IBM THINKPAD R40SMB P4M-2G 20GB ( 2896FZU )

IBM THINKPAD R40SMB P4M-2G 20GB ( 2896FZU )
Manufacturer: IBM (Aap Misc Parts)
Product Type: Personal Computer

Editorial Review:
Product Description
ThinkPad R series notebooks are the best blend of portability and essential features with an attractive entry price. These notebooks are for frequently mobile users who want easy, ready-to-run computing. ThinkPad R series are packed with performance features, including a sleek design, a choice of large and bright TFT displays and the power of Intel processors - all at an affordable price.The expanded range of IBM ThinkPad R40 models gives you more choices than ever. Whether it is processor power, display size, or connectivity, you can choose the right balance of portability, strength and affordability for all your mobile users - and their varied needs. IBM ThinkPad R40 models feature ThinkPad UltraNav multi-pointing system. It combines the latest full-function TrackPoint pointing device with an IBM -customized touch pad. Designed using detailed research and analysis, this innovative tool lets you work the way you want. All ThinkPad R40 notebooks include the IBM UltraConnect antenna built into both sides of the display for enhanced signal strength when used with IBM wireless-compatible options.

Average customer rating: 3.0

Excellent machine
Convenient laptop, but over priced
LCD screen died / Bad Customer support
I like it so far
Intermittent Hardware

Similar Items:

Large Capacity Battery for VAIO® SZ, FE, AR, N, C, FS, FJ and S Series notebooks
Sony VAIO SZ Series Docking Station
Sony VAIO VGN-SZ120P/B 13" Notebook PC (Intel Core Duo Processor T2400, 1024 MB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive)
Sony VAIO VGP-AC19V10 Notebook PC AC Adapter
Samsonite L35 Notebook Case

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ230P/B 13.3" Notebook PC (Intel Core Duo Processor T2400, 1024 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD+R Dbl Layer/DVD+/-RW Drive)

Manufacturer: Sony IT
Product Group: Personal Computer
Binding: Personal Computers
ASIN: B000FL1QUW

Related Categories:

Notebooks

Notebooks

| Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics

All Sony

| Sony | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics

Notebooks

Product Description

Sony VAIO(R) VGN-SZ230P/B Notebook PC - This ultra-portable notebook PC comes in at a mere 1" thin, yet housed within it's pint-sized dimensions, you'll find a plethora of features that can easily handle your day-to-day tasks, as well as more demanding creative projects. For example, the Intel Core Duo Processor (1.83 GHz). With two processing cores, it's almost like having two CPUs in one, drastically improving the speed of applications that take advantage of its capabilities. You also get a Dual Layer DVD Writer. Optional Dual Layer DVDs give you up to 8.5GB of storage space per disc. Perfect for backing up massive amounts of images and video files, or to use when you're creating your very own home movie masterpiece. 120GB 5400RPM SATA HDD Dual Layer DVD Writer - (write speeds) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 2x DL DVD-R, 3x DVD-RAM, 8x DVD-R/+R, 4x DVD-RW/+RW, 24x CD-R, & 16x CD-RW Dual Layer DVD Writer - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD & 24x CD 13.3 Widescreen LCD Native Resolution - 1280x800 NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 and 128MB of shared memory (memory is taken from the main system's RAM) Integrated 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Integrated Bluetooth Built-in Camera and Microphone Biometric Fingerprint Sensor Multimedia Card Reader - supports Memory Stick(R) DUO with MagicGate 1 PCMCIA - Type I/II Card Slot Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 2 USB 2.0, 1 (4-pin) FireWire, 1 VGA Out, 1 Headphone, 1 Microphone, & 1 Port Replicator Built-in 56k Modem

Customer Reviews:

Excellent machine.......2006-12-23

This computer is absolutely wonderful.
Fast, and light which is my main concern. The screen is true Sony quality and the switch between the two graphic cards is useful.
Considering this is the only major computer vendor with a 13.3 inch screen it's a perfect combination of small size but still comfortable for viewing.
Highly recommended.

Convenient laptop, but over priced.......2006-11-04

Well, i really liked this laptop ... but it have some drawbacks ... the battery stays HARDLY for 2 hours maximum! The build quality of the case gives you that PLASTIC effect!! But its a very nice machine! I beleive if it is $300 then it would be ok. but all in all, nice laptop.

LCD screen died / Bad Customer support.......2006-09-24

Just before a couple of months after purchase the LCD screen died; now I have to ship the computer to Sony and wait until they send it back, which means I'll have no computer for a couple of weeks. Had a couple of other problems with a printer and my digital camera, called sony support and it was really bad, didn't solve my problem after 2 hours on the phone and their only brilliant solution was telling me to re-install windows.

I'm never buying Sony again...

I like it so far.......2006-08-09

Well, I have had this a couple of months and it has not had obvious hardware failure, except the Cingular wireless antenna falling off immediately out of the box. The salesman told me that the loose fit is intentional. Um! But I don't care as I do not use it.

I had read that Sonys come bundled with a lot of annoying software and it is true. It takes a real effort to uninstall all the AOL stuff. Uninstall it once and it puts an icon on your desktop to reinstall it! Uninstall it again and it is still not totally gone. Uninstalling the AOL toolbar (the only way seems to be to disable the addin) also made IE unstable with my proxy popup filter, so I just grew up and switched to Firefox.

There does seem to be a slight problem with the touchpad. When I am typing a lot (something I always find hard on laptops), sometimes the cursor jumps far away and my text goes to the wrong place. I think this may be because my fingers or wrist get too near the touchpad and cause a mouseclick. I installed an MS 4-button laptop mouse, and this wrecked the touchpad scrolling feature, so I need to uninstall the mouse at some point.

The Vaio is nice and fast compared to my once-puissant but now 3-year old desktop. Rendering a DVD in Pinnacle took over 12 hours on the latter, but only 3 on the Vaio. It certainly gets hot though, which may or may not add to the massive bugginess of Pinnacle (I am switching to Vegas, which may work better on a Sony, I figure). Oh, and I bought some DL DVD+R discs and burned them with the Vaio, with a 50% coaster rate. They are playable in my newer DVD player but not my older one.

Upgrading to more memory is tempting, but would be expensive as both slots are full.

The fingerprint scanner is silly but I kind of like it. The Vaio still boots pretty quick and then I just scan my finger and it logs me in. Usually I have to swipe twice though. And if you totally fail, then it just asks for a BIOS password, so the fingerprint isn't really any more secure. You can use other finger swipes to start programs and so on but there's a limit to how silly I feel like being.

I haven't really pushed the battery but it seems ok. The screen is quite dim in "Stamina" mode, but fine in "Speed" mode. The glass smudges easily. I tried the camera only once -- I suppose it might be nice for Skype, but it's hard to get excited about low-quality cameras.

I like the idea of the hidden partition that can wipe the whole box back to the state you bought it in. I also made the restore disks on two DVDs. The hard disk is big, and plugging in an even bigger external USB drive works well too.

The Vaio update program seems to be telling me that I need to upgrade the fingerprint/security software to the same version that it already is. A lot of the Sony website is similarly confusing.

All in all, I am falling slightly in love with my first serious laptop. I just hope it doesn't betray me by breaking down in the coming months. I'll be back here if it does.

Intermittent Hardware.......2006-07-23

I received this machine and after 2 weeks, used it only a few hours a day and started having hardware crashes, re-installed the machine and had more hardware crashes, called Sony support who had me re-install the machine again and 6 days later, another hardware crash. Even though it is within 30 days Sony would not replace it, so had to send it off for 10 days and hope the problem shows up when they test it. Got the computer back 3 weeks later and it was worse than before, they still would not replace it, but at least now it crashes more often. I called Amazon and they came through after listening to the situation. Amazon is the only way to buy. They should stop selling Sony Computers until Sony improves their low quality. I have owned 2 Dell's, 1 IBM, 1 Accer, 1 iBookG4, 2 Sony's and both Sony's have been a nightmare. I should have never bought another Sony, but thought maybe they had improved. If it was reliable it would have been my best machine ever, battery life is unbelievably good (7 hours on the plane), screen is great and the fingerprint scanner is cool. Get prepared to pay $$$ for replacement batteries.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics

Consumer Electronics

Ricoh Corp. 402272 Aficio G700 Business Inkjet

HANNS-+G HC-194DP 19" LCD Monitor

Toshiba BTO PORTEGE M200 PM-1.5 512MB

ThinkPad T23 Intel Pentium 3-M 1.13GHz / 14.1-inch XGA / 256MB SDRAM / 20GB HDD / DVD-ROM / Windows

Viiv Ready Combo Black

Apple Cinema 20" Flat-Panel Display

IBM 6384 CMOS Battery

Toshiba Tecra 8100 - PIII 650 MHz - RAM : 64 MB - HD : 10 GB - CD - Win2000/NT4.0 - 13.3" TFT 1024 x