ThinkPad 500
| Company type | Subnotebook computer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | June 16, 1993 |
| Successor | ThinkPad 510 |
| Products | Laptop computers |
The IBM ThinkPad 500 represents a subnotebook model within IBM's ThinkPad lineup, launched in 1993.
History
Introduced on June 16, 1993, the ThinkPad 500 (model 2603) marked IBM's initial entry into the subnotebook segment,[1] manufactured by Lexmark, a recent spin-off company at the time.[2]
Following this, the subsequent subnotebook was the ThinkPad 701, which featured a keyboard design innovation by John Karidis aimed at enhancing typing comfort by expanding the keyboard beyond the physical screen width.
The ThinkPad 500 debuted simultaneously with the IBM ThinkPad 350,[3] positioning IBM competitively against brands such as Zeos, Dell, Zenith Data Systems, and Hewlett-Packard within the market for compact portable computers.[4]
Lexmark offered a parallel model named the Lexmark SE10 ("Enchilada"), which primarily differed by substituting the TrackPoint device with a mouse-key button integrated into its keyboard.
Significantly, the ThinkPad 500 was IBM's first portable to incorporate the IBM Model M6-1 buckling spring keyboard assembly, an evolution of the Model M6 series originally developed for the IBM PS/2 Model L40 SX. This keyboard architecture became common in early IBM and Lexmark laptops and was licensed to other manufacturers including AST, Apple, and Tadpole Computer.[5]
Specifications
- Processor: 50 MHz 486SLC2
- Graphics: Cirrus Logic WD90C26 chipset
- Display: 7.24-inch monochrome STN screen supporting 256 shades and up to 640x480 resolution
- Expansion: Single PCMCIA slot
- Included accessory: External 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
- Storage options: 85 or 170 MB Seagate Caviar hard drive
- Battery endurance: Approximately 2.5 hours
- Memory: 12 MB RAM
- Operating systems: Windows 95 and MS-DOS 6.22
- Audio output: PC speaker
- Connectivity: VGA output, parallel port, and serial port
Reception
InfoWorld commented that while powerful, the ThinkPad 500’s compact size somewhat compromised user comfort.[6] In September 1994, PC World recognized it as "Best Buy - #1 Value Mobile PC".[7]
Successor
The ThinkPad 510, announced in March 1994, replaced the 500 model and featured an upgraded IBM 486 DLC CPU along with a larger 7.7-inch color display.[8] Its exterior closely mirrored that of the ThinkPad 500 but included a color "IBM" logo and relocated brightness and contrast controls to keyboard shortcut keys.
External links
- Admiral Shark's Keyboards - IBM ThinkPad 500-series Keyboard Assembly
- Hardware Maintenance Manual
- Laptop.pics
- Starring the Computer - IBM Thinkpad 500
- Thinkwiki.de - 500
- Thinkwiki.org - 500
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- ↑ Paul, Frederic (1993-08-16). "Powerful IBM ThinkPad 500 is a bit too small for comfort". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
- ↑ A., Dell, Deborah (2000). ThinkPad: a different shade of blue. Sams. p. 330. ISBN 0-672-31756-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Lee, Yvonne (21 March 1994). "IBM revamps line with four ThinkPads". InfoWorld.