Tarsus Technologies has announced the availability of the IBM Thinkpad R50 range of notebooks, which features Pentium M performance and a thin and light form factor. Also included is a technology IBM calls Active Protection System, which ensures hard disks are safeguarded from physical damage that can occur in everyday use of a notebook.
"In terms of form factor, the R50 is available with either a 14.1- or 15-inch display, weighs a mere 2.5kg and is 34mm thin," explains Tanya Smart, product manager at Tarsus Technologies.
"While all of the R50 models come with Pentium M processing power, certain units in the range feature Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, which offers the added benefit of integrated wireless connectivity."
Smart says the management of wireless connectivity has been improved through the use of IBM`s Access Connections software, which allows users to easily switch between wired and wireless environments. "The range and reliability of wireless connectivity has also been improved with the R50, since it makes use of IBM`s UltraConnect Antenna technology, which is built into the notebook`s display panel."
From a mobility perspective, the R50 is also no slouch. "The R50 standard Li-ion battery offers in the region of 6.2 hours of untethered operation. Battery life can also be boosted substantially through the installation of a second system battery, which allows for almost 10 hours of truly mobile use," Smart says.
"Probably one of the most exciting technologies to come along in a while, the ThinkPad R50 makes use of hard drive protection technology to help protect the user`s information. The IBM Active Protection System uses a microchip on the system board to detect system acceleration (such as in a fall) and responds by temporarily parking the drive`s read/write head until the system is stabilised," Smart explains.
This means that if the notebook does fall or is jarred, no damage can be inflicted on the hard disk platters, where data is stored. "Using this technology also has certain downstream benefits like reducing warranty costs and potential downtime."
However, the data security features present on the R50 don`t stop there. "The R50 also comes standard with IBM`s Embedded Security Subsystem, which allows users to encrypt sensitive information and safeguard it from unauthorised use, as well as IBM`s Rapid Restore Ultra which provides users with a one-button backup and disaster recovery solution," Smart says.
The R50 Thinkpad is aimed at the highly-mobile business user that relies heavily on the reliability of their notebook and the availability of their data. "Tarsus has no doubt that the R50`s competitive price point and feature-rich design will make it a firm favourite with business users," Smart concludes.
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Tarsus Technologies is rated by suppliers and channel partners as SA`s leading hardware distributor for its stability, service ethos, product knowledge, excellent support, competitive pricing strategies and channel focus.
Distributing a wide range of products from the world`s leading manufacturers, including Acer, APC, HP, IBM, OKI, Samsung and Tally, and supplementing this range with its own brand - the Tarsus PC - Tarsus focuses strongly on long-lasting partnerships with its suppliers and resellers. In line with this philosophy, Tarsus provides a comprehensive range of services to its resellers that enables them to add value to their own offering, and assists them in growing their business.
It is this service offering that has afforded Tarsus a number of channel accolades. The latest include: Channel Executive Awards - 2002; Best Distributor Overall - 2002; Compaq`s "BDG Distributor of the Year" award - 2001 and CRN Outlook Awards - 2002.
More information about Tarsus is available at http://www.tarsus.co.za.
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