ThinkPad 300
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | October 5, 1992 |
Area served | North America |
| Products | Notebook computers |
| Owner | IBM |
| Parent | IBM |
The IBM ThinkPad 300 represents a line of notebook computers created by Zenith Data Systems under contract for IBM. Launched in North America in October 1992 alongside the ThinkPad 700 series, it was positioned as a budget-friendly alternative to the higher-end 700 models. Despite this, it encountered issues with dependability and lacked essential features such as the TrackPoint, which diminished its attractiveness in the marketplace. Its grey chassis deviated from the customary black design of other ThinkPads, contributing to lower consumer enthusiasm. While its performance was adequate, the ThinkPad 300 did not achieve strong sales figures.
Development
In an effort to cut expenses, IBM decided to outsource the development of the ThinkPad 300. Utilizing an existing partnership with Zenith/BULL, IBM commissioned Zenith Data Systems to produce this model. The ThinkPad 300 debuted on October 5, 1992, simultaneously with the more advanced ThinkPad 700 series.
Originally introduced at a price of $2,375, the model underwent significant price reductions due to sluggish sales—falling to $1,999 by February 1993 and further down to $1,699 by May 1993.
Specifications
Equipped with a 25 MHz Intel 386SL CPU and 4 MB of RAM, the ThinkPad 300 incorporated a nickel-metal hydride battery capable of providing up to ten hours of operation. Storage configurations included either an 80 MB or 120 MB hard disk drive alongside an integrated 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (1.44 MB capacity). The device featured a 9.5-inch monochrome display with a resolution of 640x480 pixels and supported 64 shades of gray; subsequent upgrades introduced active color TFT screens.
The system came preloaded with PC DOS 5.0 and offered connectivity options such as modem, serial, VGA, parallel, Ethernet ports, and a port replicator. As an entry-level product, it lacked premium components found in the ThinkPad 700 series, including the TrackPoint pointing device.
Comparison
| 300 | 300C | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 9.5in 640x480 Monochrome STN | 9.5in 640x480 Color TFT |
| Video Controller | WD90C24 | |
| Audio Controller | None (PC Speaker only) | |
| Pointing Device | None (Serial mouse only) | |
| CPU | 80386SL @ 25 MHz | |
| RAM | 4-12 MB | |
| Disk | 80 or 120 MB HDD | |
Reception
PC Mag regarded the ThinkPad 300 as a reliable choice, emphasizing its high-quality display and superior battery life supported by efficient power management techniques.