IBM ThinkPad R50e Reviews
Given its very inexpensive price, the IBM R50e notebook has good features for the money. Generally, not targeted at the gaming crowd, this computer will likely fulfill more modest laptop needs.
Quick IBM ThinkPad R50e Specifications:
-Processor type Celeron M , 1.5 GHz
-RAM installed size 128 MB 333Mhz DDR , supported: 2GB
-Hard drive: 30 GB , IDE 4200 rpm
-Graphics: Intel 855GM, 14.1 in display, 1024 x 768
The ThinkPad R50e Reviews
Latest IBM ThinkPad R50e review comes from BIOS Magazine. They write:
“There’s no disputing that IBM (now Lenovo) builds some of the best business laptops in the industry. The R50e laptop , like its ThinkPad siblings, offers a robust design and solid everyday performance, but consumers looking for whizz-bang multimedia features will be left wanting. The system’s price tag will attract many, but you should be aware that its feature are scant – especially when you can get much more from other manufacturers. Business buyers looking for a fleet of reliable workstations, however, should love this budget model.”
The advantages of this laptop model from IBM seems to be the attractive starting price, the top-notch build (it is expectable from an IBM laptop) and excellent support tools:
“One of the most impressive features of ThinkPad laptops is their market leading build quality. The ergonomic keyboards are also outstanding and feature one-button access to the excellent HTML-based animated electronic manual. In addition, the keys depress deeply and quietly and offer a good level of response. In fact, the keyboard on the IBM ThinkPad R50e laptop(like all ThinkPads) is far superior to other laptops and makes typing for long periods very comfortable.”
But the editor takes also notice of the absence of the FireWire, S-Video or Bluetooth features. Also, the IBM R50e laptop is considered relatively slow.
The ThinkPad R50e is IBM’s most affordable laptop. The good news is that the wholly-black ThinkPad R50e notebook (332x269x38mm, 2.8kg) looks and feels exactly like any other ThinkPad laptop, even the most expensive ThinkPad T43p (from £2170 ex. VAT). The only physical difference, except for a few connectivity options, is that the ThinkPad R50e lacks a touchpad. Instead, you’ll have to make do with IBM’s excellent trackpoint and three mouse buttons.
Regardless of the lack of a touchpad, the ThinkPad R50e laptop sports a robust build quality synonymous with IBM laptops. The system’s thick metal hinges that connect the core of the base to the top cover might add a little weight, but it keeps it extremely durable. A ThinkLight keyboard light located on the top edge of the display even illuminates the keyboard to let you work in low-light conditions – this sounds trivial but is actually a godsend when working on an aeroplane or in bed.
Let’s remember the IBM ThinkPad R50e review from PC Magazine :
“The IBM R50e (ThinkPad), with its strong design and solid performance, follows in this vein. Yet its weak feature set—no wireless solution, just two USB ports, and a trailing-edge CD-ROM optical drive—makes it hard for us to recommend this for anyone but a true-blue Big Blue diehard…
IBM has a solid reputation for building reliable notebooks. Though the R50e’s price tag for such a scant feature set won’t satisfy many consumers—especially when they see how much more they can get from IBM’s competitors—corporate IT buyers with a fleet of ThinkPads might like this budget entry.”
