IBM ThinkPad TransNote explained

IBM ThinkPad TransNote
Manufacturer:	IBM
Family:	ThinkPad
Type:	2-in-1 PC, Graphics tablet
Release Date:	^[1]
Discontinued:	^[2]
Os:	Windows 98 SE Windows 2000
Cpu:	Mobile Intel Pentium III (Coppermine)
Cpuspeed:	600 MHz
Memory:	64-320 MB PC100 SDRAM
Storage:	10 or 20 GB HDD
Memory Card:	CompactFlash
Display:	10.4" SVGA TFT Touchscreen
Graphics:	ATI Rage Mobility M

The IBM ThinkPad TransNote is a notebook computer by IBM.^[3]

Features

The TransNote consists of a leather-like folio case which contains a computer on one side and a paper notebook on the other side.^[4]

The technology is comparable to the CrossPad, which used a similar design as the TransNote.^[5]

Specifications

The TransNote comes equipped with:

• 10.4" TFT FlipTouch display (800x600 resolution)
• 600 MHz Intel Mobile Pentium III
• ATi Rage Mobility M 4MB^[6]
• 10GB or 20GB HDD
• 64MB PC-100 memory standard, 320 MB max
• CompactFlash dock
• CardBus slot (type 2)
• PC Card slot.^[7]
• Two audio controllers:
  • Intel AC'97 Audio with a CS4297A codec
  • Crystal Semiconductor CS4281
• MiniPCI slot with one of the following:
  • 3Com 10/100 Ethernet Mini-PCI Adapter with 56K Modem
  • Xircom 10/100 EtherJet Mini PCI Adapter with 56K Modem
• ThinkScribe digital notepad

The battery pack uses flat Samsung 103450 cells.^[8]

Reception

Computerworld called it a "failed design" because it tried to blend a large 3M digitized pad with a tiny underpowered laptop in the same product.^[9] PCQuest viewed it as an attractive choice for people who travel a lot.^[10] TechRepublic called it one of the 25 "unique and bizarre breakthroughs" in laptop innovation.^[11]

Awards

The TransNote won a Gold iF Product Design Award in 2002 in the product discipline.^[12] The TransNote was the winner in the PC category of the PC Magazine Awards for Technical Excellence in 2001.

Further developments

IBM announced the discontinuation of the TransNote in February 2002, intending to discontinue it at the end of the year.^[13]

External links

• • • Laptop.pics
• Japanese TransNote brochure
• IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual

Notes and References

1. Announcement Letter 101-039, IBM ThinkPad TransNote Portfolio Notebook Redefines Mobile Computing . February 20, 2001 . IBM.
2. Announcement Letter 903-189, Hardware withdrawal: Selected IBM ThinkPad notebook computers - Replacements available . September 30, 2003 . IBM.
3. News: Schofield . Jack . 2001-01-18 . Putting pen to PC . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-04-15 . 0261-3077.
4. Web site: Pen Computing Magazine: IBM ThinkPad TransNote. 2021-04-16. Pen Computing Magazine.
5. Web site: Jeremy . Wagstaff . IBM's TransNote Lets Users Doodle Without Much Fuss . 2023-04-15 . The Wall Street Journal . en-US.
6. Web site: Category:TransNote - ThinkWiki . 2022-08-18 . www.thinkwiki.org.
7. 2016-12-21 . ThinkPad TransNote WIRED . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221064743/https://www.wired.com/2001/07/thinkpad-transnote/ . Dec 21, 2016 . 2021-04-16 . WIRED.
8. Web site: 2014-09-25. Fail Of The Week: Battery Packin'. 2021-04-16. Hackaday. en-US.
9. Web site: Enderle. Rob. 2019-05-20. Lenovo Accelerate: The coming disruptive evolution/evolution of the laptop. 2021-04-16. Computerworld. en.
10. Web site: Rajguru. Sunil. 2001-07-11. IBM ThinkPad TransNote: Notebook-cum-digital Notepad. 2021-04-16. PCQuest. en-US.
11. Web site: April 14, 2016. Conner. Forrest. Laptop innovation: A history of unique and bizarre breakthroughs. 23. 2021-04-16. TechRepublic. en.
12. Web site: IBM ThinkPad TransNote. 2021-04-16. International Forum Design. en.
13. Web site: Spooner. John G.. IBM erases pen-based notebook. 2021-04-18. ZDNet. en.