IBM ThinkPad X40

40 reviews

Jan, 2025

Positive
portability (21)
battery (11)
design (10)
performance (8)
keyboard (8)

Negative
price (6)
touchpad (3)
screen (2)
image quality (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 40 reviews of IBM ThinkPad X40. The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. People really like the size and design. The performance and battery are also appreciated, whereas many are negative about the image quality and screen.

portability, battery, performance, design, size

price, touchpad, screen, image quality

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the IBM ThinkPad X40 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 81/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 40 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(43% of reviews)
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(7% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (14% of reviews)
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Features

portability
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performance
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size
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Showing 26 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 11 of 26 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (14)

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for IBM ThinkPad X40

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1 user review of IBM ThinkPad X40 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.com. Comments about the price and portability are on the whole positive.

portability, price

100% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Jan, 2025

Expert review by : Omar Cintron (pcmag.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40 (Iss. 21 2004)

A tried-and-true favorite among business-class ultraportables, the IBM ThinkPad X40 is hard to compete with.

Good performance, full-size keyboard, standard hard drive space and system memory for everyday apps.

Optical drive in docking station. Few bundled apps.

The ThinkPad X40 is a longtime favorite among traveling users. Portability, power, and smart features have kept it a true winner.

Nov, 2004

Partner Source

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Expert review by (pcworld.com)

ThinkPad X40 Notebook

Ultraportable ThinkPad boasts the finest keyboard for its size.

The ThinkPad X40 may not be a perfect ultraportable, but it does have a lock on the perfect ultraportable keyboard. The keyboard quality may be enough to help you forget you're spending $2299 on the X40 and its docking station, without getting a set of...

Jul, 2004

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Expert review by : Carla Thornton (pcworld.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40 Notebook

Artwork: Rick Rizner, John Goddard

Jul, 2004

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Expert review by : Xiao Ming Wu (cnet.com)

service and support

ThinkPad X40

Light; modular design; excellent performance; long battery life.

Pricey; no FireWire; no integrated optical drive; no touchpad.

Business travelers who like to travel light should definitely consider IBM's sleek, new, full-featured powerhouse: the ThinkPad X40.

Mar, 2004

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Expert review by : Bill Howard (pcmag.com)

Our Favorite Ultraportable: The IBM ThinkPad X40

With the arrival of the best-in-class IBM ThinkPad X40, other ultraportables have a lot of catching up to do.

All in all, the X40 is a nearly flawless system for users who value portability and ruggedness over big screens, big drives, and big footprints. Sure, we look forward to the extra speed the next generation of mobile chips will bring, but for those who...

Feb, 2004

Partner Source

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Expert review by (pcmag.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40

A tried-and-true favorite among business-class ultraportables, the IBM ThinkPad X40 is hard to compete with. Once again, it's our Editors' Choice winner in this space.

Good performance, full-size keyboard, standard hard drive space and system memory for everyday apps

Optical drive in docking station. Few bundled apps

The ThinkPad X40 is ideal for the road warrior who needs portability and essential functionality on the go.

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Expert review by : Hardware Zone (hardwarezone.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40

So what have we gathered from the many hours spent with the ThinkPad X40? For starters, the petite and rugged feel grew on us real quick. The ThinkPad X40 is one of those expensive devices that can really take the punishments of everyday use. Thus, you...

Sep, 2004

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Expert review by : John Chow (thetechzone.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40 Review

You want a notebook that can last all day and look good doing it? The IBM ThinkPad X40 is your dream come true! Not only can the X40 go all day but it's also the world's smallest notebook with a full size keyboard!

World's Smallest notebook with a full size keyboard, Amazing battery life, Excellent keyboard, Built in SD card reader, Low price

IBM won't let me keep it

Jul, 2004

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Expert review by : HardwareCentral (hardwarecentral.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40 Review

A 3.2-pound flyweight (4.9 pounds with optical-drive docking base) with admirable battery life and built-in diagnostic/recovery tools, First-class keyboard; numerous neat little touches

Price climbs quickly as you add options, Merely adequate 1.2GHz processor, inadequate-for-games graphics

Along with Windows XP Professional, Norton AntiVirus 2003, and RecordNow and WinDVD software, the X40 comes with an array of friendly IBM utilities for configuring hardware options, switching between wired and wireless networks, and other management...

Apr, 2004

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Expert review by : Riyad Emeran (trustedreviews.com)

IBM ThinkPad X40 - Ultra-Portable Notebook

The IBM ThinkPad X40 may not be as slim and light as the Sony X505VP, but it's a better all-round solution.

The X40 is slim, stylish, light and ergonomically superior to every other ultra-portable machine I've used. If you want a lightweight traveling companion, the X40 should be top of your list.

Jun, 2004

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