IBM's laptop that shook the market 30 years ago

In early 1995, IBM shook up the laptop industry with the introduction of the ThinkPad 701.

The IBM ThinkPad 701, with its simple black rectangular design, became a technological wonder when opened. The "Butterfly" keyboard was considered a mechanical achievement that redefined the concept of mobile computing at that time.

The ThinkPad 701 was first introduced in March 1995.

PHOTO: TECHSPOT

Nearly 30 years later, we take a look back at IBM's revolutionary icon thanks to technology editor Harry McCracken in an article for Fast Company . He not only explores the impact of the ThinkPad 701, but also analyzes the combination of ambition, design, and technological need that brought it to life, as well as why it quickly disappeared.

On the outside, the ThinkPad 701 adheres to the design standards of the era, with a matte black “cigar box” shape. While it’s more compact than many of its competitors, it’s still nearly as thick as four modern ultrabooks stacked on top of each other. Much of that size is taken up by obsolete components like a dial-up modem and a PCMCIA slot.

The Impressions Are Inside the IBM ThinkPad 701

But the real magic is inside. When the display is opened, a complex mechanism inside the base causes the TrackWrite keyboard to extend beyond the edge of the laptop’s case to create a seamless, full-width typing surface. This allows a compact laptop with a 15-inch wide keyboard that feels as comfortable as a desktop.

The development of the Butterfly keyboard solved a longstanding challenge in the laptop industry at the time: shrinking the size of computers often resulted in cramped and awkward keyboards. Richard Sapper, the industrial designer behind the ThinkPad, along with engineer John Karidis, found a solution by dividing the keyboard into two triangular sections that could slide past each other, allowing for width adjustment without the need for complicated design.

ThinkPad 701 is highly rated thanks to its Butterfly keyboard

PHOTO: TECHSPOT

IBM turned this idea into reality by creating a new keyboard system that still retained the classic ThinkPad elements. After years of development, the ThinkPad 701 was launched in March 1995 with prices ranging from $1,499 to $3,299. The product immediately received critical and customer acclaim, becoming the best-selling laptop of the year and winning 27 design awards.

The Butterfly keyboard also appeared in famous movies such as GoldenEye and Mission: Impossible to become a symbol of advanced technology. However, the success of the ThinkPad 701 did not last long.

IBM withdrew the product from the market in late 1995 due to the rapid evolution of laptop design, when manufacturers could integrate full-size keyboards without the need for an extension mechanism. The Butterfly keyboard, while an innovative solution, had its drawbacks such as reliability and vulnerability.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chiec-laptop-lam-rung-chuyen-thi-truong-30-nam-truoc-cua-ibm-185250723165549582.htm