First New ThinkPad Since Lenovo Bought IBM PC Division

June 8, 2005

Lenovo yesterday announced the newest member of the ThinkPad portfolio — the ThinkPad X41 Tablet, creating a new alternative in tablet computing without compromises in weight or function.
Previous tablets required people and businesses to make a choice. Either they picked a heavy convertible — including both tablet slate and keyboard — or they picked a lighter tablet slate without a keyboard. The ThinkPad X41 Tablet offers a new trifecta in tablet innovation — writable slate, full-size keyboard, and light weight. Starting at 3.5 pounds and 1.14-inches thin, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet is nearly 20 percent lighter than its closest competitor and delivers the longest standard battery life of any 12-inch convertible tablet.

In their drive to improve all aspects of patient health care, professionals at the University of Virginia Health System consider the deployment of tablet PCs to be an important next step. For example, tablet PCs provide immediate access to extensive patient information at the point-of-care, including past history, medical tests, treatment, diagnosis, and educational material. In addition, secure mobile tablets in a complete network solution can eliminate the need to re-enter patient data on a stationary terminal, helping to drive down administrative costs, reduce errors in patient data, and liberate physicians to spend more time in patient care.

"We expect tablets to become an integral component of our health care process," said Corb Ardrey, information systems manager, University of Virginia Health System, which is evaluating the ThinkPad X41 Tablet for possible use in more than 100 clinics in Charlottesville and throughout the state. "Equipped with state-of-the-art wireless, security, and the full power and functionality of a traditional notebook PC, tablets will help enable our health care professionals to be productive in ways that better serve our patients."

A convertible tablet PC offers mobile professionals the choice of working in two ways — as a tablet with digital pen, or as a traditional notebook PC. Equipped with the ThinkPad signature full-size keyboard, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet provides 170-degree viewing, an optional integrated fingerprint reader for unsurpassed security, the latest ThinkVantage Technologies for reliability and convenient wireless connectivity, and flexible one-step expandability through the optional new ThinkPad X4 Dock. The tablet also offers standard anti-reflective and anti-glare coatings to maximize indoor viewability.

Significant Milestone for Tablet PC Platform

"The launch of the ThinkPad X41 Tablet marks a significant milestone for the Tablet PC platform and is a well-timed response to the growing demand we’re seeing for Tablet PC functionality," said Bill Mitchell, Corporate Vice President responsible for mobile PC computing at Microsoft Corporation. "The ThinkPad brand has a distinguished history of industry-leading design and innovation and is a great notebook PC by itself — but augmented with Tablet PC features it really shines, especially in the enterprise market."

Select models of the ThinkPad X41 Tablet boast the longest standard battery life of any 12-inch convertible tablet, at up to 6.3 hours on select models with the optional 8-cell battery. For mobile workers who demand anytime and anywhere access, users can combine the ThinkPad X41 Tablet’s unique battery options to deliver all-day computing, offering up to 8.5 hours of battery life with the optional 8-cell system battery and separate Extended Life Battery.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet relies on ThinkVantage Technologies to make the difference for today’s mobile worker. These include the Active Protection System, an integrated motion sensor that can detect sudden changes in movement and temporarily park the hard drive to help protect valuable data from some falls or drops. Also, Rescue and Recovery is a one-button solution that includes a set of self recovery tools to help users diagnose, get help and recover from a software crash, even if the primary operating system will not boot. Wi-Fi wireless connectivity is provided through optional 802.11 a/b/g/ and Access Connections, an award-winning software utility that simplifies the management of wireless and wired connections.

Combining Lenovo’s hardware- and software-based security solution and integrated fingerprint reader, select models of the ThinkPad X41 Tablet are the most secure tablet PCs available today. The Embedded Security Subsystem includes an integrated security chip and Client Security Software, helping to protect and encrypt vital proprietary information and security passwords, encryption keys and electronic credentials.

A Reliable and Powerful Tool

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet comes equipped with Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. This builds on Windows XP Professional, extending the core operating system with capabilities that support digital pen input, handwriting recognition, speech input and the tablet PC form factor.

The new operating system comes with Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technology, which provides an enhanced security infrastructure that helps defend against hackers, viruses, and other security risks, along with increased manageability and control for IT professionals.

The new ThinkPad X41 Tablet is available with the Intel Pentium M Low Volt or Ultra Low Volt processors for longer battery life, Intel 915GM chipset, up to 1.5 GB of PC2-4200 DDR2 memory, and robust graphics capabilities through the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900.

Designed Into the ThinkPad Portfolio

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet is available with the new ThinkPad X4 Dock, which provides the same functionality as the ThinkPad X4 Ultrabase Dock in a stationary form factor. Offering additional expansion options for mobile workers, the new dock provides increased functionality, flexible expansion and cable management, and is compatible with the ThinkPad X40, ThinkPad X41 and ThinkPad X41 Tablet. The ThinkPad X4 Dock includes 3 USB 2.0 ports, legacy ports, Ultrabay Slim device bay, 56W AC adapter and integrated key lock and cable lock slot for added security. Its price is $219.

Also available today, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet Sleeve allows individuals to use the ThinkPad in tablet mode, anywhere, anytime. With 0.4-millimeter-thick plastic cover that users can write through using the provided digital pen, LED/power access, and excellent venting and access ports, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet Sleeve is the perfect companion to the ThinkPad X41 Tablet, and is priced at $49.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet will be available on June 14 through select resellers and through http://www.lenovo.com and http://www.ibm.com. Lenovo personal computers are also available through select business partners. Prices for the ThinkPad X41 Tablet start at $1,899.