The Thinkpad X61 tablet, part of the Lenovo Thinkpad X Series, can be used as a traditional laptop but also as a tablet. The design allows the user to simply turn the screen around and then fold it back to create a tablet computer.

 

X61s are also available as standard laptops without the swivelling screen and these laptops are favoured due to their small size and high quality build.

 

When in either normal or tablet mode you can use the special pen to interact with the touch-screen on an X61 tablet.

 

The X61 is highly portable, being both small and light. Although it is small, it still has many great features.

 

Built into the X61 are 3 USB ports, one standard PCMCIA slot, a modem, ethernet port, firewire port, VGA output and headphone and microphone ports. There is also a convenient slot in which to store the included touch-screen pen.

 

To save space a CD-rom drive is not included but you can buy an optional "tablet ultrabase" (part number 42X4323) which is basically a docking station and then add a CD-rom drive (part number 42T2501). The Ultrabase also features 4 USB ports as well as a parallel port and serial port.

 

Upgrading the X61 is simple - the RAM modules are held underneath the tablet and to reach them you simply remove two screws.

 

Unlike many Thinkpads, there is no need to remove the keyboard or palm rest.

 

X61s take DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM to a maximum of 4GB. With two memory slots, you could add 2 x 2GB sticks.

 

The hard disk drive type is 2.5" SATA and the disk is easily replaced by removing one screw and replacing the existing HDD in its cradle.

 

Beside the memory slots, there is a small enclosure for a SIM card - this is where you place a 3G-enabled SIM card in order to use the built-in 3G capabilities.

 

All-in-all the X61, whether the standard or tablet variety, is a superb business machine and highly reliable.

 

With 2GB of RAM or more it is easily able to run Windows XP, Vista or even Windows 7.

 

With its small size and light weight it could even be used as a netbook-type machine, the advantage being that an X61 is far more powerful than most netbooks and only slightly bigger.