Robert Mitchell over at ComputerWorld has written an interesting article about the beloved “Butterfly” keyboard on the ThinkPad 701c. As we all know, it was a very limited run for such an innovative design and might leave you wondering why it disappeared so quickly. Robert has the scoop with details from Lenovo design guru David Hill – check out the source link below.
In the mid-’90s, the focus was on ultraportable designs with small footprints. When the 701c came out, IBM was using the biggest display glass it could build (10.4 in. diagonally), but the aspect ratio (4:3) wasn’t a good match for the aspect ratio of a full-sized keyboard, especially in that small-footprint form factor. “You had to have a very large border around the display to accommodate a large keyboard,” Hill says.
Source: [ComputerWorld]
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Alas, today, Lenovo doesn’t see large bezels as a problem.
Instead of making a genuine 10″ Thinkpad, they take a 12″ frame and stuff an undersized screen in it.
So much for engineering excellence.
“Alas, today, Lenovo doesn’t see large bezels as a problem.”
The bezel on the X200 (the most notable “offender”) is not terribly large compared to the 701c. Further, with the advent of wide screens, they [Lenovo] don’t need to resort to engineering tricks to accommodate a full-sized keyboard.
The 701c absolutely is an engineering marvel. But just like the steamliners of the early 20th century, it is an engineering marvel the use of which is no longer required.
My first ThinkPad was a 701c. Obviously, the gain in screen sizes sunset the butterfly keyboard. Not sure how practical it would be today even on a 10″ screen system. The 701 was a nice system, but was know for structural cracks in some key areas related to the keyboard mechanism. Mine suffered the same issue.
I always admired the 701c – it came out shortly after I joined IBM. I thought the keyboard was one of the most amazing things and always secretly wanted one of these systems.
A thoughtful friend followed my online musings and picked one up off ebay and shipped it to me as a birthday present. It’s not worth much as a computer these days, but it felt good to finally have one in my collection.
Thanks Erik!
Mark
Hi Mark:
I have a 701c I am wanting to restore for curiosities sake and as a demonstrator of Linux OS . Since you worked for iBM I was hoping you might know which inverters would work on it. The screen is black .
Thanks
I still have the 701c but the battery has long gone and the drawer of the HD is broken. I used it for several years and enjoyed it very much, and I would love to utilize it again. if there are parts for sell, let me know
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