IBM's new APS hard drive protection in T41 and R50

[manko]

IBM debuts hard drive 'airbag' crash protection

Essentially, APS watches out for sudden movement and parks the hard drive's read/write head when it detects. The heads are released when the system is no longer moving. IBM compares the technology to a car's airbag system, and although APS just parks the drive heads, IBM reckons that should be enough to protect the drive when the host machine is dropped.

APS will be added to the new ThinkPad R50, a 3.3cm (1.3in) thick 2.5kg (5.6lb) portable offered with either a 14 or 15in screen. IBM is offering a variety of processors, including the Pentium M Centrino chip, Mobile Celeron and Mobile Pentium 4s. A range of hard drive capacities, optical storage units and graphics chips are available through IBM's BTO service. As an alternative to Centrino's 802.11b WLAN adaptor, IBM is offering its own a/b/g wireless card.

The T41 extends the T series, with its 14.1in displays, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics and Pentium M processors, 40 or 80GB of hard drive space and DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.

Though the article says the T41 and R50 are now available on IBM's site, I couldn't find them (at the time of this post).

 

[pushlatency]

Damnit, I hope the register isn't just screwing with us, I want to see the new IBMs! Yeah I checked the UK and US sites, haven't seen anything yet, I'll dive into the model matrix and see if I can find anything there.

 

[Yomicron]

Originally posted by: pushlatency
Damnit, I hope the register isn't just screwing with us, I want to see the new IBMs! Yeah I checked the UK and US sites, haven't seen anything yet, I'll dive into the model matrix and see if I can find anything there.

IBM Press Release

 

[bharok]

Has anyone been able to find the actual updated laptops?

 

[Pandaren]

Checked IBM's U.S. website - nothing yet

I expect the T41 to be basically the same as the T40, but I am very curious to see what the R50 is like.

 

[JZilla]

FWIW cNet has previews on both of them, but they really don't say much. The R50 looks like a very good laptop, it's not so bulky anymore. I hope the prices won't go up as I'm ready to buy.

 

[pushlatency]

Hmmm...I'm not really convinced that the R50 is any slimmer or fatter, seems to be about the same size as the previous R40 14.1 inch models (at least the 14.1 inch R50 that's currently available). It does have a new "Ultrabay Enhanced" and Combo Drive V which I haven't seen before. Price don't seem significantly different.

 

[babisjhu]

T41

Very nice prices!!!!

 

[eriqesque]

the T41 from what i can tell is the exact same as the T40 with this new shock protection for the HD
and lower prices.
Just found out the new T41 also now supports PC2700 DDR

 

[Pandaren]

Hmmm...I'm not really convinced that the R50 is any slimmer or fatter, seems to be about the same size as the previous R40 14.1 inch models

The R40 is 1.53" in it's slimmest incarnation, and the R50 is 1.3".

From the picture posted on CNET, it looks very similar to the T40. I can tell that it is slightly different from the T40 though because the plastic on each side of the LCD housing is symentrical, whereas the T40 has a thicker plastic edge on the Right hand side and no overhang on the left.

 

[nanyangview]

looks a like a good protection system for HDs..i guess it is useful for thoe pple with UBER sensitive/important datas.

For laymans like us, even thou the data might be saved..other parts of the laptop like the screen are sure to be fubared after a drop

 

[pushlatency]

The R40 is 1.53" in it's slimmest incarnation, and the R50 is 1.3".

Yup, looks like you're right, it is thinner, I see a height of 1.46" right now for the 18362UU (the only R50 model thats up on IBMs site), but lets see what happens when the rest of the models roll in.

just out of curiousity though, where did you see 1.3?

You're right also about the form factor, its changed significantly, ports are all switched around and such from the R40, and in generally its looking more like the T40/T41(?). I'm getting excited about this one as well. Hopefully they'll have more models queued up for ordering soon. I'd like ot see what the 15" ones have.

 

[pushlatency]

Oh and by the way, in case anyone is interested, the new Combo V drive in the R50 seems to be 8x24x24x24 as opposed to 8x24x10x24 with the combo IV

 

[Pandaren]

just out of curiousity though, where did you see 1.3?

CNET Preview

From the Link:

The new ThinkPad R series, available with 14- and 15-inch screens, weighs less than six pounds and measures 1.3 inches thick.

 

[Pandaren]

From the front page:

AnandTech Article on IBM HDD Technology

 

[AndrewKu]

The article has been updated with a pic of an R50 laptop. Hope that quenches your curiousity.

 

[Pandaren]

he article has been updated with a pic of an R50 laptop. Hope that quenches your curiousity.

That's a good pic - high enough res that I can see some details!

- Looks like the keyboard is the same as the T40
- The ports on the left hand side look nearly identical to that of the T40, but note the FireWire port right behind the PC Card slots

 

[AndrewKu]

Originally posted by: Pandaren

he article has been updated with a pic of an R50 laptop. Hope that quenches your curiousity.

That's a good pic - high enough res that I can see some details!

- Looks like the keyboard is the same as the T40
- The ports on the left hand side look nearly identical to that of the T40, but note the FireWire port right behind the PC Card slots

Good to know.

 

[hox]

I just got off the phone with IBM. I am placing an order for a T41 with a 1.7 ghz centrino. I will post an evaluation of the machine when I receive it. The model I ordered is 23739FU.

 

[pushlatency]

Okay, so there are some interesting new java 3d tours available on IBM's website. There posess a good deal of info on the models, and the 3d models themselves are pretty detailed.

So anyway, not much different going on with the T41, although a version including a 128MB ATI FireGL is/will be available. It doesn't specify which FireGL that will be, perhaps the 9000, perhaps something else. I don't know the details of ATIs FireGL line so I'm not going to make any speculations. I still wish it had 1394 integrated. hum.

The R50 does seems significantly changed, thinness starting at 1.3" (I think it may thicken to 1.46 further down the machine, the new R50 is somewhat sloped like the G40s) on the 14.1 and starting at 1.5" on the 15" models.

So take a look, its generally informative, answered a bunch of questions I had about the range of docks that are available.
Thinkpad home
Then just click on the tours.

 

[Pandaren]

The 3D models are very nice The R50 looks like a winner, and I'm hoping to see a full review soon.