Award-Winning Innovation at Popular Prices; IBM Strengthens Hot-Selling ThinkPad Mobile Computers

May 27, 1994 — Futuristic design and ease of use have made ThinkPad(a) the hottest-selling mobile computing name in the industry.

Today, IBM turned up the heat on the competition, enhancing its premium notebook series while bringing its most talked-about innovations to entry-priced ThinkPad notebooks. The new ThinkPad mobile computers, which include an impressive array of operating systems and mobile applications, include:

– The premium ThinkPad 755 Series, successor to the ThinkPad 750 notebook, which has captured nearly every major industry award;

– The ThinkPad 360 Series, a direct descendant of the ThinkPad 750, introducing the premium family’s innovative modular design and options in a popular-priced notebook;

– The ThinkPad 730T Tablet, delivering the right combination of size, weight and features for pen tablet applications.

“ThinkPad has become the standard against which all mobile computers are judged,” said Joseph C. Formichelli, general manager, Mobile Computing, IBM Personal Computer Company. Award-Winning Heritage The ThinkPad 755 Series builds on its award-winning predecessor by improving on its already impressive multi-media capabilities: more powerful/upgradeable processing; local bus video for dazzling graphics; built-in microphone; and greater storage.

The ThinkPad 755 and ThinkPad 360 Series feature IBM’s unique “pop-up” keyboard, providing users direct access to removable modular components — hard drive, floppy drive and “hot swappable” NiMH battery. This design offers customers the ability to integrate innovative new technologies as they become available and makes exchanging components as simple as packing a briefcase. The consistency of design between the two series benefits corporate customers and consumers alike. For example, a business can save money by pooling ThinkPad 360 and 755 notebooks and sharing or swapping many components.

An individual, on the other hand, can purchase a low-price ThinkPad model and add innovative options, like mobile multimedia docking or wireless communications. Of course, all travelers will appreciate the ability to remove their floppy drive, reducing notebook travel weight to as little as less than 5 pounds for the ThinkPad 360. Looking For Storage and Speed?

The ThinkPad 755 Series is offered with two color screens: a 10.4-inch (diagonal) thin film transistor (TFT) active-matrix screen, the largest on any notebook, and a popular 9.5-inch (diagonal) dual-scan passive-matrix screen. The ThinkPad 755 Series features a choice of two powerful processors: the IntelDX4(b) 75/25 megahertz (MHz) or the IntelDX2(b) 50/25 MHz (upgradeable to 75 MHz), random access memory (RAM) expandable to 36 megabytes (MB), storage capacity up to 540 million-byte (MB) today (and an optional 810 MB in July), local bus video and an integrated microphone and speaker for audio applications.

Unlike other notebooks available today, the ThinkPad 755 Series provides additional peace of mind through parity memory, a technology that safeguards data in the unlikely event of a memory error. The ThinkPad 360 Series delivers distinctive performance and features that set new standards for entry-priced notebooks. In fact, a side-by-side comparison demonstrates its remarkable similarity with the award-winning ThinkPad 750 — at far more attractive prices.

“IBM again leads the way in mobile computing,” said Scott L. Bower, director, Mobile Computing Brands, IBM Personal Computer Company. “The real show-stoppers are lower-cost ThinkPad notebooks that will cause cost-conscious and premium buyers alike to rewrite their wish lists.” Great Value, Feature Rich

The ThinkPad 360 Series includes a bright, 8.4-inch (diagonal) TFT active-matrix color model, two 9.5-inch (diagonal) dual-scan passive-matrix color units (one a pen-based convertible model), and a monochrome unit. ThinkPad 360 models feature the power-efficient Intel(b) 486SX-33 MHz processor, RAM expandable to 20 MB, up to 540 MB hard drives (810 MB in July); and local bus video for fast video performance. The ThinkPad 360 and 755 Series are available with the ThinkPad Dock I mobile docking station or port replicators, making them desktop alternatives in the office as well as multimedia presentation systems on the road.

The ThinkPad 730T Tablet is a lightweight yet powerful pen-based tablet, designed for on-the-go, forms-based applications, such as insurance adjustment, police/emergency services and health care. Like earlier ThinkPad tablets, the 730T realistically simulates the feel of pen-to-paper, and is optimized for indoor-outdoor use with rugged construction and a transflective screen. Battery life has been extended to last up to 10 hours through dual battery capability, and weight has been dramatically reduced to as little as 3.5 pounds.

Easy to Use

To achieve Plug and Play simplicity and avoid sometimes frustrating set-up requirements when using the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slots, the ThinkPad notebooks are preloaded with a new utility called IBM PC Card Manager(a). PC Card Manager provides for automatic configuration of many PCMCIA cards and automatic launching of applications, and gives the user visible and audible confirmation a card has been inserted or removed.

All the ThinkPad models announced today have the added expansion and growth flexibility of industry-standard Level 2.01 PCMCIA slots. The ThinkPad 755 and ThinkPad 360 notebooks are configured with a Type III slot, capable of housing one Type III or two Type I or II cards. The ThinkPad 730T Pen Tablet offers either two Type III or three Type II slots.

All keyboard-based ThinkPad models feature IBM’s acclaimed TrackPoint(a) II, an integrated pointing device that has spawned numerous “copy-cat” pointing sticks. Centrally situated between the “G,” “H” and “B” keys, this pressure-sensitive innovation provides left- and right-handers comprehensive cursor control without leaving the typing position.

Even Easier to Service

To simplify maintenance, the new ThinkPad models will be able to service themselves, or so it would seem. Using the preloaded IBM Online Housecall(a) software, IBM HelpCenter(a) technicians can remotely diagnose and, in some cases, repair ThinkPad computers via wired or wireless modem. The HelpCenter is available to ThinkPad users 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week via toll-free phone, fax or electronic bulletin boards.

All ThinkPad systems come with an international traveler’s warranty repair service and, in the U.S., with convenient ThinkPad EasyServ(a) (a send-in service free of shipping charges). In addition, all ThinkPad notebooks and subnotebooks come with carry-in repair service, optional on-site “where you are” repair for only $40/year and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

IBM ThinkPad 755 and 730T Series are covered by a three-year warranty; the ThinkPad 360 Series is covered by a one-year warranty. IBM PC Direct catalog pricing for the ThinkPad 360 Series begins at $1,999. (See attached sheet for detailed pricing.)

The ThinkPad 360 and 360Cs notebooks and the ThinkPad 755Cs notebook and ThinkPad 730T Tablet are available today. The ThinkPad 755C model will be generally available on June 1. The ThinkPad 360C and 360P models will be generally available June 30. IBM ThinkPad notebooks are available via IBM Business

Partners, authorized dealers and re-sellers, and through IBM PC Direct at 1-800-IBM-2YOU (1-800-426-2968). Preloaded Applications The ThinkPad notebooks come standard with 4 MB of memory and are preloaded with an impressive suite of applications providing immediate productivity and support: PC-DOS 6.3(a), Microsoft Windows(b) 3.1, America On Line(b), Lotus cc:Mail, e-mail for the Advantis network(b), Lotus Organizer(b) and Lotus ScreenCam(b), Official Airlines Guide FlightDisk(b), Prodigy(b), SofNet’s FaxWorks 3.0(b), and Triton Technologies Co-Session(b).

The ThinkPad 730T, which supports major pen operating systems, is preloaded with a choice of Pen for OS/2(a), PenDOS(b) and Windows for Pen Computing(b). IBM PC Direct(c) offers its customers more than 60 popular software applications that can be preloaded on a wide range of ThinkPad notebooks through an offering called SoftSelect(a).

Headquartered in Armonk, N.Y., IBM is the industry’s leading vendor of personal computers. IBM introduced the first PC to use the x86 architecture in August 1981 and helped to spawn the multi-billion dollar personal computer industry. Today, the company develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a variety of PCs — from subnotebooks to high-end servers — as well as a complete line of monitors, peripherals and accessories, in more than 140 countries worldwide.

(a) Trademark or registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation. (b) Trademark or registered trademark of respective company. (c) PC Direct is a trademark of Ziff Communications Company and is used by IBM Corporation under license.

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Jonathan Gandal
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Michael Reiter
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