Lenovo ThinkPad W500

With the release of the W-line models, Lenovo intends to replace its models from the T series with the W-series’ models. This laptop comes with a geometric design and is covered in black (cover). It is made of robust metallic and plastic pieces. It is equipped with the latest Intel Penryn line processor. The ThinkPad W500 comes with Core 2 Duo T9400 CPU and ATI FireGL V5700 graphics card.

Specifications:
The ThinkPad W500 measures 14.1in (W) x 10.0in (D) x 1.3in (H) and weighs at 6.0lbs. This laptop works on the Intel Centrino 2 together with the vPro Technology. Processor features are Intel Dynamic Acceleration, Intel Trusted Execution Technology, Intel 64 Technology and Intel Virtualization Technology. For now, the Thinkpad W500 comes with two kinds of screens; both are 15in screens but one is a WSXGA panel with a resolution of 1680×1050 pixels and the other, a WUXGA display with a maximum resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. Both types of screen are with a matte non-glare display and provide an average brightness of 140cd/m². There’s the T9600 CPU with 2.8 Ghz 6MB L2-Cache and 1066 MHz FSB featured on the W500 as well as for FPU, there’s the Profi Graphics Card from ATI, a FireGL V5700 with 512MB video memory. Just like the other models from the Thinkpad series, in the W500, there’s an integrated UMTS broadband module. With the integrated UMTS broadband module and a local carrier, this laptop can be connected to the internet and also it can be used in mobile operations. Built-in devices are a SIM card reader, a Cellular antenna, ThinkLight and Wireless LAN antenna. Aside from that, there’s the usual keyboard which is alike the keyboards from the Thinkpad models with its own standard rows of keys and numerals and then there’s the touchpad/trackpoint that comes with a 7.0 x 3.7 centimeter navigation surface (touchpad). This laptop has integrated loudspeakers which are located on the left and right of the keyboard on the laptop. The battery provided with this laptop is a 6-cell 5.2 Ah (56.16 Wh) lithium-ions battery and this battery can be replaced with a 9-cell battery. There’s also the ultra-bay slot and through that, a supplement battery can be added if needed.
As far as expansion and connectivity slots are concerned, there is a 1.0 x Ultrabay Slim, there are 1.0 x CardBus (Type I/II), 2.0 (1.0) x Memory (SO DIMM 204-pin) and 1.0 (1.0) x ExpressCard/54 for the total of expansions(free) and lastly, there are interfaces for 1.0 x Hi-Speed USB (VGA – 168 pin docking), 1.0 x Docking/port replicator (Phone line – RJ-45), 1.0 x Modem (Input – 4 pin FireWire), 1.0 x Network (Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, Mini-phone 3.5 mm), 3.0 x Display/video (Output – 20 pin DisplayPort) , 1.0 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 1.0 x Display/video (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm), 1.0 x Microphone ( 4 pin USB Type A) and 1.0 x Headphones (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)). Interfaces spots are located on both the left and right side of the laptop. The driver (disc) is located on the right. On the front are where the Firewire 1394a port, a 7in1 media card reader, WLAN switch and audio ports such as for microphone input and headphone input. There’s also a display port on the laptop that is compatible to be used with VGO, DVI, and HDMI. An ExpressCard and PCCard slot can also be found featured on the laptop. On the back is where the modem interface is located as well as the Kensington lock. This laptop has an integrated fingerprint scanner and this fingerprint scanner helps to gain access to this laptop, have their respective user accounts as well as the management of password inputs. There’s also an integrated TMP v1.2 chip that helps to provide security for the laptop’s user’s data. Wireless capabilities featured are IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11 n draft.
This laptop includes installed software such as Intervideo WinDVD, Roxio Creator and Adobe Acrobat Reader. There’s also the Thinkvantage Tools which helps in the control and management of the W500. Consumers have the choice of having their own webcam installed in this laptop. Additional features include the Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT), a security lock slot with the cable lock sold separately, power-on password, hard drive password, ThinkVantage Active Protection System and administrator password. Compliant standards are GOST, VCCI-II, CCC, CE, CB, MPR III, CER, UL 60950, MIC, SASO, MPR II, NOM, cUL, BSMI and FCC Part 15 B. A one year warranty is made available when purchasing this laptop for service and support. Operating system in this laptop is Microsoft Windows Vista Business and it can be downgraded to XP Professional. Software provided for this is the Windows XP Professional recovery DVD. A 6-cell Lithium ion battery is included with an external power device.

Reviews:

“The ThinkPad W500 is undeniably a very capable laptop. It’s very quick, well built and, among 15.4in machines, it occupies a unique niche with that high-resolution screen and workstation certification. But despite all that, we’re not convinced that all of this justifies the high price tag that goes with it. Unless the ISV certification is a deal breaker for you or your business, the ThinkPad T500 offers almost as much for considerably less outlay.” (PC Pro, 2009)