IBM refreshes ThinkPad range

IBM has upgraded its ThinkPad range to incorporate the Mobile Pentium 4 chip. The new machines also come with integrated Bluetooth and 802.11b support, which IBM hopes will give mobile workers improved performance and functionality.

The ThinkPad A31p is the first in a range of mobile workstations. Mike Walker, brand manager for IBM UK and Ireland, said corporate users would notice a marked increase in performance as all previous ThinkPads ran on the Pentium III.

"While it offers higher performance like the Intellistation it is not meant to compete. They work side-by-side and this is meant specifically for mobile users," Walker said.

The A31p is also IBM's first foray into running ATI's Radeon 7800 graphics processor. It also incorporates the Fire GL graphics chip which offers high-quality video playback and 3D imaging.

This is just one of the features which IBM hopes will set it ahead of the rest of the Mobile Pentium 4 pack, and has already proven its worth in some unusual beta environments.

Walker added: "We did assist on the Harry Potter and Stuart Little films, but we weren't allowed to publicise it."

But for many analysts, IBM has failed to distinguish itself from its competitors. Compaq, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Toshiba all recently launched their own Mobile Pentium 4 notebooks.

Andy Brown, analyst at IDC, said: "This looks like just another bog standard IBM release. It's just the desktop replacement for the workstation, which is not that new as Siemens Fujitsu have been doing it for ages with Celsius."

Of course the Mobile P4 will offer increased performance, said Brown, but then so do the other P4 laptops on the market.

Additional features of the A31p include a 15-inch Flexview screen which, IBM's Walker claimed, is 50 per cent brighter than traditional screens with a viewing angle of 170 degrees and an over-screen light for typing in the dark.

However, IBM claims it is the combined Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless support that gives it an edge over competitors.

Walker said: "IBM has the design leadership on wireless. By providing both wireless options, the A31p offers more flexibility for mobile workers. It's especially suited for those working in Finance, CAD and Digital Media."

IBM's A31p will start shipping on 9 April with prices ranging from £2,484 to £2,635.