IBM doesn’t differentiate its ThinkPad range between consumer and business models, offering a uniform degree of build quality and scalability. In the same way, it does not specify the type of machine it offers, so on first appearances there’s little to inform the user that the IBM ThinkPad T42p is pitched as a mobile orkstation. Such laptops are suitable for those who use graphic packages on a daily basis. Therefore, the quality of the screen and graphics sub-system is as important as that of the main specification. IBM has moved away from the 14.1-inch screen it offered on its T41p workstation and the T42p comes with a 15-inch TFT panel.