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Entered CNET Catalog: 03/07/2005
SKU: 185928U
Manufacturer: Lenovo
Manufacturer description
The ThinkPad R52 notebook features outstanding 3D graphics performance. It offers mainstream performance and features for frequently mobile users who want easy-to-use computing.Product summary
The good: Durable, functional case; solid performance and battery life; ample security features; swappable media bay; standard three-year warranty.
The bad: Undersize touch pad and mouse buttons.
The bottom line: Businesses seeking a sturdy, secure, portable workhorse should consider the IBM ThinkPad R52.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/27/2005
The ThinkPad R52 test system we received came in at 12.4 inches wide, 10.2 inches deep, and 1.3 inches thick and weighed 5.9 pounds--a moderate size and weight for a budget laptop with a 14.1-inch screen. The notebook draws AC power from a demure, 0.8-pound, blackboard-eraser-shaped adapter.
The ThinkPad R52 includes some of the ThinkPad line's trademark design features. Sturdy metal hinges tether the system's lid to the bottom, making the screen a bit less subject to breakage. The ThinkPad R52 also features IBM's traditional red eraser-head pointing stick, with a flat, tactile top that we prefer to the smooth, rounded tops on other pointing sticks. The stick has two mouse buttons of its own, which sit beneath the spacebar and sandwich a handy scroll button. Below the buttons lie a somewhat small touch pad and two more mouse buttons. The ThinkPad R52's comfortable keyboard is another IBM staple, with keys in places familiar to desktop users. The business-minded system doesn't provide as many extra buttons and controls as a multimedia notebook, but it does include four convenient buttons for turning volume up and down, muting the sound, and accessing support information.
IBM takes the guesswork out of configuring the ThinkPad R52 series by offering dozens of preconfigured versions via online resellers and computer stores, though you can also build your own system through the IBM Web site. Head over to CNET's ThinkPad R52 series review for more information on configuration options.
The ThinkPad R52 we tested offered parts that were satisfying overall, including a midrange 1.73GHz Intel Pentium M 740 Sonoma processor, 512MB of fast 533MHz RAM, and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics subsystem, which borrows up to 128MB of video memory from main RAM. The average-size 40GB hard drive in our test unit spun at a fairly fast 5,400rpm, while the 14.1-inch screen had a somewhat low-end 1,024x768 native resolution. Compared to the prices of more expensive business notebooks with similar specs, such as the Sony VAIO VGN-S260, this ThinkPad R52's $1,468 cost (as of April 2005) is reasonable.
The ThinkPad R52 earned a respectable performance score in CNET Labs' mobile benchmarks. The laptop finished our benchmark 12 percent faster than the Toshiba Tecra M3 and 8 percent ahead of the Sony VAIO VGN-S260, which has a slower processor. The ThinkPad R52 delivered fairly long battery life in our drain tests, holding out for 217 minutes--better than the Tecra M3's 184 minutes, though a bit shy of the VAIO VGN-S260's 229 minutes.
Where ports and slots are concerned, the ThinkPad R52 includes enough of both for the average employee. The case has two USB 2.0 ports, one ExpressCard/54 slot, and one Type II PC Card slot as well as parallel, S-Video-out, standard VGA, Ethernet, 56Kbps modem, and audio in/out ports. Our test system had a DVD/CD-RW drive in its internal, swappable bay; CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and DVD-RW drives are also available. The ThinkPad R52 ships with the Windows XP Professional operating system. Like most business laptops, it doesn't come with a productivity suite. But the company does provide useful applications for CD and DVD playback and recording, including InterVideo WinDVD 6.0 and WinDVD Creator 2.0, DLA, which allows you to drag and drop files directly to CD or DVD, and Sonic RecordNow 7.0.
Data protection has long been a ThinkPad strong suit, and the ThinkPad R52 is no exception. The laptop's Embedded Security Subsystem functions like a Trusted Platform Module, offering a hardware-based data lockdown. And the Active Protection System stops the hard drive from spinning when the laptop is dropped or bumped, preventing damage to the drive.
The standard warranty for the ThinkPad R52 lasts a long three years. Various extension plans, which include options such as five years of free service and next-business-day repairs, are available for up to $550. Toll-free telephone support is available around the clock for the length of your warranty. We appreciate the troubleshooting information listed on the IBM support Web site, but we wish the site also featured a user forum and the option to chat with a tech rep.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo MobileMark 2002 performance rating |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo MobileMark 2002 battery-life minutes |
System configurations:
IBM ThinkPad R52
Windows XP Pro; 1.73GHz Intel Pentium M 740; 512MB DDR SDRAM; Intel 915GM/GMS 910GML Express 128MB; Hitachi 5K100 40GB 5,400rpm
Sony VAIO VGN-S260
Windows XP Home; 1.7GHz Intel Pentium M 735; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 32MB; Toshiba MK6025GAS 60GB 4,200rpm
Toshiba Tecra M3
Windows XP Pro; 1.73GHz Intel Pentium M 740; 512MB DDR SDRAM; Nvidia GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200TE 64MB; Toshiba MK6025GAS 60GB 4,200rpm
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 User Rating: 
9/10
Can't beat the feel of the keybaord.
Pros: Centrino technology pulls in the wireless networks.
Cons: Heavy. Battery life needs improvement.
For real touch typists, you can't beat the feel of the IBM keyboard. I also like the pointer stick over the touchpad. The Fujitsu also has the stick.
The built-in keyboard light is great for working in dark places.
I was sitting next to a guy in court with a new Dell -- he said he could not find a wireless signal. I found one as soon as I powered up.
I think it's a great desktop replacement. DVD and stereo sound are good.
User Rating: 
8/10
Sturdy and Ultimate Office machine for Professionals
Pros: Connectivity, Features, Software Support and Recoverability
Cons: Weight of the Laptop
User Rating: 
7/10
great laptop but has some drawbacks
Pros: Strong case even in a tough enviroment like school. Perfomance is great considering price
Cons: Could be cheaper, only in black, not the lightest laptop
User Rating: 7/10
Good for office, not so good for travel
Pros: Good replacement for the desk top
Cons: Too heavy, too big.
User Rating: 8/10
Solid PC overall
Pros: Full featured, nice battery life, semi-water resistant keyboard
Cons: Loud keypad, kinky IBM Access Connections, not enough USB ports
Opened the laptop and noticed the firm LCD connections, solid looking hinges and nice sized keyboard. Weight is OK, not the best for lugging around school with a bunch of books but not as heavy as my old Dell Inspiron 1100. This computer is much sturdier and more substantial feeling than my old Dell...though not nearly as nice looking in it's mono-chormatic black plastic.
I got it home and noticed the built-in IBM Access Connection for automatically detecting wi-fi points (after you configure it) and proceeded to set up the program to automatically recognize my home connection and school connections. Problem: program crashes sometimes and lags a bit between switching. The lag's not as bad but the crashes are somewhat unexplained since I've got really nothing setup on the computer. (I've since found that this MAY be associated with the way my school sets up it's access points so might be isolated to just me...joy)
The computer picks up signals nicely. I can pick up 4 access points in my apartment; not bad since I've got only 2 neighbors so the signals must be coming from elsewhere in the building. The battery life is not bad even with wireless running thanks to almighty Centrino...I've managed around 3.25 hrs with my wireless running (the card might've been powered down by the computer since it wasn't transmitting) while watching powerpoints in class.
Got the laptop to marathon through 2 lectures at just under 4hrs one day when I forgot my powercord. Much, much better than my old Dell which could get only 1.5hrs with a PCMCIA 802.11 card in and only on a good day.
The keyboard is a bit loud. Imagine 75 students in a closed room, each with this laptop, all typing away...it's like getting 75 old typewritters in your head. Not real noisy but kinda noticable; especially in the library. Feedback on the keys aren't bad, slightly firm, I get the feeling that I might be a bit tired if I have to do a marathon typing session though. I do like the built-in shortcut keys for volume at the top of the keyboard, out of the way but still accessable. Another unexpected plus: the keyboard can drain off something like 30cc's of H2O accidentally spilled on it, it comes out this little vent on the bottom of the keyboard (for those times you spill coffee, coke, beer, whatever on the keys...I hope I never try it out).
I really like the location of the ports; on two sides of the unit. This allows you to have the thing in your lap on the couch without worrying about the USB memory card breaking cause you can't see the port behind the computer's LCD (Case in point, my old Dell). Downside to that: not nearly enough USB ports. With everything using USB nowadays, you quickly learn that with 2 ports and a printer, mouse, PDA, USB thumb-drive and USB speakers you take full advantage of Window's hot-swap capabilities...MORE PORTS PLEASE! (and yes, I've heard of USB hubs but for the price I've paid for this thing...shouldn't I get at least 4 ports??)
The computer doesn't get that hot, I've had it in my lap for a while before and never had that "OMG I'm gonna burn something important" feeling like my Dell with it's Celeron-D did. The fan is also not nearly as loud, I actually don't get distracted when it turns on. (All hail the all powerful Centrino!) If the keys were only as quiet.
The wonderful built-in IBM light works wonders in dark rooms for seeing the keys and also at night time in the car when you're frantically craming for an exam on your 6 hour trip back from home.
I do wish there was an easy hardware button to turn the wireless card off, as it is you have to turn it off using software; not that big of a deal but the shortcut on my brother-in-law's laptop is far more convienent and so much easier to explain how to use to my mother-in-law.
I've never been a fan of the Red button for steering stareing at you from the center of the keypad, even with the sensitivity turned all the way up it doesn't feel "natural" the touchpad works well though I have to turn the speed of the cursor up to almost max to get it to feel comfortable to my fingers.
Last thing I'm not crazy about for this laptop is the power cord. Mine seems rather loose, I can almost always push it in a bit after it's been plugged in; especially if I move the computer any on the desk. The powercord also pulls out without too much resistance, not sure if it's a safety thing or if it's just a design issue but I almost wish it was more secure in it's plug.
Besides all of that the screen is crisp, it's brightest setting is ok under strong sunlight though it's still somewhat washed out looking. The speakers located on the front-bottomish part of the notebook sounds pretty nice conscidering they're laptop speakers, still need external speakers to make any kind of bass.
Overall, a nice computer, especially compared to what I moved up from, my Dell was somewhat of a disappointment the day I got it out of the box. This laptop has been pretty good, I've had it for about a month now, who knows what I'll think in 2 years when they switch it out for some equally overpriced IBM/Lenovo product...I'm paying $600/semester to LOAN this thing from my school...a ripoff if you ask me conscidering by the end of the 4 years I would've paid out enough for 10 Dell laptops...But there are definitely many worse things I could be using.
Buy with confidence, it's not the most smashing looking thing but it'll do your work for you. Plus, if you drop the thing you've got a chance that the HD's not dead thanks to the IBM active HD protection!
User Rating: 
10/10
The last real IBM Thinkpad
Pros: The last real IBM Thinkpad
Cons: The last real IBM Thinkpad
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