IBM Thinkpad 370C - Revision history

Andrei.boiu: /* Features */

2022-11-28T09:09:30Z

Features

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 28 November 2022
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	== Features ==		== Features ==
	*Intel 486 DX4 75MHz CPU		*Intel 486 DX4 75MHz CPU
	*4MB memory on-board, 36MB max with 1x32MB module (on proprietary ~~cards~~)		*4MB memory on-board, 36MB max with 1x32MB module (on proprietary card)
	*10.4" TFT display (640x480 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)		*10.4" TFT display (640x480 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)
	*Western Digital WD90C24A video chipset 1MB VRAM (1024x768 256 colour capable)		*Western Digital WD90C24A video chipset 1MB VRAM (1024x768 256 colour capable)

Andrei.boiu: /* Features */

2022-11-28T09:09:13Z

Features

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 28 November 2022
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	== Features ==		== Features ==
	*Intel 486 DX4 75MHz CPU		*Intel 486 DX4 75MHz CPU
	*4MB memory on-board, 36MB max with ~~2x32MB modules~~ (on proprietary cards)		*4MB memory on-board, 36MB max with 1x32MB module (on proprietary cards)
	*10.4" TFT display (640x480 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)		*10.4" TFT display (640x480 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)
	*Western Digital WD90C24A video chipset 1MB VRAM (1024x768 256 colour capable)		*Western Digital WD90C24A video chipset 1MB VRAM (1024x768 256 colour capable)

Andrei.boiu: /* Review */

2022-02-01T12:27:38Z

Review

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 1 February 2022
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	The inclusion of a relatively modern TFT screen, having a good contrast ratio and response time is one of the few saving graces in terms of technical prowess as most laptops of its era either had poor color LCDs or good but monochrome ones. RAM capabilities are mixed. The lack of standardization means that memory upgrades are quite difficult to find, as the laptop require a potentially proprietary memory module standard, the so-called memory module adapter, that looks like PCMCIA but is not PCMCIA, to be used.		The inclusion of a relatively modern TFT screen, having a good contrast ratio and response time is one of the few saving graces in terms of technical prowess as most laptops of its era either had poor color LCDs or good but monochrome ones. RAM capabilities are mixed. The lack of standardization means that memory upgrades are quite difficult to find, as the laptop require a potentially proprietary memory module standard, the so-called memory module adapter, that looks like PCMCIA but is not PCMCIA, to be used.

			<youtube width="500" height="281">PupSQ8oUTxY</youtube>

	The included standard capacity harddrive is not adequate as even modest Windows 95 installations with a Microsoft Office 95 package can take around more than 300MB. The harddrive itself is noisy and very bulky (12mm height) but the plastic drive cage along with the laptop's own casing offer excellent noise damping capabilities as metal frames are almost entirely avoided.		The included standard capacity harddrive is not adequate as even modest Windows 95 installations with a Microsoft Office 95 package can take around more than 300MB. The harddrive itself is noisy and very bulky (12mm height) but the plastic drive cage along with the laptop's own casing offer excellent noise damping capabilities as metal frames are almost entirely avoided.

Andrei.boiu at 09:24, 23 September 2021

2021-09-23T09:24:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:24, 23 September 2021
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	The included standard capacity harddrive is not adequate as even modest Windows 95 installations with a Microsoft Office 95 package can take around more than 300MB. The harddrive itself is noisy and very bulky (12mm height) but the plastic drive cage along with the laptop's own casing offer excellent noise damping capabilities as metal frames are almost entirely avoided.		The included standard capacity harddrive is not adequate as even modest Windows 95 installations with a Microsoft Office 95 package can take around more than 300MB. The harddrive itself is noisy and very bulky (12mm height) but the plastic drive cage along with the laptop's own casing offer excellent noise damping capabilities as metal frames are almost entirely avoided.

	One of the famous features of this laptop is the easily ~~liftable~~ keyboard that is operated by sliding some side latches on the chassis. This offers very easy access to most internal parts such as the battery, harddrive, floppy drive, memory. This was a very nice design feature that, fortunately, does not compromise too much the laptop's rigidity, keyboard feel and durability. Although latches can be damaged with improper operation they do withstand long use quite well and the keyboard hinges survives some rough handling.		One of the famous features of this laptop is the easily lift-able keyboard that is operated by sliding some side latches on the chassis. This offers very easy access to most internal parts such as the battery, harddrive, floppy drive, memory. This was a very nice design feature that, fortunately, does not compromise too much the laptop's rigidity, keyboard feel and durability. Although latches can be damaged with improper operation they do withstand long use quite well and the keyboard hinges survives some rough handling.

	The keyboard, trackpoint and trackpoint buttons are ~~upto~~ the classic IBM standard. While the keyboard is not quite the best, mainly due to the ~~liftable~~ design feature that reduced the travelling distance of the keys and made the keyboard feel more rigid than it should, it is still good compared with some low-end products of other manufacturers.		The keyboard, trackpoint and trackpoint buttons are at the classic IBM standard. While the keyboard is not quite the best, mainly due to the lift-able design feature that reduced the travelling distance of the keys and made the keyboard feel more rigid than it should, it is still good compared with some low-end products of other manufacturers.

	Software support is a mixed experience. While hardware capabilities are not outright bad, the video chipset seriously limit comfortable operating systems to Windows 3.1. Although Windows 95 is entirely possible, you should have at least 16MB of RAM available. DOS gaming is below average as anything newer than Wolfenstein 3D is barely playable, as is the case for the venerable DOOM.		Software support is a mixed experience. While hardware capabilities are not outright bad, the video chipset seriously limit comfortable operating systems to Windows 3.1. Although Windows 95 is entirely possible, you should have at least 16MB of RAM available. DOS gaming is below average as anything newer than Wolfenstein 3D is barely playable, as is the case for the venerable DOOM.
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	}}		}}

	[[Category:IBM]]		[[Category:IBM laptops]]

Andrei.boiu at 21:28, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T21:28:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:28, 20 September 2021
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	\| Durable, comfortable keyboard and trackpoint \|\| Poor video chipset, no soundcard		\| Durable, comfortable keyboard and trackpoint \|\| Poor video chipset, no soundcard
	\|-		\|-
	\| Great Floppy ~~or CD-ROM, Harddrive~~ access \|\| ~~Bulky, tall, heavy laptop~~		\| Great Floppy and harddrive access \|\| Proprietary power supply connector
	\|}		\|}

Andrei.boiu at 21:17, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T21:17:16Z

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 == Durability and Repair-ability ==
 The plastic quality of most of the chassis is quite good for such an old laptop and the liftable keyboard allows easy access to the floppy drive, hard-drive, battery and RAM. The LCD screen has a fluorescent backlight that is potentially difficult to replace as screens used by IBM on similar laptops can be quite cumbersome to dissassemble (the IBM Thinkpad 755 series). The rubberized coating that flakes over time is one of the most annoying feature of the laptop, as the smell, dirt and stickiness of its gets worse as the laptop aged. It can be cleaned with careful wiping using a smooth sponge and mild concentration iso-propyl alcohol or another alcohol solution.
 == Review ==

Andrei.boiu at 22:47, 29 August 2021

2021-08-29T22:47:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:47, 30 August 2021
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	== Durability and Repair-ability ==		== Durability and Repair-ability ==
	The plastic quality of most of the chassis is quite good for such an old laptop and the liftable keyboard allows easy access to the floppy drive, hard-drive, battery and RAM.		The plastic quality of most of the chassis is quite good for such an old laptop and the liftable keyboard allows easy access to the floppy drive, hard-drive, battery and RAM. The LCD screen has a fluorescent backlight that is potentially difficult to replace as screens used by IBM on similar laptops can be quite cumbersome to dissassemble (the IBM Thinkpad 755 series). The rubberized coating that flakes over time is one of the most annoying feature of the laptop, as the smell, dirt and stickiness of its gets worse as the laptop aged. It can be cleaned with careful wiping using a smooth sponge and mild concentration iso-propyl alcohol or another alcohol solution.

	The LCD screen has a fluorescent backlight that is potentially difficult to replace as screens used by IBM on similar laptops can be quite cumbersome to dissassemble (the IBM Thinkpad 755 series).

	== Review ==		== Review ==

Andrei.boiu at 22:18, 29 August 2021

2021-08-29T22:18:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:18, 30 August 2021
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	*NimH rechargeable battery		*NimH rechargeable battery
	*Dual PS/2, Serial, Parallel ports		*Dual PS/2, Serial, Parallel ports
	*~~16V~~ power supply (separate)		*20V power supply (separate)

	*Windows 3.1, IBM OS/2, Windows 95, (slightly slow on Windows 95)		*Windows 3.1, IBM OS/2, Windows 95, (slightly slow on Windows 95)

Andrei.boiu at 20:55, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T20:55:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:55, 22 August 2021
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	</div>		</div>
	\|style="vertical-align:top" \|		\|style="vertical-align:top" \|
	[[Image:IBM 370C.jpg\|IBM 370C 12"]]		[[Image:IBM 370C.jpg\|IBM 370C 10.4"]]
	\|}		\|}

Andrei.boiu: /* Other */

2021-08-22T20:50:20Z

Other

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:50, 22 August 2021
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	=== Other ===		=== Other ===
	*Mono speaker		*Mono speaker (PC beeper only)
	*2xPCMCIA Slots		*2xPCMCIA Slots
	*VGA Output		*VGA Output