costs associated with password management and resets. The IBM Think Express program, part of the broad IBM Express Portfolio, combines select ThinkPad notebooks with aggressive pricing and good availability to meet limited budgets and quick delivery requirements.