The IBM notebook version ThinkPad T43, one that is particularly targeted at professional buyers, has the speed and power to run any typical business application. The ThinkPad trade name of IBM notebook computers has garnered the status of being notebooks of significant quality, solidly constructed, with a sleek design and a highly professional appearance given their typical matte black color.

This IBM notebook model, like some others in the T series, comes with notable and impressive features like a keyboard light, a biometric fingerprint reader, shock absorbers for the hard-drive, an embedded security subsystem, and a speed dial function for multiple network connections.

Furthermore, this particular IBM notebook is both thin and lightweight. Available in either a 15-inch or a 14.1-inch SXGA screen, it has a TFT monitor and is housed within a strong Titanium composite case. The optical drive comes as either a CD-RW or a DVD-RW drive.

The bay you'll find in this IBM notebook is called the UltraBay. It is a fully modular bay which can be used for an extra battery, an alternative optical drive or even as a tray for holding a secondary hard drive.

You may find that one of the most attractive feature of this IBM notebook is the keyboard. The keys have been neatly arranged in 7 rows. Given the inclusion of a pointing stick, a touch-pad and multiple mouse buttons, you have several options for screen cursor movement.

Just above the keyboard, you'll find the power button, a volume up and down button and a mute button. Similarly. you can find the Access IBM button which will launch an IBM application called Access IBM. Access IBM serves as a guide to using, protecting, configuring and updating software on your IBM notebook.

Just as with any other IBM notebook in the ThinkPad series, you won't find a "Windows" key. Still, the keyboard of this IBM notebook is basically unmatched in both convenience and ergonomics.

Powered by a Pentium M processor, this IBM notebook model comes with an integrated Intel 2915 PRO/Wireless 802.11 a/b/g internal wi-fi card and has an Ultra-Connect Wireless Antenna which is hidden in the upper right-hand area of the monitor. The fingerprint reader eliminates the need for users to remember multiple passwords (now that's a nice feature!).

It comes with a standard 6-cell Lithium Ion rechargeable battery that should last over 3 hours. The IBM notebook ThinkPad T43 comes standard with multiple features and utilities. In addition, you'll get a 3 year customer carry-in global hardware warranty.

While an IBM notebook tends to carry a somewhat higher price tag than alternative models from other notebook manufacturers, this is a very popular notebook since it is a feature rich, reliable notebook, with an excellent warranty and all the qualities most business notebook users find essential. And the IBM brand helps convince the accountants that it's a wise purchase option.

Copyright 2006 Richard Keir