ThinkPad T42 2373 - Pentium M 735 1.7 GHz - 14.1" TFT

Advantages: High spec for low refurb price, Windows XP Pro, great build
Disadvantages: Small hard drive, only 2 USB ports

...these rather than falling for the cheap supermarket high spec laptop thing. High spec yes. High build no. Where are all the parts when you need them? IBM is a well supported brand and the T42 Thinkpad is a popular model. I can see why. ... Read review

Advantages: Slim, very light, IBM cachet, good screen, fantastic keyboard
Disadvantages: Build quality perhaps, ticking hard drive

OK, as I write this, the T42 already has its successors in the T43 and T60 which are in all likelihood higher spec machines, but the T42 has a lot of bang for the money. First off, as a normal user, the 1.7GHz P-M processor is more than adequate, being equivalent to something close to the Pentium 4 3.0GHz and therefore on par with the desktops of the common people. Being an IBM, you may also choose to have a port replicator which would allow you ...
...having to worry about connecting wires etc and you can enjoy more "desktop-like" features, such as possibly a bigger screen, a mouse etc. Amongst other good features, you enjoy a 512MB in-built DDR memory, which is enough for most daily uses and can be upgraded to a whopping 2GB. The only gripe I have with this is that to get to 2GB would entail having 2 x 1GB memory sticks and it's not very easy to take out the original 512MB. I haven't tried it, ... Read review

Advantages: Reliable, Well Made, Great features
Disadvantages: Older technology

I got my self a T42 to use a laptop for university, something that I could take to lectures and also use back at my house. I couldn't have made a Better Purchase I paid around £800 for mine around a year ago, and it has been worth every penny. Not only is it a reliable chipset it also comes with great support from the IBM Website with updates and new software, programs and Bios updates, all to improve usability. I have not yet had any thing break ...
...generation of laptop but a safe buy second hand as it seems to be indestructible I have dropped bashed and spilled things over and still no problems. The Pentium M processor has given me fast enough capabilities. I use the laptop for all my courses with some very high processing intensive programs and it keeps up. As I am writing this review I am using the T42 while running flash MX, mozilla firefox, itunes and msn, Dreamweaver and a few other programs ... Read review

Advantages: Fast, light, user-friendly
Disadvantages: Dodgy Mousepad

This has been my handy & beloved companion & lasted me throughout my University years. I used it mostly for accessing the Internet & using Office applications. I kept a lot of photos on this computer. I also downloaded about 2000 songs & used it as a music player & a few times as a DVD player for my rented movies. It is fairly lightweight & just small enough to fit in an ordinary sized rucksack, so perfect for commuters or anyone doing work on the ...
...so it came in useful. It is also quite durable; I have dropped it & knocked it a few times (being clumsy n all) yet it has survived well with no screen problems etc. One of the downfalls is that it gets dirty very easily & despite being black, the dust & greasemarks show up blatantly. My computer came with a laptop bag, which has several pockets for charger, CD ROMs & extra devices. It is quite thick & a little heavy, but keeps everything very safe ... Read review