IBM ThinkPad TransNote

IBM ThinkPad TransNote
IBM ThinkPad TransNote
ManufacturerIBM
Product familyThinkPad
Type2-in-1 PC, Graphics tablet
Release dateFebruary 28, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-02-28)[1]
DiscontinuedOctober 28, 2003; 20 years ago (2003-10-28)[2]
Operating system
CPUMobile Intel Pentium III (Coppermine) @ 600 MHz
Memory64-320 MB PC100 SDRAM
Storage10 or 20 GB HDD
Removable storageCompactFlash
Display10.4" SVGA TFT Touchscreen
GraphicsATI 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:
  • 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
Folded TransNote with opened cover

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]

References

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

External links

  • TransNote: a new product for IBM, a new experience for Research at the Wayback Machine (archived February 9, 2006)
  • Transnote.info at the Wayback Machine (archived July 17, 2016)
  • Laptop.pics
  • Japanese TransNote brochure
  • IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual
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