IBM ThinkPad G41

IBM's ThinkPad G41 may be a low cost desktop replacement system, but it lacks so many features found in competitor systems that it makes it hard to recommend.

1/19/05 - IBM is a company in transition now that it has been purchased by Leveno. Its major focus currently is on corporate customers and that is likely going to change. Hopefully this will improve systems system as the ThinkPad G41.

IBM's ThinkPad G41 desktop replacement is powered by an Intel Mobile Pentium 4 532 (3.06GHz) processor. This is a fairly decent processor for the system, but it is hampered by only 256MB of PC2700 DDR memory. This is barely enough memory to run the Windows XP Professional software that comes with the system.

Storage is below average for the desktop replacement market. The ThinkPad G41 comes standard with a 40GB hard drive and a 24x CD-RW Combo hard drive. With the falling costs of DVD burners, many notebook manufacturers are starting to include them standard on most system. While external storage is possible thanks to the four USB 2.0 ports, the system does lack FireWire and integrated media card reader slots.

IBM is also behind on the trend for graphics as well. The ThinkPad G41 is based on a fairly old shell now that limits it to a standard dimension 15" LCD screen. Most desktop replacement systems now feature wide screen displays. Powering the display is GeForce Go5200 which is decent for general graphics but not for any 3D gaming applications.

Overall, the IBM ThinkPad G41 is a dated system that is well behind the current trends for desktop replacements. It is time for Leveno to overhaul IBM's consumer desktop computer lines.