Having worked in an IT environment where IBM Thinkpads were standard issue, both for us and for our customers, it was easy for me to choose a T41 when I wanted to replace my clunky old home desktop.
The T41 was tested in space and in arduous conditions all over the world. It's not pretty but it is tough. Also, if you install the Active Protection utility from the Lenovo website, this laptop can switch off its own hard disk before it can be damaged in the event of it being dropped. As data is probably more important than the kit for most people, this is a great feature.
I'm not hugely gifted as far as hardware goes but I've been able to upgrade memory, hard disks and wireless adapters easily. I run XP Pro 32-bit and this machine copes with everything I've put it through.
Keep your BIOS and drivers up to date (for free) using the Lenovo website and you could get real computing satisfaction for a modest outlay.
