IBM ThinkPad 701 explained

IBM ThinkPad 701
Aka:Butterfly
Family:ThinkPad
Type:Subnotebook
Price: -
Os:Windows 3.11
Cpu:i486 (DX2 or DX4) by Intel,
Storage:360-720 MB
Display:640 x 480, DSTN or TFT LCD
Graphics:Chips and Technologies CT-65545
Sound:ESS 688, Yamaha OPL3
Dimensions:9.77.9
Predecessor:IBM ThinkPad 500
Successor:IBM ThinkPad 760

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 and . 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.

Development

The 701 was a collaboration project between the manufacturing facility at the Research Triangle Park near Raleigh, North Carolina, United States and the development facility at Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The concept of the keyboard was first developed as a photocopy of a keyboard in spring 1993. In the summer, a plexiglass prototype was developed. The decision to fund the notebook was made in the fall of 1993, with the introduction planned a year later. Because the process was delayed, it used the Intel 486 instead of the faster Pentium when it was released.[1] The keyboard was designed by with John Karidis,[2] Sam Lucente and Robert Tennant. Richard Sapper has been responsible for the overall ThinkPad design.[3] Other contributors include Lawrence Stone, Michael King, Martin Tucker and Gerard McVicker.[4]

The 701 was codenamed butterfly internally at IBM, and engineers also wanted to use this name as the official one. The IBM legal department did not allow the name of living creatures for products. It was part of the subnotebook series like the ThinkPad 500, but they did not want to attach the same name to this model due to bad sales of the previous 500 model. The 600 series was a reserved name, so they used the 700 series which was intended for the high-end models.

The LCD panel was manufactured by Sharp Corporation, which PCMag noted, was a departure from Display Technologies, Inc. for the 700 series.[5]

Release

IBM bought advertising space in major newspapers, in the lower corner or on the upper right side of a page. They only used an image of a butterfly without anything else. Days later, they added the IBM logo with a butterfly icon. A couple of days later, the text "Watch for the announcement" was added.

After the announcement, IBM received a legal threat about the usage of the name "butterfly" by someone known only as George, as it violated their company's trademark on a supercomputer product named Butterfly. IBM replied that they did not plan to use it as a brand name, and no legal action or further correspondence took place.

Initially, IBM failed to supply the demand for the 701.[6]

Because of the high reward of the 701 design, model kits were developed so a souvenir version of the 701 could be made.[7]

Specifications

The subnotebook series was released in different variations, with either the Intel DX2 or Intel DX4, LCD with dual scan or TFT active matrix. They were sold with different disk sizes. They all contained the same graphics chips and preinstalled software, except for the DX4 versions which were dual booted with IBM OS/2. It was based on the AT bus and could be extended with a Dock II type. Pre-installed software included Lotus, Organizer, ScreenCam, PRODIGY, America Online, Video for Windows 1.1 Runtime and Audiofile TalkWorks. The operating system installed was IBM DOS 6.3, Windows 3.11, while DX4 machines included OS/2 Warp 3.0 in dual boot mode with selected BonusPack. The graphics processing unit (GPU) was a CT-65545, with 1MB DRAM by Chips and Technologies on VL-Bus 2.0. It supported an external SVGA display up to 1024x768 with 256 colors at 70 Hz.[8]

701Cs701C
VGA color 640x480, DSTN, 10.4", 65k colors, 20:1 contrast VGA color, 640x480, TFT LCD, 65k colors, 100:1 contrast
Intel DX2 50/25 MHzIntel DX4 75/25 MHzIntel DX2 50/25 MHzIntel DX4 75/25 MHz
360 MB 540 MB 360 MB 540 MB 720 MB 360 MB 540 MB 360 MB 540 MB 720 MB

Keyboard

The keyboard used in the 701 is officially known as the TrackWrite, but commonly known and code-named as the butterfly keyboard.[9] The design allowed the 701 series to be both compact (when closed) and comfortable to use (when open), despite being just 24.6 cm (9.7 in) wide with a 26.4 cm (10.4 in) VGA LCD. The keyboard is split into two roughly right triangle pieces that slide as the laptop's lid is opened or closed. As the lid is opened both pieces slide out to the sides, followed by one piece sliding downward. The two halves mesh to form a keyboard 29.2 cm (11.5 in) wide which overhangs the sides of the laptop body. Conversely, as the lid is closed one piece slides back, then both slide inward until the keyboard can be covered by the lid. The movement of the keyboard is driven by a cam on the lid's hinge, so the motions of the keyboard parts are always synchronized with the movement of the lid.

Reception

In a 1995 review of the 701C by InfoWorld the full-sized keyboard, large matrix screen and built-in multimedia features were positively noted. The nonstandard I/O ports were seen negatively.[10] The ThinkPad 701 has received 27 design awards, including the "Good Design Award" from CES Innovation and "1995 Product of the year" in the subnotebook category from InfoWorld.[11] Domus noted in a 2019 article that: "Even today, this portable PC amazes anyone who sees it open and close, and more than twenty years have gone by.".[12] The 701C was the top selling laptop of 1995.[13] Walt Mossberg considered it the most unusual and clever laptop he ever reviewed.[14] The laptop is still popular with collectors, 26 years after its release.[15]

According to John Karidis, the IBM ThinkPad 700 succeeded because of the large screen size and full-sized keyboard, while other companies cramped their keyboards and failed. Karidis observed that the limiting factor in the laptop size was the keyboard width and that the screen and keyboard surface were equal with different aspect ratios.

The laptop is being displayed in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, New York, Die Neue Sammlung in Munich, Germany and in the Computer History Museum.[16] The ThinkPad 701 was briefly shown in 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, Blood Diamond and Mission: Impossible.[17]

Discontinuation and later history

The 701 was withdrawn per December 21, 1995, which IBM announced a month before.[18] This was due to newer laptop models containing larger screens, so the laptop could contain a full sized keyboard without a folding mechanism. Other companies were also moving to Pentium processors.[19] The 701 series has been described as a product that had innovative features that were well received in the market, but the total package missed the competitive mark. A few months after the release of the 701, the ThinkPad 760 was released which is based on the original Intel Pentium processor.

In 2003, ZDNet reported that the IBM Design Center was experimenting with new laptop models that included a butterfly keyboard.[20] David Hill stated that he tried to bring back the butterfly design, but was not able to do so.[21] In 2021, Lenovo has filed a patent for a keyboard that is similar to the one used in the 701.[22]

In 2014 it was reported by Hackaday that it was possible to desolder the original Intel DX4 and replace it with a faster Am5x86.[23] In 2023, hacker Karl Buchka retrofitted the mainboard of the Framework Laptop into the 701. The keyboard is controlled using the QMK firmware on a Teensy.[24]

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Dell, Deborah
  2. Web site: 2011-06-16. Shaping the evolution of the PC - CNET News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110616185206/http://news.cnet.com/2009-1082-270234.html. 2011-06-16. 2021-06-05. CNET.
  3. Web site: 2015-11-09. Sam Lucente, John Karidis, Robert P. Tennant, Richard Sapper, IBM Corporation. ThinkPad 701 Portable Computer. 1995 MoMA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151109123646/https://www.moma.org/collection/works/2168. 2015-11-09. 2021-06-05. Museum of Modern Art.
  4. Web site: The People Behind The Most Innovative Laptop Designs. live. 2021-06-01. PCMag. en. 2021-06-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213840/https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-people-behind-the-most-innovative-laptop-designs.
  5. Nadel . Brian . 1995-03-14 . IBM ThinkPad 701C: The Future of Notebook Computing Unfolds . . en . Ziff Davis, Inc. . 37 .
  6. News: Flynn . Laurie . March 7, 1995 . I.B.M. Fails to Meet Demand on Thinkpad . . March 29, 2023.
  7. Web site: 20 years of smart and crazy concepts at the ThinkPad museum . 2023-06-23 . CNET . en.
  8. Book: Personal Systems Reference IBM ThinkPad Notebooks 1992 to 2001 - withdrawn: January 2001 - Version 214. IBM. 2001. 53. 2021-05-08. 2021-04-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429083516/https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/withdrawnbook/twbook.pdf. live.
  9. Web site: Shaping the evolution of the PC. Spooner. John G.. 2001-07-20. CNET. 2007-06-13. https://archive.today/20120712103737/http://news.com.com/Shaping+the+evolution+of+the+PC/2009-1082_3-270234.html. 2012-07-12.
  10. Capen. Tracey. 1995-03-06. First look: IBM's innovative new ThinkPad unfolds from subnotebook to laptop at your fingertips. InfoWorld. en. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.. 1, 104. 0199-6649. 2021-05-04. 2021-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713154440/https://books.google.com/books?id=hzoEAAAAMBAJ. live.
  11. Book: Naitoh, Arimasa. How the ThinkPad changed the world: and is shaping the future. 2017. William J. Holstein. 978-1-5107-2500-3. New York. Chapter 5: A Butterfly's Day in the Sun. 992973085. 2021-03-25. 2021-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713154437/https://www.worldcat.org/title/how-the-thinkpad-changed-the-world-and-is-shaping-the-future/oclc/992973085. live.
  12. Web site: Lana. Alessio. 2019-03-28. IBM Thinkpad 701C, the 1995 "butterfly" laptop. live. 2021-03-24. Domus. en-gb. 0012-5377. 2019-03-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329013331/https://www.domusweb.it/en/product-news/2019/03/25/ibm-thinkpad-701c-the-1995-butterfly-laptop.html.
  13. Web site: Light. Larry. 1996-02-19. IBM's Butterfly On A Pin. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030146/http://www.businessweek.com/1996/08/b346311.htm. 2016-03-04. 2010-11-02. Businessweek.
  14. Web site: Patel. Nilay. 2017-06-12. Inside Walt Mossberg's gadget museum. live. 2021-06-05. The Verge. en. 2020-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211152826/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/12/15779450/walt-mossberg-original-iphone-ibm-thinkpad-amazon-kindle-video.
  15. Web site: 2021-06-14. How a toy inspired the 'butterfly' keyboard design of the iconic IBM ThinkPad 701C. live. 2021-08-02. The Indian Express. en. 2021-06-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623153624/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/laptops/how-a-toy-inspired-the-butterfly-keyboard-design-of-the-iconic-ibm-thinkpad-701c-7356741/.
  16. Web site: 2011-01-12. Computer History Museum. live. 2021-04-17. PCMag UK. en-gb. 2021-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417200030/https://uk.pcmag.com/laptops/58419/computer-history-museum.
  17. Web site: Starring the Computer - IBM Thinkpad 701. live. 2021-03-25. Starring the Computer. 2020-07-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712014729/http://starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=205.
  18. Web site: 1995-11-21 . Announcement summary - C95-058 . 2023-05-08 . IBM.com . en-US.
  19. Web site: Mitchell. Robert L.. 2011-01-07. Flashback: What killed IBM's Bufferfly. live. 2021-05-16. Computerworld. en. 0010-4841. 2021-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516105425/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2470091/flashback--what-killed-ibm-s-bufferfly.html.
  20. Web site: Kidman . Angus . Butterfly notebook may spread wings again . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713154516/https://www.zdnet.com/article/butterfly-notebook-may-spread-wings-again/ . 2021-07-13 . 2021-03-25 . . en.
  21. Web site: Piltch . Avram . October 2017 . 25 Years of ThinkPad: The Best and Most Innovative . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190423165808/https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-thinkpads-of-all-time . 2019-04-23 . 2021-05-11 . . en.
  22. Web site: Darragh. Murphy . 2021-07-15 . Lenovo may bring back a classic foldable ThinkPad laptop keyboard . 2021-09-19 . . en.
  23. Web site: Fabio . Adam . 2014-10-21 . Thinkpad 701c: Reverse Engineering A Retro Processor Upgrade . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508130501/https://hackaday.com/2014/10/21/thinkpad-701c-reverse-engineering-a-retro-processor-upgrade/ . 2021-05-08 . 2021-05-08 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Proven . Liam . 2023-03-01 . Bringing the IBM Thinkpad 'Butterfly' back to life . 2023-03-06 . . Situation Publishing Ltd. . en.