ThinkPad G series
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | ThinkPad A series |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Successor | ThinkPad R series |
| Owner | IBM, Lenovo |
The ThinkPad G series represented a collection of desktop replacement ThinkPad laptops created by IBM and later Lenovo, serving as partial successors to the ThinkPad A series. Positioned as a cost-effective option compared to the desktop replacement T and R series models bearing the 'p' suffix, this series stands out as the only ThinkPad lineup to incorporate desktop-class CPUs (with the exception of the G50). It spanned three generations from 2003 until it was succeeded by the ThinkPad R series in 2006.
G40 and G41
Equipped with Intel Pentium 4 processors, the G40 and G41 debuted as budget-conscious, larger successors to the Pentium 4-M-powered 15" ThinkPad A31 and 14" ThinkPad T30. These models were aimed at professionals requiring desktop-grade computing power in a portable package.
Critical Reception
In a 2004 evaluation, CNET assigned the G40 a score of 7.3, acknowledging its bulky dimensions and average display quality but commending it as a competent desktop replacement that delivered reliable battery endurance and performance at an attractive price point.
ZDNet’s 2003 assessment endorsed the G40 for users desiring desktop-level capabilities without excessive peripherals, emphasizing its ergonomic keyboard, clear display, and well-rounded specifications suitable for home or home office environments.
The Register’s review in 2003 criticized the G40’s weight of approximately 3.5kg as undermining IBM’s mobile workforce narrative and expressed concerns about the Access IBM button’s potential for corporate surveillance. Nonetheless, it concluded that the G40 was well-suited for "migrant" employees who operated in flexible office settings and occasionally worked remotely.
Features
Cost-efficiency was paramount in the design of both G40 and G41 units, leading to exclusions such as the ThinkLight, docking port, and stereo speakers. Each model incorporated both floppy and optical drives without eject mechanisms, and their optical bays were not compatible with Ultrabay modules. IPS panel options and trackpads were absent. Despite housing desktop CPUs, these laptops utilized modest Intel integrated graphics solutions; some G41 configurations offered NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 GPUs.
The chassis accommodated either 14.1" or 15" displays. The smaller screen featured XGA resolution (1024x768), while the larger option came with either XGA or SXGA+ (1400x1050) resolutions.
G50
Introduced in 2006, the G50 preserved much of its predecessors’ design but transitioned to more energy-efficient Intel Core processors instead of Pentium 4 chips. This upgrade brought SATA hard drives replacing IDE units and DDR2 memory supplanting DDR. The G50 was exclusively available with a 15" screen offered in XGA or SXGA+ resolutions and was marketed solely within Japan.
Specifications
| Model | US Release | Dimensions (width × depth × height) |
Minimum Weight | CPU | Chipset | Maximum Memory | Graphics | Storage | Network | Audio | Display | Battery | Additional Features | Operating System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G40 | April 2003 | 329 x 282.5 x 50.9 mm (12.9 x 11.1 x 2.0 inches) |
Template:LaptopWeight | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Intel Celeron or Pentium 4 (Northwood) FSB: 400MT/s |
Intel 852GM | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Up to 1GB (2x DDR-266 SO-DIMM) |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Intel Extreme Graphics (8-64MB shared) |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Single 2.5" IDE drive | Broadcom BCM5901 10/100 Ethernet Agere 56K Modem in CDC slot Optional 802.11b/g WLAN in mPCI slot |
Intel AC'97 2.3 Audio with Analog Devices AD1981B SoundMAX | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | CCFL-backlit XGA (1024x768) available on 14" or 15" screens or SXGA+ (1400x1050) on 15" TN TFT LCD |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | M(12) | Non-removable one-piece floppy drive (3.5", 1.44MB) Non-removable slimline optical drive bay ThinkPad ComfortSlant keyboard |
|
| G41 | October 2004 | Template:LaptopWeight | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Intel Celeron or Mobile Pentium 4 HT (Prescott) FSB: 533MT/s |
Intel 852GME | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Up to 2GB (2x DDR-333 SO-DIMM) |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 or 128MB) or Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (64MB shared) |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Single 2.5" IDE drive | Broadcom BCM5901 or BCM5705M (Gigabit Ethernet) Conexant 56K Modem in CDC slot Optional 802.11b/g WLAN in mPCI slot |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | CCFL-backlit XGA (1024x768) available on either 14" or 15" screens or SXGA+ (1400x1050) on a 15" TN TFT LCD panel |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | M(12) | Non-removable floppy drive (3.5") Non-removable slimline optical drive bay ThinkPad ComfortSlant keyboard |
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| G50 | July 2006 | Template:LaptopWeight | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Intel Celeron M or Core Duo (Yonah) FSB: 533 or 667MT/s |
Intel 945GM | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Up to 3GB (2x DDR2-667 SO-DIMM) |
style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (128MB shared) | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | Single 2.5" IDE drive | Broadcom BCM5751M Gigabit Ethernet Conexant 56K Modem in CDC slot Optional 802.11g WLAN in mPCI slot |
Intel HD Audio with Analog Devices AD1981HD SoundMAX | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | CCFL-backlit XGA (1024x768) or SXGA+ (1400x1050) on a single 15" TN TFT LCD panel | style="background:Template:LaptopPaletteColor;" | M(12) | Non-removable floppy drive (3.5") Non-removable slimline optical drive bay ThinkPad ComfortSlant keyboard |
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