Full Review

Over the last five years, I've had the opportunity to examine numerous notebooks. Some of them I've used personally, others I have helped people learn or troubleshoot, yet others I have bought and configured for friends. With each new notebook that I've handled and examined, I have come to admire IBM more and more...

The latest notebook I have been using is a 600X with a 500 Mhz Pentium III, 128 MB RAM, 12.0 GB Hard Drive, 13.3 inch XGA TFT 1024x768 capable display, a 24X CD-ROM, integrated 56K modem, and a running Windows 2000 Professional. It is model number 2645-8PU.

As with any Thinkpad, the keyboard is very ergonomic and comfortable. Its TrackPoint is sensitive just in the right amount and is the next best alternative to an external mouse (add me to the list of people who hate Touchpads). The display is bright and clear, text is easily legible. There is some blending between light colors (e.g., it is hard to differentiate a light yellow and a white), but that should be expected of any notebook. I've listened to both CDs and MP3's (Thank you Napster!), and the sound quality is satisfactory but not perfect. The one problem I have noticed is that I get a little distortion if I click the mouse while listening to a digital source, but I don't know if it is a hardware or a software problem. It hasn't bothered me enough to spend time trying to figure it out.

Most important of all, the laptop is only around 5lbs. It is also one of the fastest notebooks that I have examined. For its specs, it is performing very respectably, actually perhaps even better than a comparable Dell Desktop I am using.

Over time, I've had Dell notebooks that have had problems with their hard-disk caching and performance, Gateways that are just not ergonomic, Compaqs that continuously behave erratic, Toshibas which simply give away, and WinBooks that have never worked the way they are supposed to. But, I am yet to find an IBM notebook that does not perform to expectations.

True, they are more expensive than other brands. But, this one sure deserves the premium.