The IBM ThinkPad X series has always been a rock-solid ultraportable for any businessperson on the move. The X41 ($1,899 direct), the latest model from Lenovo/IBM, changes very little, though it now has Intel's latest Centrino components and a fingerprint reader.

The ThinkPad X41 looks exactly the same on the outside as all of the previous ThinkPads: It's still business-class black and built like a miniature tank. The cover and base are made from a tough magnesium alloy. Its steel hinges make flexing the screen virtually impossible. When compared with the Toshiba Portégé R200 ($2,099), the X41 looks a little stodgy. The R200 is much sleeker and lighter (2.7 pounds) than the ThinkPad X41 (3.2 pounds), with many of the same features, including a 12.1-inch screen and full-size keyboard. And though there's nothing wrong with the R200's keyboard, the X41's keyboard is hands down the best among ultraportables. IBM also has the pointing-stick technology nailed down.

The X41 outperforms the R200, thanks to an LV Pentium M 758 (1.5 GHz), but it couldn't outperform the Acer Travelmate 3002WTCi and the MPC Transport U1000, both of which house higher clocked processors. The X41's standard battery outlasted the MPC U1000's on MobileMark 2005, but came up short against the MPC's longer lasting, extended battery which lasted 7:02. Though IBM's extended battery delivered a very good 5:32, competitors like the Toshiba R200, the MPC U1000, and the Dell Latitude X1 are offering similar, if not more formidable extra batteries.

A highlight of the ThinkPad is the company's renowned ThinkVantage security suite, which comes on every Lenovo/IBM system. The X41 also comes with a built-in fingerprint reader and TPM (Trusted Platform Module), a hardware chip that secures your passwords and works in tandem with the fingerprint reader for even tighter security. (See a diagram and read our explanation on how TPM works.) IBM's Rescue and Recovery suite is a solid backup solution, much better than the solution that comes with the R200. The entire suite is tied to one interface, and to get started all you need to do is press the blue Access IBM button. Toshiba offers EasyGuard, which is also very competent, to compete with these offerings, but it's not as well integrated.

The X41's 40GB hard drive is smaller than the R200's 60GB drive, and its optical drive is external, located in the docking station that comes bundled for the price. You also have the option of purchasing an external DVD±RW drive ($429). Toshiba offers an external USB 2.0 drive, without dock, for an additional cost.

The IBM ThinkPad X41 is great for any frequent traveler and it's an excellent choice among the ultraportable heavyweights.

Check out these top ultraportables in a side-by-side comparison table.

Benchmark Test Results
Check out the Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad X41's test scores.