Lenovo lines (former/ current ):
57-638: The IBM ThinkPad Power Series (and subsequent IBM RS/6000 Model 860 Notebook ) (800/820/821/822/823/850/851/860) is a laptop series from the ThinkPad line that was manufactured by IBM . It is based on the PowerPC architecture . The first PowerPC notebook released by IBM was the RS/6000 Model N40, which was developed together with Tadpole Computer. It was announced in March 1994. The start of
114-440: A nub , nipple or clit ) is a small analog stick used as a pointing device typically mounted centrally in a computer keyboard . Like other pointing devices such as mice , touchpads or trackballs , operating system software translates manipulation of the device into movements of the pointer on the computer screen. Unlike other pointing devices, it reacts to sustained force or strain rather than to gross movement, so it
171-524: A combined manufacturing and distribution centre near its American headquarters. Each device made in this facility is labelled with a red-white-and-blue sticker proclaiming " Whitsett, North Carolina ." In 2012, Lenovo produced a short run of special edition anniversary ThinkPads in Yonezawa, Yamagata , Japan, in partnership with NEC, as part of a larger goal to move manufacturing away from China and into Japan. In 2014, although sales rose 5.6 percent from
228-432: A common issue with a cracked plastic lid. The 180° hinges are typical, the 360° hinges are a Yoga line basic feature. Introduced in 2016 as a high-end display option for some models. Hard-drive protection for some ThinkPad models that still use the 2.5" drive bay; These systems use an accelerometer sensor to detect when a ThinkPad is falling and shut down the hard disk drive to prevent damage. The fingerprint reader
285-626: A lucrative contract with the Harvard Business School to provide the campus with notebook PCs. The task of creating a notebook was given to the Yamato Facility in Japan, headed by Arimasa Naitoh ( 内藤在正 , Naitō Arimasa , Vice President of Lenovo's PC and Smart Devices business unit) , a Japanese engineer and product designer who had joined IBM in the 1970s, now known as the "Father of ThinkPad". The name "ThinkPad"
342-526: A touchpad. The pointing stick is positioned such that the hands do not need to be removed from the home row to manipulate the mouse pointer. Some people find them more appealing for mobile gaming than a touchpad, because the trackpoint allows infinite movement without repositioning. This is because a user's finger may run off the edge of a touchpad while positioning the pointer, requiring them to reposition their finger in order to continue. Some users feel that pointing sticks cause less wrist strain because
399-591: A user does not need to avoid resting wrists on a touchpad, which are usually located just below the keyboard. One criticism is that because the pointing stick depends on the user's applying pressure, it can cause hand cramps (although this can be partly solved by setting the sensitivity higher and lifting the finger when the pointer is not being moved). Another criticism is that it stresses the index finger and may lead to repetitive strain injury . A number of ergonomic studies to compare trackpoint and touchpad performance have been performed. Most studies find that touchpad
456-562: Is an LED light located at the top of the LCD screen which illuminates the keyboard from above. Some E, L, T, X, W (only W550s), and P (only P##s) series ThinkPads feature (for some 2013-2018 models) — internal secondary battery (as succession of secondary UltraBay battery) that support a hot-swapping of primary battery. The keyboard design was replaced by the Chiclet style keyboard (2012-current) in 2012. The chiclet-style keyboard does not support
513-486: Is called an "isometric" pointing device. IBM introduced it commercially in 1992 on its laptops under the name "TrackPoint", and patented an improved version of it in 1997 (but the patent expired in 2017). It has been used for business laptops, such as Acer 's TravelMate , Dell 's Latitude , HP 's EliteBook and Lenovo 's ThinkPad . The pointing stick senses applied force by using two pairs of resistive strain gauges . A pointing stick can be used by pushing with
570-447: Is easier for users to position the pointer with Negative Inertia, and performance is 7.8% better. Another challenge with pointing stick design is identification of the zero position (the position where no motion is desired). Because the amount of motion is small, the sensitivity of the sensors must be high, and they are subject to noise interference. A typical solution, which assumes that pointing sticks frequently go out of calibration,
627-477: Is enabled, the software may generate unexpected click events by touching the pointing stick during typing. In 1984, Ted Selker , a researcher at PARC , worked on a pointing stick based on a study showing that it takes a typist 0.75 seconds to shift from the keyboard to the mouse, and comparable time to shift back. Selker built a model of a device that would minimize this time. It was only three years later, working at IBM, that Selker refined his design, resulting in
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#1732786596895684-426: Is red on ThinkPads, but is also found in other colors on other machines. It may be gray, pink, black or blue on some Dell models, blue on some HP/Compaq laptops, and green or gray on most Toshiba laptops produced before the 2000s. Button configurations vary depending on vendor and laptop model. ThinkPads have a prominent middle mouse button, but some models have no physical buttons. Toshiba employs concentric arcs. In
741-430: Is slightly faster; one study found that "the touchpad was operated 15% faster than the trackpoint". Another study found that average object selection time was faster with a touchpad, 1.7 seconds compared to 2.2 seconds with a trackpoint, and object manipulation took 6.2 seconds with a touchpad, on average, against 8.1 seconds with trackpoint. Various informal names have been invented, including "nub", "clit mouse", which
798-606: Is the only officially supported operating system where installation of Windows and other operating systems requires putting the device into developer mode, as is the case with other Chromebooks. ThinkPads have been used heavily in space programs. NASA purchased more than 500 ThinkPad 750 laptops for flight qualification, software development, and crew training, and astronaut John Glenn used ThinkPad laptops on his spaceflight mission STS-95 in 1998. ThinkPad models used on Shuttle missions include: Trackpoint A pointing stick (or trackpoint , also referred to generically as
855-402: Is to interpret a variation below a certain threshold (over a given interval, perhaps one or several seconds) as being a neutral stick. However, the recalibration can also allow brief periods of 'drifting' (movement of the pointer while the user is not moving the pointing stick). In practice, if the re-calibration interval is set too short and if the user applies moderately consistent pressure to
912-494: The space bar . The mouse buttons can be operated right-handed or left-handed due to their placement below the keyboard along the centerline. This pointing device has also appeared next to screens on compact-sized laptops such as the Toshiba Libretto and Sony VAIO UX . Pointing sticks typically have a replaceable rubber cap, called a nub, which can be a slightly rough "eraser head" material or another shape. The cap
969-520: The trackpad pointer had become more popular for laptops due to innovations by Synaptics so IBM introduced UltraNav as a complementary combination of TrackPoint and TouchPad designed by Dave Sawin, Hiroaki Yasuda, Fusanobo Nakamura, and Mitsuo Horiuchi to please all users. The "roll cage" is an internal frame, designed to minimize motherboard flex (current P series and T##p series) or magnesium composite case (all other hi-end models). The display modules lack magnesium frames, and some 2012-2016 models have
1026-468: The 30th anniversary of the ThinkPad brand. The appearance of the ThinkPad has remained very similar throughout the entire lifetime of the brand. Almost all models are solid black inside and out, with a boxy case design. Some newer Lenovo models incorporate more curved lines. Many ThinkPads utilize magnesium, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, or titanium in their chassis. The industrial design concept
1083-544: The Chinese manufacturer has continued to develop and sell ThinkPads to the present day. The ThinkPad line was first developed at the IBM Yamato Facility in Japan; they have a distinct black, boxy design, which originated in 1990 and is still used in some models. Most models also feature a red-colored trackpoint on the keyboard, which has become an iconic and distinctive design characteristic associated with
1140-465: The IBM acquisition. We got the ThinkPad brand, IBM's more advanced PC manufacturing technology and the company's international resources, such as its global sales channels and operation teams. These three elements have shored up our sales revenue in the past several years." Although Lenovo acquired the right to use the IBM brand name for five years after its acquisition of IBM's personal computer business, it
1197-645: The R61 and T61 were released with SUSE Linux Enterprise as an option. This was short-lived, as Lenovo discontinued that practice in 2009. ThinkPad hardware continued to be certified for Linux. In 2020, Lenovo shifted into much heavier support of Linux when they announced the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8, the P1 Gen 2, and the P53 would come with Fedora Linux as an option. This was the first time that Fedora Linux
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#17327865968951254-703: The ThinkLight for illumination, instead using a keyboard backlight. Some ThinkPad models during the intermission period between the classic IBM design and the Lenovo chiclet design could be outfitted with both the backlit chiclet style keyboard and the ThinkLight. The introduced in 2004 line of hi-end displays with wide view angles and optional high resolution (up to 15" 1600x1200 or (rarely) 2048x1536 pixels). Partially dropped in 2008 (after partial defunct of BOE-Hydis display supplier), and reintroduced as ordinary IPS screen option in 2013. Some ThinkPad laptops (such as
1311-627: The ThinkPad line, like drive protection, a TrackPoint or Trusted Platform Module chips. While few features remain unique to the series, several laptop technologies originated on ThinkPads: Earlier known as "IBM Access", later "ThinkVantage", the Lenovo Vantage is a suite of computer management applications. This software can give additional support for system management (backup, encrypting, system drivers installation and upgrade, system monitoring and others). Currently, some old features have been replaced by internal Windows 10/11 features. IBM
1368-543: The ThinkPad line. It has seen significant success in the business market while certain models target students and the education market. ThinkPad laptops have been used in outer space and for many years were the only laptops certified for use on the International Space Station (ISS). ThinkPads have also for several years been one of the preferred laptops used by the United Nations . IBM
1425-413: The ThinkPad played a key part in reversing IBM's fortunes. The first ThinkPads were very successful, collecting more than 300+ awards for design and quality. In 2005, Lenovo purchased the IBM personal computer business and the ThinkPad as a flagship brand along with it. Speaking about the purchase of IBM's personal computer division, Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi said, "We benefited in three ways from
1482-543: The TrackPoint product for which IBM received US patents in 1996 and 2000. Pointing sticks were the dominant pointing device for laptops before the advent of the touchpad . During later years, they faced a decline in popularity as most laptop-producing brands switched to touchpads, although as of 2021, some manufacturers like Lenovo still produce laptops with pointing sticks. The pointing stick can be used in ultra-compact netbooks where there would be no place for
1539-520: The TrueBlock branding for their privacy shutters. All ThinkPad models have a keyboard membrane and drain holes (L series, P series, E series, T series, X series, X1 series, and Z series models), and some have a solid rubber or plastic membrane (like L series, W series, X1 series and current T and X series), without draining holes. The first ThinkPad 700 was equipped with the signature TrackPoint red dot pointing stick invented by Ted Selker . By 2000
1596-510: The X230/X230t, T430s/T430 and T530/W530, all from 2012) block third-party batteries. Lenovo calls this feature "Battery Safeguard". It was first introduced on some models in May 2012. Laptops with this feature scan for security chips that only ThinkPad-branded batteries contain. Affected ThinkPads flash a message stating "Genuine Lenovo Battery Not Attached" when third-party batteries are used, and
1653-403: The battery will not charge. The ThinkPad has shipped with Microsoft Windows from its inception until present day. Alongside IBM PC DOS , Windows 3.1x was the default operating system on the original ThinkPad 700. IBM and Microsoft's joint operating system, known as Operating System/2 (OS/2), although not as popular, was also made available as an option from the ThinkPad 700 in 1992, and
1710-538: The closely-released A21m, T21 and T22 models, came preinstalled with Caldera OpenLinux . IBM shifted away from preinstalled Linux on the ThinkPad after 2002, but continued to support other distributions such as Red Hat Linux , SUSE Linux Enterprise , and Turbolinux by means of customer installations on A30, A30p, A31p models. This continued through the Lenovo transition with the T60p, until September 2007. The following year, ThinkPads began shipping with Linux again, when
1767-799: The corresponding compilers are very scarce and hard to find. However, it is also possible to run certain PowerPC versions of Linux on the 800 Series. Tadpole-based The ThinkPad line have a predecessor model (released in 1994 RS/6000 N40 with 50 MHz PowerPC 601 CPU and with design based on a Tadpole platform). The ThinkPad Power Series 800 (6020) has a new case design, similar to contemporary 700 series models, but with additional rounded palmrest. The ThinkPad Power Series 820 has another case design (square case with small palmrest with two speakers). This model has reported to run SuSE Linux and Windows NT 4.0 and that they are incompatible with Yaboot . The availability started at April 15, 1996. This model
IBM ThinkPad Power Series - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-433: The cursor driven GUI-based BIOS. Another unusual aspect of the series is their unique startup chime, reminiscent of Apple Macintosh computers of the time. The PowerPC ThinkPad line was considerably more expensive than the standard x86 ThinkPads — even a modestly configured 850 cost upwards of $ 12,000. On the other hand, the 800, 850 and 851 (and later the 860 and 861) were capable of supporting an optional web camera, one of
1881-523: The early 1990s, Zenith Data Systems shipped a number of laptop computers equipped with a device called J-Mouse, which essentially used a special keyswitch under the J key to allow the J keycap to be used as a pointing stick. In addition to appearing between the G, H and B keys on a QWERTY keyboard, these devices or similar can also appear on gaming devices as an alternative to a D-pad or analog stick . On certain Toshiba Libretto mini laptops,
1938-405: The fingers in the general direction the user wants the pointer to move. The velocity of the pointer depends on the applied force so increasing pressure causes faster movement. The relation between pressure and pointer speed can be adjusted, just as mouse speed is adjusted. On a QWERTY keyboard, the stick is typically embedded between the G, H and B keys, and the mouse buttons are placed just below
1995-494: The first commercially available webcams available on a laptop. These units could also record PAL and NTSC signals with onboard composite connectors, and the batteries contained internal processors to regulate power usage for optimized battery longevity. All of the PowerPC ThinkPads could run Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 , AIX 4.1.x, and Solaris Desktop 2.5.1 PowerPC Edition. Many of these PowerPC operating systems and
2052-523: The pointing stick was located next to the display. IBM sold a mouse with a pointing stick in the location where a scroll wheel is common now. Optical pointing sticks are also used on some Ultrabook tablet hybrids, such as the Sony Duo 11, ThinkPad Tablet and Samsung Ativ Q. On the Gateway 2000 Liberty laptop the pointing stick is above the enter key on the right side of the keyboard. A pointing stick
2109-508: The previous year, Lenovo lost its position as the top commercial notebook maker. However, the company celebrated a milestone in 2015 with the shipment of the 100 millionth unit of its ThinkPad line. In 2017, Lenovo launched a ThinkPad model to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ThinkPad brand. It is based on the T470 and uses the similar keyboard to the 700C. In 2022, Lenovo launched the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 Special Edition to celebrate
2166-419: The product's strengths and weaknesses, including loaning a machine to archaeologists excavating the ancient Egyptian city of Leontopolis . The resulting report documented the ThinkPad's excellent performance under difficult conditions; "The ThinkPad is an impressive machine, rugged enough to be used without special care in the worst conditions Egypt has to offer." The positive critical and commercial reception of
2223-514: The sale was announced in October 1994. Most of the 800 Series laptops used the PowerPC 603e CPU, at speeds of 100 MHz, or 166 MHz in the 860 model, although the earliest 800 (Type 6020), the direct ancestor of the 850, used a 603 and was apparently only offered to developers. All units used SCSI -2 instead of IDE hard disks, and the ID of every SCSI device on the system could be configured in
2280-459: The same observation that it offers a 'surprise' when opened. Since 1992, the ThinkPad design has been regularly updated, developed and refined over the years by Sapper and the respective teams at IBM and later Lenovo. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of ThinkPad's introduction, David Hill authored and designed a commemorative book about ThinkPad design titled ThinkPad Design: Spirit & Essence . Several unique features have appeared in
2337-412: The stick for such an interval, this method results in an incorrect zero point. Additional pressure again moves the pointer, but the calibration may occur again, requiring even more force. If the user releases pressure at this point, the change will be interpreted as an instruction to move the opposite direction. In time, the software will re-calibrate and stop the motion. Additionally, if "press-to-select"
IBM ThinkPad Power Series - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-624: The use of several components from the ThinkPad 755CD including the plastic case, and externally the Power Notebook was virtually identical to the 755CD save for Canon's logos. ThinkPad Lenovo lines (former/ current ): ThinkPad is a line of business-oriented laptop and tablet computers produced since 1992. The early models were designed, developed and marketed by International Business Machines (IBM) until it sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2005; since 2007, all new ThinkPad models have been branded Lenovo instead and
2451-482: Was a product of IBM's corporate history and culture. Thomas J. Watson Sr. first introduced "Think" as an IBM slogan in the 1920s. With every minicomputer and mainframe IBM installed (almost all were leased – not sold), a plastic sign with the text "Think" printed on an aluminum plate was placed atop the operator's console. For decades, IBM had also distributed small notepads with the word "THINK" emblazoned on their cover to customers and employees. The name "ThinkPad"
2508-471: Was a prototype of a compact desktop system; this model was never released, and only prototypes can be found. Released by Canon Computer Systems in 1995, the Canon Power Notebook featured a 603e clocked at 100 MHz with 256 KB of external cache; 32 to 48 MB of RAM; an 810 MB hard drive; a double-speed CD-ROM drive; and a 10.4" active matrix color LCD. Though not marketed by IBM, Canon licensed
2565-526: Was a tablet computer. This machine was the first product produced under IBM's new "differentiated product personality" strategy, a collaboration between Richard Sapper and Tom Hardy , head of the corporate IBM Design Program. Development of the 700C also involved a close working relationship between Sapper and Kazuhiko Yamazaki, lead notebook designer at IBM's Yamato Design Center in Japan and liaison between Sapper and Yamato engineering. This 1990–1992 "pre-Internet" collaboration between Italy and Japan
2622-438: Was created in 1990 by Italy-based designer Richard Sapper , a corporate design consultant of IBM and, since 2005, Lenovo. The design was based on the concept of a traditional Japanese bento lunchbox, which revealed its nature only after being opened. According to later interviews with Sapper, he also characterized the simple ThinkPad form to be as elementary as a simple, black cigar box and with similar proportions, with
2679-403: Was facilitated by a special Sony digital communications system that transmitted high-res images over telephone lines. This system was established in several key global Design Centers by Hardy so IBM designers could visually communicate more effectively and interact directly with Sapper for advice on their projects. For his innovative design management leadership during ThinkPad development, Hardy
2736-599: Was featured in the New Nintendo 3DS as a secondary analog stick, known as the C-Stick . The IBM TrackPoint III and the TrackPoint IV have a feature called Negative Inertia that causes the pointer's velocity to "overreact" when it is accelerated or decelerated. Negative Inertia is intended to avoid the feeling of inertia or sluggishness when starting or stopping movement. Usability tests at IBM have shown that it
2793-512: Was introduced as an option by IBM in 2004. ThinkPads were one of the first laptops to include this feature. The Mobile broadband support is a common feature for most the actual ThinkPad models after 2006; the support of 3x3 MIMO is a common feature for most of high-end models. Some additional features (dock stations, UltraBay, accessories support) were listed in Accessories section. External keyboard light, replaced by internal backlight;
2850-404: Was just an upgrade of the 820 model. The ThinkPad Power Series 850 (6042-G6D) has a similar case to an 800 model. This model has a motion video capture card and optional snap-in video camera. This model was just an upgrade of the 850 model. The IBM RS/6000 Notebook 860 , sometimes incorrectly to referred as ThinkPad 860 can be seen as the successor of the ThinkPad 850. The Power Series 600
2907-485: Was made available as a preinstalled option from a major hardware vendor. Following that, Lenovo then began making Ubuntu available as a preinstalled option across nearly thirty different notebook and desktop models, and Fedora Linux on all of its P series lineup. A small number of ThinkPads, such as the C14, are preinstalled with Google's ChromeOS , and are essentially ThinkPad-branded Chromebooks. On these devices, ChromeOS
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#17327865968952964-604: Was named "innovator of the Year 1992" by PC Magazine. The first ThinkPad tablet, a PenPoint -based device formally known as the IBM ThinkPad 2521, was positioned as a developer's release. The ThinkPad tablet became available for purchase by the general public, as the 700T, in October of the same year. IBM marketed the ThinkPad creatively, through methods such as early customer pilot programs, numerous pre-launch announcements, and an extensive loaner program designed to showcase
3021-659: Was officially supported until the T43 in 2005. The ThinkPad Power series line, sold from 1994 through 1998, was available with AIX and Solaris operating systems. IBM took its first steps toward ThinkPads with an alternative operating system, when they quietly certified the 390 model for SUSE Linux in November 1998. The company released its first Linux-based unit with the ThinkPad A20m in July 2000. This model, along with
3078-498: Was only used for three years. In 2012 Lenovo manufactured and markets Think-branded products while IBM was mostly responsible for overseeing servicing and repairs for them. At that time both IBM and Lenovo played a key role in the design of their "Think" branded products. The majority of ThinkPad computers since the 2005 acquisition of the brand by Lenovo have been made in Mexico, Slovakia, India and China. Lenovo employs ~300 people at
3135-422: Was suggested by IBM employee Denny Wainwright, who had one such notepad in his pocket. The name was opposed by the IBM corporate naming committee as all the names for IBM computers were numeric at that time, but "ThinkPad" was kept due to praise from journalists and the public. In April 1992, IBM announced the first ThinkPad models, the 300, 700 and 700C all released on October 5, 1992. The 700T released in 1993
3192-414: Was the first company that supported a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Modern ThinkPads still have this feature. ThinkShutter is the branding of a webcam privacy shutter present in some ThinkPad notebook computers . It is a simple mechanical sliding cover that allows the user to obstruct the webcam's view. Some add-on webcams and other laptop brands provide a similar feature. IdeaPad notebooks carry
3249-688: Was the last of the major personal computer manufacturers to enter the notebook market, launching the PS/2 Note in 1992; its earlier laptop models did not gain significant attention. Building on the PS/2 Note, the ThinkPad was developed to compete with Compaq in the United States, whose LTE was the first commercially successful notebook PC; as well as Apple Computer 's highly successful PowerBook , and Toshiba in Japan, whose Dynabook series of notebooks were similarly successful. IBM signed
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