Ashish Patel

After a long several months, we just released our latest update to the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit (IPOT). I have blogged about this toolkit before and you can read that article here.

You may be amused by the name IPOT, however, I think its a cool name! I found it even funnier that one of my development machines was named “smokey” at one point.

Anyways, to the point. IPOT 6.1.2 now tightly integrates with Rational Performance Tester (RPT) 6.1.2 to allow customers to leverage the performance and resource monitoring data collected by the following Tivoli products:

• IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Transaction Performance (TMTP)
• IBM Tivoli Composite Application Management for WebSphere (ITCAM WebSphere)
• IBM Tivoli Composite Application Management for Response Time Tracking (ITCAM RTT)
• IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM) server

In addition, we support the following platforms:

• Windows
• AIX
• Linux
• HP/UX
• Solaris

This new release really brings new meaning to the integration of data between the Rational and Tivoli brands as we are bringing resource monitoring (or statistical) data into the testing workbench. Using this information provides cohesive methods of determining and isolating problems in a large enterprise environment, and can truely save people time and money at the end of the day.

Something new for this release is a forum on the developerWorks website to let customers post questions and comments about IPOT. This mechanism will really help us make IPOT even better in the future. I like to call it the IPOT Online Product Team !

This week has been incredibly busy at work, however, there was a moment of complete bliss when I finally got my new office laptop!

I received a Thinkpad T43p and its one of the best laptops I’ve ever had. The biometric finger scanner is a total bonus since I don’t have to enter 3 passwords to login, just my fingerprint. That takes me pass the bios, hard drive, and windows login screens! The next best thing is that the RAM is super fast, which makes an enormous difference when developing. I got it loaded with 2GB RAM goodness!

My only complaint is that the screen is only 14.1″ TFT and its not as good as my personal Toshiba M40 tru-brite screen. Other than that its super awesome!

Thinkpads are actually making a come back to the retail market , according to Lenovo. So my guess is that you’ll find some new models that appeal to the common user - this is just a guess though.

Specifications on the new bling is below:

Processor

* Processor type
* Pentium M

* Chipset type
* Mobile Intel 915PM Express

* Clock speed
* 2.13 GHz

* Data bus speed
* 533 MHz

* Processor features
* Enhanced SpeedStep technology, Power-optimized processor system bus

* Processor manufacturer
* Intel

* Processor number
* 770

OS Provided

* OS provided
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional

RAM

* Max supported RAM
* 2 GB

* Memory specification compliance
* PC2-4200

* RAM Technology
* DDR II SDRAM-533 MHz

* RAM installed size
* 1 GB

Optical Storage

* CD / DVD type
* CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo

* CD / DVD drive
* CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo Plug-in module

* CD / DVD read speed
* 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)

* CD / DVD rewrite speed
* 24x

* CD / DVD write speed
* 24x

* Optical storage enclosure type
* Plug-in module

Optical Storage (2nd)

* 2nd optical storage type
* None

Audio Output

* Audio codec
* AD1981B

* Audio output compliant standards
* AC ‘97, DirectSound

* Audio output type
* Sound card

Audio Input

* Audio input type
* Microphone

Battery

* Battery capacity
* 6600 mAh

* Battery technology
* Lithium ion

* Installed battery qty
* 1

* Max supported batteries
* 2

* Mfr estimated battery life
* 5.1 hour(s)

General

* Built-in devices
* ThinkLight, Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna, Wireless LAN antenna

* Localization
* English:United States

* Mobile technology
* Intel Centrino

* System type
* Notebook

Cache Memory

* Cache Memory Type
* L2 cache

* Cache size
* 2 MB

Modem

* Max transfer rate
* 56 Kbps

* Modem features
* V.92 upgradable

* Modem interface type
* CDC

* Modem protocols & specifications
* ITU V.90

* Modem type
* Fax / modem

Video Output

* Graphics processor
* ATI MOBILITY FIRE GL V3200

* Max resolution (external)
* 2048 x 1536

* Video output interface type
* PCI Express x16

Display (Projector)

* Display (projector) diagonal size
* 14.1 in

* Display (projector) technology
* TFT active matrix

* Max resolution
* 1400 x 1050

Networking

* Data link protocol
* Ethernet, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

* Networking standards
* IrDA 1.1, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g

* Networking type
* Network adapter

* Remote management protocol
* CIM, DMI 2.0

Dimensions & Weight

* Depth
* 10 in

* Height
* 1.2 in

* Weight
* 5.1 lbs

* Width
* 12.2 in

Miscellaneous

* Features
* Power-on password, Hard drive password, Administrator password, Locking device keyhole (cable lock)

* Miscellaneous compliant standards
* CB, CE, CCC, CUL, MIC, NOM, BSMI, MPR II, VCCI-II, ACPI 2.0, UL 60950, ACPI 1.0b, AS/NZS 3548, FCC Part 15 B, EPA Energy Star

Storage Floppy Drive

* Floppy drive type
* None

Storage Hard Drive

* Hard drive
* 60 GB IDE

Input Device

* Input device type
* Keyboard, UltraNav, TrackPoint

Interface Provided

* Interface provided
* 1 Parallel IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 1 Display / video VGA, 1 Modem Phone line, 1 Network Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, 1 Infrared, 1 Microphone Input, 1 Audio Line-out/headphones, 2 Hi-Speed USB, 1 Display / video S-video output, 1 Docking / port replicator

Environmental Parameters

* Max operating temperature
* 95 °

* Min operating temperature
* 41 °

* Operating humidity range
* 8 - 95%

Video Memory

* Video RAM installed
* 128 MB

* Video memory technology
* DDR SDRAM

Power Device

* Power device form factor
* External

* Power device frequency required
* 50/60 Hz

Storage Removable

* Removable storage type
* None

Service & Support Details

* Service & support component (laptop)
* Battery

Slot Provided

* Slot provided
* 1 (1 free) CardBus Type I/II, 1 (1 free) ExpressCard, 2 Memory SO DIMM 200-pin

Software

* Software type
* PC Doctor, IBM RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD, IBM Director Agent, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, Sonic Solutions Drive Letter Access (DLA), Norton Antivirus 2005 (90 days subscription)

Storage Controller

* Storage controller type
* IDE

Service & Support

* Service & support type
* 3 years warranty