The IBM T23 is my preferred machine by far.

Did you know that the Pentium III in the IBM is faster than the Pentium 4M? Check the benchmark tests by PCMag, et al. Once you own a T23, you won't need to check any benchmarks, because you'll know you have a screaming fast, reliable machine. But that's not the best part.

The best thing about the T23 - something no other manufacturer comes close to - is the keyboard. Other reviewers mention this, and it is true: The Thinkpad keyboard is the very best, bar none, end of story. If you intend to use your computer's keyboard, this is the one to own. It doesn't fail like D**L; the keys are the right size, unlike S**Y; the tactile feedback is correct, unlike H*; and the keys are in the right places, unlike virtually all the others.

Also high on my list is connectivity. Nobody piles on the ports like IBM. Try to find another notebook with a real serial port that has all the other must-have features and doesn't weigh a ton. Want to sync your PDA or cell phone via infrared, so you don't have to pack (and hook up) all those extra cables? No problem with the IBM. Infrared is built in, and it works. Only Firewire is missing, and you can add that via a cheap PC Card if you need it.

The titanium alloy case is just short of bombproof, and it says "Business" with a capital B. In my line of work, image is a subtle but important thing. The IBM label says you're real, you're serious, and you do real work.

The display is big enough for shoulder hoppers to see what you're showing them. Brightness control is excellent, as is clarity and readability. Photos and text are rendered very, very well, with excellent color quality.

Why does IBM use the Trackpoint (eraser head) instead of the touchpad like everyone else? Because it works! People who don't like it generally haven't lived with it for more than a week. That's about how long it takes to get hooked; then you'll never want to go back to over-sensitive, error prone touchpads. Trust me on this, it's the best built-in pointing device. You can adjust the sensitivity, just like with a touchpad, and you can set it to accept taps as a mouse click. (I don't care for that feature, personally, but I'm a bit ham-handed.) I wish my desktop had a Trackpoint, so I wouldn't have to take my hands off the keyboard to mouse around.

At about 6 pounds, the T23 is light enough, and considering what it's packing, it's very light. For me, the difference between 3 and 6 pounds is not worth giving up the features and quality for an ultralight. As I mentioned above, I travel a LOT, and the T23 is my favorite carry-on.

T23s are priced two ways. Most models are available with either a 1-year or a 3-year warranty. Either way, you're unlikely to need a repair. IBM quality control is legendary, and every component is selected for top-shelf reliability and durability. I have had a T600, a T21, and a T23, and I have NEVER had a hardware failure.

Price? Yes, it is steep. You get what you pay for. If you want rock-solid reliability in a fully functional machine, this is the price you pay. Is it worth it? That's up to you. For me, one week on a bad keyboard offsets the price differential, and then some. It might hurt a little to pay extra now, but once you do, you'll never go back to any of the also-rans. Trust me... I'm a consultant! ;-)

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 1900
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 14 inches
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30