Manufacturer | |
---|---|
Type | Notebook Computer |
Release date | October 1992 |
Introductory price | Starting at US$2,375(equivalent to $5,157 in 2023) |
Operating system | |
CPU | Intel 80386SL @ 25 MHz |
Memory | 4-12 MB |
The IBM ThinkPad 300 is a notebook computer series that was created by Zenith Data Systems for IBM. It was released in North America in October 1992, alongside the ThinkPad 700 series. It was the second series for the ThinkPad line of notebook computers, and was a cost saving alternative to the 700. It was however known as one of IBM's failures, with most not working properly or being dead after leaving the production line. It was also grey instead of black, and was missing a TrackPoint, which made them unappealing to consumers. [1] The ThinkPad 300 was received as decent, but did not sell well. [2]
Contrary to earlier IBM computers, IBM sought for an OEM to develop the 300. Eventually, executive authorization was granted. Because of a pre-existing agreement with Zenith/BULL, IBM negotiated with them about the notebook that would become the 300. [3]
The ThinkPad 300 was made by Zenith Data Systems, instead of IBM. It was launched on October 5, 1992 alongside the ThinkPad 700 series. [4]
Although introduced at a price of $2,375, by February of 1993 the price dropped to $1,999 then even lower to $1,699 by May of 1993. This was due to poor sales of the ThinkPad 300. [2]
The 300 was based on the 25 MHz Intel 386SL with 4 MB of memory, and had a nickel metal hydride battery that was claimed by IBM to last up to 10 hours. It also had the option of an 80 or 120 MB hard disk drive and it had a 9.5in 640x480 monochrome screen with 64 scales of grey. Other features it had was PC DOS 5.0 preinstalled, and for ports was a modem, serial, VGA, parallel, ethernet, and port replicator. Alongside the hard drive, it had a built in 3 1/2 1.44 MB floppy disk drive. [5]
As the 300 was meant to be low-end and cheaper, it was missing some features the 700 series had, such as the TrackPoint device.
Although the ThinkPad came with monochrome screens, they could later be upgraded to an active color TFT screen. [5]
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 |
PC Mag regarded the ThinkPad 300 as a decent choice, thanks to the good screen and above average battery life backed by flexible power management. [6]
ThinkPad is a line of business-oriented laptop computers and tablets, the early models of which were designed, developed and marketed by International Business Machines (IBM) starting in 1992. IBM sold its PC business, including laptops to Lenovo in 2005, and since 2007, all new ThinkPad models have been branded Lenovo instead. The Chinese manufacturer further developed the line, and is still selling new models in 2024.
The IBM PC Convertible is a laptop computer made by IBM, first sold in April 1986. The Convertible was IBM's first laptop-style computer, following the luggable IBM Portable, and introduced the 3½-inch floppy disk format to the IBM product line. Like modern laptops, it featured power management and the ability to run from batteries.
The IBM ThinkPad 701 is a subnotebook in the ThinkPad line by IBM. The 701 is colloquially known as the Butterfly due to its sliding keyboard, which was designed by John Karidis. It was developed from 1993 and sold from March 1995 until later that year and priced between $1,499 and $3,299. The 701 was the most sold laptop in 1995 and has received 27 design awards. It was based on either the DX2 or the DX4 version of the Intel i486, combined with CT-65545 graphics chip from Chips and Technologies. The 701Cs version used a DSTN display, while the 701C used a TFT LCD. It was pre-installed with Windows 3.11 and for the DX4 models also with OS/2 Warp 3.0. The 701 was discontinued because the keyboard design was no longer a necessity after screen sizes increased. After its discontinuation there has been some speculation about a new notebook with a butterfly style keyboard.
Compaq's first computers' form factors were portable, also called "luggables", and then "lunchbox computers", and together constituted the Compaq Portable series. These computers measured approximately 16 inches (410 mm) deep, 8 inches (200 mm) tall, and approximately 20 inches (510 mm) wide. As the products evolved, laptops and notebooks were created offing a new level of portability that caused the market to explode.
The LTE is a line of laptops manufactured by Compaq Computer Corporation, introduced in 1989 and discontinued in 1997. It was the first notebook-sized laptop sold by Compaq and the first commercially successful notebook computer, helping launch the burgeoning industry.
Subnotebook, also called ultraportable, superportable, or mini notebook, was a marketing term for laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical notebook-sized laptop.
The history of laptops describes the efforts, begun in the 1970s, to build small, portable Personal Computers that combine the components, inputs, outputs and capabilities of a Desktop Computer in a small chassis.
The APC was a series of business microcomputers released outside of Japan by the NEC Corporation. The series comprised the APC, the APC II and APC III, international versions of models from the Japanese NEC N5200 series(jp).
IBM ThinkPad 310 was a notebook computer series introduced in 1997 by the IBM corporation into the market as part of their ThinkPad laptop series. It was succeeded by the ThinkPad 380 series.
IBM ThinkPad 760 was a notebook computer introduced in 1995 by the IBM corporation into the market as part of the ThinkPad 700-series. It was succeeded in 1998 by the ThinkPad 770 series.
IBM ThinkPad 770 was a laptop designed and manufactured by IBM targeted for the business, enterprise and professional user. It was the last lineup in the ThinkPad 700-series, succeeding the 760 as the high-end laptop of the ThinkPad lineup. The line was produced from October 1997 to May 2000, and eventually replaced by the ThinkPad models A20m and A20p.
The IBM ThinkPad 365 is a notebook computer series developed by IBM and manufactured by ASE Group. It was released in North America in November 1995, and was the successor of the ThinkPad 360 series. The series had 8 models that were released before being discontinued, and was succeeded in 1997 by the ThinkPad 380 series.
The IBM Thinkpad 350 series was a notebook computer series introduced in 1993 by IBM as part of their Thinkpad laptop series. It was the successor to the IBM ThinkPad 300. With only 2 models ever made in the series, it was succeeded in 1994 by the IBM Thinkpad 360 series.
The IBM ThinkPad 360 series was a notebook computer series introduced in 1994 by IBM as part of their ThinkPad laptop series. It was succeeded in late 1995 by the IBM ThinkPad 365 series.
The IBM ThinkPad 700 is the first notebook computer for the ThinkPad brand that was released by IBM on October 5, 1992. Another series was released alongside it, the ThinkPad 300 series. The 300 series was meant to be a cheaper, lower performance model line over the 700. It was developed as a successor to the L40SX.
The Packard Bell Statesman was an economy line of notebook computers introduced in 1993 by Packard Bell. They were slower in performance and lacked features compared to most competitor products, but they were lower in price. It was created in a collaboration between Packard Bell and Zenith Data Systems. The Statesman series was essentially a rebrand of Zenith Data Systems Z-Star 433 series, with the only notable difference of the logo in the middle and text on the front bezel.
The IBM ThinkPad Power Series(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 IBM PS/2 Note and PS/note are a series of notebooks from the PS/2 line by IBM. It was announced in March 1992, half a year prior to the release of the first ThinkPad, the IBM ThinkPad 700. The series was discontinued in 1994.
The IBM ThinkPad T30 is a laptop computer manufactured by IBM.
The LTE, LTE/286, and LTE/386s were a series of notebook-sized laptops manufactured by Compaq from 1989 to 1992. The three laptops comprise the first generation of the LTE line, which was Compaq's second attempt at a laptop following the SLT in 1988 and their first attempt at a truly lightweight portable computer. The LTE line proved highly popular—Compaq selling hundreds of thousands of units between the three—and gave way to successive generations of the line, including the LTE Lite, the LTE Elite, and the LTE 5000 series. With its use of industry-standard floppy and hard drive technologies, the LTE was the first commercially successful notebook computer and helped launch the fledgling notebook industry, which had seen earlier attempts fail due to the use of novel but nonstandard data storage.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)