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October 16, 2000

ThinkPad A21p: The Very Best
-- Jonathan Blackwood (WinMag)

If you're the type of person who just wants the best, IBM's new
ThinkPad A21p is the corporate notebook for you. With a gorgeous
15-inch display with UXGA (1600x1200) resolution and
850MHz Pentium III processor, this three-spindle notebook redefines
"desktop replacement." 

An ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics
controller with 16MB of dedicated video RAM drives that
display. The hard disk is capacious at 32GB, and of course
there's an 8X DVD drive, 128MB of RAM and an integrated V.90
modem. Windows 2000 was preinstalled, and a Lotus
SmartSuite Millenium Edition CD-ROM disc is included in the
package. 

The keyboard has near-perfect spacing and tactile response,
though the Fn key is at bottom left where the Ctrl key should
be. Since IBM invented the TrackPoint cursor control device,
that's the only device provided (or available, aside from using an
external mouse or trackball). All the usual ports are present,
but IBM envisions this system being used for video editing (there's
an UltraPort for attaching a video camera), so there are S-Video
ports for sending signals both out and in. Naturally, there are two
32-bit PC Card slots. Like its predecessors, there's a
"ThinkLight" to illuminate the keyboard in low-light situations.

This is a large notebook, at 1.8 by 13.0 by 10.5 inches and a travel
weight with power cord and adapter of 8.4 pounds. Battery life on our
super rigorous rundown test came in at two hours and 20 minutes.
Normal use should give you well over three hours on a charge. 

This being a corporate notebook, there are a bevy of manageability
and security features, such as DMI 2.0 compliance and password-protectable
hard disks. 

Performance was excellent: The A21p earned a WinScore 6.0 mark of 91.
The scores on all our tests were good, but the video result, at 92%
the throughput of our 933MHz Dull OptiPlex GX200 reference PC,
was particularly outstanding for a notebook. The ThinkPad A21p scored
a WINdex rating of 7.2, high enough to earn a spot on our
WinList of recommended products, where it replaces the Toshiba
Tecra 8100 Series 13CF3. 

IBM earned a Good rating on the 1999 Winmag.com PC Reliability Support Survey.
IBM backs the ThinkPad A21p with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty.
If you've got to have the best, here it is. The A21p exudes quality,
and is a pleasure to use.