While IBM ThinkPads might look a little bulky and coarse compared to some of their competitors, they've generally got it where it counts; delivering in function if not form.
ThinkPad's traditionally have good quality components, and the new R40 2682K4U is no exception. Its 15in TFT is clear and bright, its 2.2GHz mobile P4 CPU generally delivers quick and capable performance, and the comfortable keyboard and receptive TrackPad all combine for a very pleasant, responsive computing experience.

It also packs a built in 802.11a/b adaptor, a three-year warranty, and IBM's outstanding onboard recovery tools.

The K4U is in the middle of the R40 range in terms of specifications, and IBM has sliced a few features to keep the price down although most of these sacrifices are minor.
For example, the graphics chip is only really built to support business apps and may deter the casual gamer.

 It also lacks any writable media devices; it only has DVD, and there's no CD-RW or floppy drive – so there's no way to get data directly off the device without a network or memory key.

Ultimately, the K4U's downfall isn't the lack of these features – it's its price. While it's an excellent example of notebook build quality and offers heaps of added extras, it's a little dear compared to other notebooks we've recently reviewed.