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IBM ThinkPad notebook
 IBM Thinkpad 300 from 1992 |
As IBM president 1914 to 1956, Thomas J. Watson, Sr. enjoyed using the
phrase “THINK!” to motivate and inspire his employees. This simple word has become deeply embedded in IBM’s corporate culture ever since.
Decades later in 1991, the phrase became a product, as the
ThinkPad,
IBM’s new pen-based tablet running the PenPoint Operating System.
Announced in April 1992, the ThinkPad tablet was only mildly successful, and
the name was recycled
into IBM’s new notebook line of computers, the ThinkPad model 300, 700 and 700C. The original ThinkPad tablet became model 700T.
Although they were not IBM’s first line of notebook computers, the new ThinkPad series of notebook computers were an immediate hit,
and collected more than 300 awards for quality and design.
All three models were released at about the same time, ranging from the cost-effective model 300 to the top-of-the-line model 700C (the C is for “color”).
Each was housed in an appealing, black, squared-off clamshell case which was like nothing else on the market at the time.
The ThinkPads originally came with Microsoft DOS 5.0
operating system pre-installed, with IBM OS/2 2.0
(also by Microsoft) as the only other option, but later on Microsoft Windows 3.1
was available as a pre-installed operating system as well.
| Model | CPU | Weight | Price | Display |
| 300 | 25MHz 80386 SL | 5.9 lbs | $2,375 w/ 80MB HD $2,575 w/ 120MB HD |
9.5-inch, 64 shade monochrome, passive LCD |
| 700 | 25MHz 80486 SLC upgradable to 50MHz |
6.5 lbs | $2,750 w/ 80MB HD $2,950 w/ 120MB HD |
9.5-inch, 64 shade monochrome, passive LCD |
| 700C | 25MHz 80486 SLC upgradable to 50MHz |
7.6 lbs | $4,350 w/ 120MB HD | 10.4-inch, 256 colors, active-matrix LCD |
Designed and manufactured
for IBM by Zenith Data Systems (ZDS) under an existing contract, the model 300 was somewhat larger and slower than the more full-featured 700
and 700C models. It sold relatively poorly, and the price dropped quickly throughout 1993. At introduction, it was priced at $2,375,
but by February of 1993 it was dropped to $1,999, and then again to just $1,699 by May.
The model 300 lacks it, but the 700 and 700C utilize the TrackPoint controller, a tiny joystick built into the keyboard
in place of a touchpad or a trackball. The user can now reposition the on-screen pointer without moving their hands
from the keyboard.
While the 300 and 700 have modest 9.5-inch passive LCD screens, the model 700C has a beautiful 10.5-inch active-matrix color LCD –
the largest screen available on any notebook computer at the time. The model 300 battery life is an impressive 5:00 hours, while the more
power-hungry 700 and 700C last around 4:15 and 3:30 hours under normal use, utilizing the built-in power-management features.
These early ThinkPad notebooks came with
HelpWare,
IBMs service package which included a one-year warranty, and 24-hour, seven-day assistance by FAX, electronic bulletin board, or toll-free telephone.
Although bought out by Chinese company Lenovo
in 2005, the ThinkPad line of notebooks remains extremely popular with
over 200 different models and
over 60 million notebook computers sold over the decades.
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