ThinkPad 310
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | IBM ThinkPad 345, 365, 370C |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Successor | IBM ThinkPad 380 series |
| Products | Notebook computers |
IBM ThinkPad 310 represented a series of notebook computers launched in 1997, produced by Acer on behalf of IBM as a component of their ThinkPad range. Essentially, it was a rebranded version of the Acer Acernote Light 370pc. While it succeeded the 345, 365, and 370C models, it bore minimal connection to other 3xx series laptops. The IBM-manufactured ThinkPad 380 series followed this lineup.
Features
All units were initially equipped with Windows 95 OSR2 but could be upgraded to Windows XP provided there was adequate RAM. Additionally, they supported multiple Linux distributions and were compatible with earlier operating systems like Windows 3.1.
Each system incorporated an Socket 7 Intel Pentium I or MMX processor running at speeds between 133 and 166 MHz, paired with a CT-65550 graphics chip featuring 1 MB of dedicated video memory, along with a Yamaha YMF715 sound controller. The default RAM was set at 16 MB, expandable up to 32 MB.
Models designated with a "D" suffix included a CD-ROM drive, whereas others came with a 1.44 MB floppy disk drive. The CD-ROM variants provided an external floppy drive connection.
Models
- IBM ThinkPad 310 — This base variant was exclusively released in Europe and featured an Intel Pentium I processor clocked at 133 MHz, fixed 16 MB EDO RAM soldered onto the motherboard, a 1.08 GB hard disk, and a non-removable floppy drive. It offered an 11.3" DSTN display with an 800x600 resolution, alongside an optional TFT screen upgrade. Additional specifications included a NiMH battery, TrackPoint pointing device, and either two Type II CardBus slots or one Type III slot.
- IBM ThinkPad 310D — Launched simultaneously worldwide with the 310 model; specifications were largely identical except for replacing the floppy drive with a CD-ROM and limiting display options to the DSTN panel.
- IBM ThinkPad 310E — Introduced late in 1997, this model featured an Intel Pentium MMX processor running at 166 MHz, fixed 16 MB EDO RAM, hard drive choices of either 1.6 or 2.1 GB, and retained the floppy disk drive. It sported a larger 12.1" DSTN display at 800x600 resolution plus an optional smaller 11.3" TFT screen. The battery was NiMH type with approximately 2.8 hours of operation. It also included TrackPoint controls and CardBus expansion slots.
- IBM ThinkPad 310ED — The final release in the series from late 1997 mirrored the specifications of the 310E but substituted the floppy drive for a CD-ROM drive and offered only the larger 12.1" DSTN display. This model introduced an option for standardizing RAM at 32 MB.
Comparison
| Model | LaunchDate | DiscontinuationDate | StartingPrice | DisplayChoices | ScreenResolution | Processor | RAM | GraphicsChipset | SoundController | StorageOptions | AdditionalDetails | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSTN | TFT | |||||||||||||
| 310 (EMEA) | June 1997 | January 1998 | ? | 11.3"Color DSTN</ small > | < small >11.3"</ small > < small > Color TFT </ small > | < small >640x480 /800x600 </ small > | < small >Pentium I -133 MHz,66 MHz bus,256 KB cache </ small > | < small >16-64 MB EDO RAM </ small > | < small >CT-65550,1 MB VRAM,PCI v2.1 </ small > | < small >Yamaha YMF715 </ small > | < small >1.08 GB </ small > | < small >2.1 GB </ small > | < small >1.44 MB FDD,N iMH Battery - approx. 2.5 hr </ small > | |
| < small >310D (EMEA) </ small > | < small >? </ small > | < small >12.1"</ small >< small >Color DSTN </ small > | < small >12.1"</ small >< small >Color DSTN </ small > | < small >External 1.44 MB FDD,10x CD-ROM drive,NiMH Battery - approx.2.5 hr </ small > | ||||||||||
| < small >310E (EMEA) </ small > | < small >Nov1997 </ small > | < small >July1998 </ small > | < small >? </ small > | < small >12.1"</ small >< small >Color DSTN </ small > | < small >11.3"</ small >< small >Color TFT </ small > | < small >Pentium MMX -166 MHz,66 MHz bus,256 KB cache </ small > | < small >1.6 GB </ small > | < small >2.1 GB </ small > | < small >3.2 GB </ small > | < small >1.44 MB FDD,NiMH Battery - approx.3 hr </ small > | ||||
| < small >310ED (EMEA) </ small > | < small >? </ small > | < small >12.1"</ small >< small >Color DSTN </ small > | ||||||||||||
| < small >External 1.44 MB FDD,10x CD-ROM drive,NiMH Battery - approx.3 hr </ small > | ||||||||||||||
| < Small >310E (EMEA) (Spring1998) </ Small > | < Small >March1998 </ Small > | < Small >September1998 </ Small > | < Small >? </ Small > | < Small >12.1"</ Small >< Small >Color DSTN </ Small > | < Small >12.1"</ Small >< Small >Color DSTN </ Small > | < Small >Pentium MMX -166 MHz,66 MHz bus,256 KB cache </ Small > | < Small >2.1 GB </ Small > | < Small >3.2 GB </ Small > | < Small >1.44 MB FDD,NiMH Battery - approx.3 hr </ Small > | |||||
| < Small >310ED (EMEA) (Spring1998) </ Small > | < Small >? </ Small > | < Small >12.1"</ Small >< Small > | ||||||||||||
| External 1.44 MB FDD,20-8x CD-ROM drive,NiMH Battery - approx.3 hr | ||||||||||||||
| 310ED (Retail) | ||||||||||||||
| Nov1997 | ||||||||||||||
| Sep1998 | ||||||||||||||
| ? | ||||||||||||||
| 12.1" | ||||||||||||||
| - | ||||||||||||||
| Pentium MMX -133 or166 MHz,66 MHz bus,256 KB cache | ||||||||||||||
| 1.6 GB | ||||||||||||||
| 2.1 GB | ||||||||||||||
| 3.2 GB | ||||||||||||||
| External 1.44 MB FDD | ||||||||||||||
| 10x or20-8x CD-ROM drive | ||||||||||||||
| NiMH Battery - approx.3 hr | ||||||||||||||