Intel's new Centrino is possibly the most hyped notebook technology ever launched. Centrino is the name for a group of Intel's technologies including a tweaked P3-M CPU, built-in wireless, and excellent battery life.

The T40 managed to impress us with very balanced and capable performance.

Also as promised, this Centrino had very long battery life – it set a new Labs record, delivering five hours 12 minutes under a moderate workload, and six hours under a light workload.

While it may not be quite as attractive as Acer's Centrino (also reviewed this month), the T40 displays IBM's typically outstanding build quality. The TFT is bright and clear, and despite its small form factor, the T40 manages to squeeze in a full-sized keyboard. There's also a general sense of robustness here that not many other manufacturers can match: the hinges on the screen are solid and strong, and the plastic casing feels flexible yet sturdy. Combined with IBM's onboard restore features (so you don't have to worry about carrying around restore CDs in case you're ever in an emergency), the T40 is one very well rounded piece of equipment.

The downside to all these excellent features is that the T40 is a little on the expensive side. But if you want a compact, functional notebook with outstanding battery life, the ThinkPad T40 is an excellent choice.