Lenovo releases the ThinkPad X41 Tablet PC

Lenovo has announced a new member of the ThinkPad portfolio, this time a Tablet PC. The ThinkPad X41 Tablet promises to change the Tablet market by offering a writable slate with full-size keyboard, and light weight. Starting at 3.5 pounds and 1.14-inches thin, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet is nearly 20 percent lighter than its closest competitor.

A convertible tablet PC offers mobile professionals the choice of working in two ways: as a tablet with digital pen, or as a traditional notebook PC. Equipped with the ThinkPad full-size keyboard, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet provides 170-degree viewing, an optional integrated fingerprint reader, and expandability through the optional new ThinkPad X4 Dock. The tablet also offers standard anti-reflective and anti-glare coatings to maximize indoor viewability.

According to the company, some of the models of the ThinkPad X41 Tablet boast the longest standard battery life of any 12-inch convertible tablet, at up to 6.3 hours on select models with the optional 8-cell battery. For mobile workers who demand anytime and anywhere access, users can combine the ThinkPad X41 Tablet's unique battery options to deliver all-day computing, offering up to 8.5 hours of battery life with the optional 8-cell system battery and separate Extended Life Battery.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet relies on ThinkVantage Technologies that include the Active Protection System, an integrated motion sensor that can detect sudden changes in movement and temporarily park the hard drive to help protect data from some falls or drops. Also, Rescue and Recovery is a one-button solution that includes a set of self recovery tools to help users diagnose, get help and recover from a software crash, even if the primary operating system will not boot. Wi-Fi wireless connectivity is provided through optional 802.11 a/b/g/ and Access Connections, an award-winning software utility that simplifies the management of wireless and wired connections.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet comes equipped with Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. This OS builds on Windows XP Professional, extending the core operating system with capabilities that support digital pen input, handwriting recognition, speech input and the tablet PC form factor.

The new ThinkPad X41 Tablet is available with the Intel Pentium M Low Volt or Ultra Low Volt processors for longer battery life, Intel 915GM chipset, up to 1.5 GB of PC2-4200 DDR2 memory, and graphics capabilities through the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet Sleeve allows individuals to use the ThinkPad in tablet mode, anywhere, anytime. With 0.4-millimeter-thick plastic cover that users can write through using the provided digital pen, LED/power access, and venting and access ports, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet Sleeve is priced at US$49.

The ThinkPad X41 Tablet will be available on 14 June through select resellers and on-line. Prices for the ThinkPad X41 Tablet start at US$1,899.