ThinkPad 500

Last updated
IBM ThinkPad logo askew badge.svg
Manufacturer IBM

The IBM ThinkPad 500 is a subnotebook from the ThinkPad series released by IBM in 1993.

Contents

History

IBM Thinkpad 500 (left) and 510 (right). Thinkpad 500 & 510 Machines.jpg
IBM Thinkpad 500 (left) and 510 (right).

The ThinkPad 500 (type 2603 [1] ) was announced on 16 June 1993. It was the first subnotebook by IBM [2] [3] , made and registered with the FCC by their then-recent spin-off, Lexmark. [4]

The next subnotebook by IBM was the IBM ThinkPad 701 series, which John Karidis influenced after using a 500 and feeling the keyboard experience could be improved by making it wider than the screen.

It was announced at the same time as the IBM ThinkPad 350. [5] The New York Times noted that IBM challenged companies like Zeos, Dell, Zenith Data Systems and Hewlett-Packard who developed computers in the same class as the 500. [6]

The ThinkPad 500 has a Lexbook counterpart called Lexmark SE10 (codename "Enchilada"). The main difference is that instead of using a TrackPoint, its keyboard has a mouse-key button.

The ThinkPad 500 was the earliest known IBM portable computer to use an IBM Model M6-1 buckling sleeve keyboard assembly, a minor revision of the original Model M6 and descendant of the IBM PS/2 Model L40 SX's Model M3. M6 and M6-1 were used on many early IBM (and all Lexmark) laptops and were even produced for other companies like AST, Apple and Tadpole. [7]


Specifications

Reception

InfoWorld regarded the ThinkPad 500 as a bit too small for comfort. [8]

PC World awarded the ThinkPad 500 the "Best Buy - #1 Value Mobile PC" in September 1994. [9]

Successor

In March 1994 the ThinkPad 510 was announced, which contains the 486 DLC by IBM and a 7.7" colour display. [10]

The ThinkPad 510 looks very similar to the 500, but with notable differences in design being a colour "IBM" logo indicating the use of a colour LCD and that the 500's blue brightness and contrast buttons have been moved to 'hot keys' on the keyboard.


References

  1. "Personal Systems Reference IBM ThinkPad Notebooks 1992 to 2001 - withdrawn" (PDF). Lenovo. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  2. "COMPANY NEWS; I.B.M. INTRODUCES SERIES OF PORTABLE COMPUTERS". The New York Times. 1993-06-16. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. Smith, Tony. "The IBM ThinkPad: 15 years old today". The Register . Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  4. "OET Equipment Authorization System FCC Form 731 FCC ID: IYL 2603". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  5. 1 2 Lee, Yvonne (June 21, 1993). "IBM subnotebook uses 486". InfoWorld . p. 31.
  6. Lohr, Steve (1993-06-23). "Notebooks May Hold Key to I.B.M.'s Revival". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  7. Kali. "Model M6 & M6-1 ThinkPad Laptop Keyboard Assemblies | Shark's Wiki". Admiral Shark's Keyboards. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  8. Paul, Frederic (1993-08-16). "Powerful IBM ThinkPad 500 is a bit too small for comfort". InfoWorld . InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
  9. A., Dell, Deborah (2000). ThinkPad: a different shade of blue. Sams. p. 330. ISBN   0-672-31756-7. OCLC   781169669.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Lee, Yvonne (21 March 1994). "IBM revamps line with four ThinkPads". InfoWorld .