Review the history of the ThinkPad notebook computer

Lead: This is an American science and technology blog Reghardware published in 2012, in which he reviewed the history of the birth of the ThinkPad notebook computer. The ThinkPad was launched by IBM, but it was made by Lenovo more than 20 years later. Once launched more than 20 years ago, it quickly leapt into the red, then became the industry benchmark, and after more than 20 years still.

The following is a summary of the content of the article:

ThinkPad is 20 years old today! Launched by IBM 20 years ago, it was made by Lenovo after 20 years. She was dressed in a black coat with a red hat (pointing rod). Ever since it was launched, it quickly leapt into the red and became the benchmark for the industry. For IBM, which has been dubbed the "clone" vendor for years, she has built up the reputation of IBM as a PC vendor in a variety of ways.

In 1992, October 5, IBM officially released three ThinkPad laptops, ThinkPad 300, ThinkPad 700 and ThinkPad 700C. But it was not until the COMDEX conference held from November 16 to 20th that the three products were truly met with the vast majority of consumers.

ThinkPad 700C

The ThinkPad 700 features a 25MHz Intel 486SLC processor with built-in 4MB memory, an optional 80MB or 120MB hard drive, and a black-and-white display with a 9.5-inch 640x480. High-end product 700C uses a 10.4-inch color display, the processor is the same as 700, but is equipped with a removable 120MB hard drive with 4MB, 8MB, and 16MB memory options.

Ni-MH batteries are used in 700 and 700C, which can last for nearly 4 hours. 700C weighs 3.5 kg, 700 weighs 3 kilograms. The price of 700C is as high as $4350 (equivalent to more than $7,000 today). 80MB version 700 price 2750 USD, 120MB version 700 price 2950 USD.

There are few innovations in these three products, but the ThinkPad has introduced a pointing stick, a small joystick between the G and H keys, which acts as a touch pad that is widely used in the current notebook.

THINKPAD 300 AD

The ThinkPad 300 is actually manufactured by Zenith Data Bae, with 25MHz 386SL processors, with 640x480 black-and-white display, 4MB memory, 80MB and 120MB hard drives, and built-in Ethernet interfaces.

ThinkPad 300

If the 700-series selling point is performance, the 300 selling point is battery time. The ThinkPad 300 can be 10 hours, 80MB hard disk Edition for $2375 and 120MB for 2575 dollars.

The ThinkPad 300, 700, and 700C three products define the core design of the notebook computer, while also laying the design of the ThinkPad follow-on product until today. These three products are the originator of the ThinkPad products we know today, but they are not the first products of the ThinkPad brand.

IBM 2521 ThinkPad

The award will be attributed to IBM 2521 ThinkPad. This is a portable device that needs to be operated with a pen, released on April 17, 1992.

IBM 2521 uses a 20MHz 386SX processor, 640x480 resolution black and white display, built-in 4MB and 8MB memory, 2.4kb/s modem, serial and parallel interface, external floppy drive and keyboard.

Surprisingly, at that time, IBM 2521 did not use the traditional hard drive, but the use of a 20MB solid state hard drive.

October 5, after the release of the ThinkPad 300, 700 and 700C, IBM renamed 2521 "ThinkPad 700T" and made a slight adjustment to the design to make it more appealing.

In May 1993, IBM released the ThinkPad 720 and 720C, switching to faster 50MHz processors.

In June 1993, IBM released the ThinkPad 500, which was called the first small notebook computer. ThinkPad 500 is priced at $1999, with a size of 253 mm x188 mm x40 mm, with a 50MHz 486SLC2 processor and optional 85MB and 170MB hard drives. 500 built-in alternating current transformer, can plug directly in the power supply, users no longer need to carry transformers.

ThinkPad 500

Later, the ThinkPad 350 and 350C series were based on the ThinkPad 300, the processors were not upgraded from 386 to 25MHz 486SL, and the 125MB and 250MB hard drives were available. The ThinkPad 350 series is priced at between 1999 and 2499 dollars, while the ThinkPad 350C product is priced between 2599 and 2999 dollars.

In 1993 and later, we saw a further change in the look of the ThinkPad product: the ThinkPad 220 portable laptops were launched in 1993. The ThinkPad 800 series based on the PowerPC processor was launched in 1995, and ThinkPad PC 110 was born this year, a hand-held PC designed for Japanese users.

ThinkPad PC 110

The ThinkPad PC 110 uses a 4.7-inch color display, with a resolution of 640x480. Equipped with a 33MHZ 486-level processor and 20MB memory, and a built-in 4MB flash memory card as a fixed storage space. The same built-in 2.4Kbps modem with an LCD screen showing the battery status.

The ThinkPad 220 is a product for Asian users with a size of 22.6 cm x 16.6 cm x 3.2 cm with a PCMCIA slot, a 7.7-inch display, 16MHz 386SL processor, 2MB memory, 80MB hard drive, Use 6 AA battery power. (Li Ming)