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Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:45 pm
by danikayser84
What are some of the rarest IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad models? I know about the TransNote, the 240Z (I believe this was East Asia-only, but I think I saw a US market 240Z on eBay around a year ago) and the Reserve Edition, but any others worth noting? I've seen only one 570E in the past 2 years, how rare is that model (or was it more common in other markets besides the USA?)
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:02 pm
by brchan
Thinkpad Power PC 800 series, especially the 860, are probably some of, if not the most rarest models. They were also the most expensive and topped out at about $20,000 IIRC.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:46 pm
by ajkula66
570/E was a very common machine, it's just old and the vast majority of them are gone.
I series 1124 - which would be the grayish version of 240Z - is arguably the rarest one I've heard of and only know of one person on this forum who actually owned it.
Power PC series were never my cup of tea and am not familiar with them whatsoever, but rare and expensive they seem to be.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:24 am
by n2ri
IBM 701C and 701S butterfly keyboard laptops (NOT Lenovo). they built the baseline for all other laptops to live up to.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:17 am
by 600X
Special edition ThinkPads like the Reserve and 20th Anniversary X1 Carbon are bound to be rare. Concept ThinkPads like the S70, X1 with classic keyboard and T431s Terminator, if these count, are obviously very rare too.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 7:56 am
by Norway Pad
It depends on how you define rare. I think it falls under two categories. Like George says, some machines are rare today simply because they are old and the vast majority of them are gone. The 701C and 700C probably fall under that category. Quite common back in the days, but today, the good examples have found their homes with collectors who have no intentions of selling them, thus making them rare. That's the reason I'm guarding my 710C units very carefully, and is still looking for the right 700C to come around.
Other models were rare from the beginning, as they were either made in a limited number on purpose, or IBM / Lenovo simply sold few of them. The 800 series, as well as the original Thinkpad Tablets, be it 700T, 710T or 730T fall under this category. Based on my own experiences on trying to find units for sale, I will put the original Tablets on the top of the list. My definite number one would be the 700T / IBM 2521 tablet.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:29 am
by Puppy
W700ds
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:52 pm
by MisterB
The W700ds shows up on eBay quite often. There is an auction for one ending in a few hours.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 3:04 am
by Kasm279
The 755CV/CDV are rare. They're 755C/CD models with a removable lid (and translucent LCD,) allowing the machine to be laid on an overhead projector.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:59 am
by Norway Pad
Kasm279 wrote:The 755CV/CDV are rare. They're 755C/CD models with a removable lid (and translucent LCD,) allowing the machine to be laid on an overhead projector.
I second that, as I have never seen one. That's one of those they (probably) didn't sell too many of to begin with. And in those days, where CPU speed and performance almost doubled every two years, equipment wasn't very old before it was outdated, useless and probably disposed of. Very different from today, where a 12 year old unit, like a T42 with Win7, is still usable for light daily computing.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:57 pm
by Khipata
700T, 710T, 730T, 730TE, 360P, 360PE, 750P, PPC110, 800 series and some others, but these are the rarest of all.
I have them all except 710T, still looking for one
Rarest of the rarest from these is 700T as Norway Pad mentioned and I would not sell it for foreseeable future
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 12:42 pm
by ajkula66
Kasm279 wrote:The 755CV/CDV are rare. They're 755C/CD models with a removable lid (and translucent LCD,) allowing the machine to be laid on an overhead projector.
Indeed. They are so rare nowadays that I've completely forgotten about them, having seen only one in real life quite a few years ago. There are a couple of members here who are in possession of these systems but I imagine that they would have to be pressed extremely hard in order to let them go...
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 1:26 am
by Khipata
Norway Pad wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2016 7:56 am
It depends on how you define rare. I think it falls under two categories. Like George says, some machines are rare today simply because they are old and the vast majority of them are gone. The 701C and 700C probably fall under that category. Quite common back in the days, but today, the good examples have found their homes with collectors who have no intentions of selling them, thus making them rare. That's the reason I'm guarding my 710C units very carefully, and is still looking for the right 700C to come around.
Other models were rare from the beginning, as they were either made in a limited number on purpose, or IBM / Lenovo simply sold few of them. The 800 series, as well as the original Thinkpad Tablets, be it 700T, 710T or 730T fall under this category. Based on my own experiences on trying to find units for sale, I will put the original Tablets on the top of the list. My definite number one would be the 700T / IBM 2521 tablet.
I have almost all of those and they are for sale, including Power PC 820, Power PC 860 (With Camera Unit), 700T and 710T.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:51 pm
by AlphaKilo470
I wonder how many G50s wound up being made... Japan only and if I'm not mistaken, the last ThinkPad to come standard with a floppy drive.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:G50
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:10 pm
by Thinkpad4by3
I could see that machine with QXGA and a nice processor in spite of the fact of only 3GB and (I think) only 400MHZ FSB. Just it back, and let XP do your retrogaming habits to your hearts content. Stinks its same near impossible to find. I guess a P4 will suffer. Or a 486. Its only Doom, right
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:08 am
by kfzhu1229
ThinkPad T23/A30/p with either a 1.26ghz or 1.33ghz PIII-M Tualatin installed is certainly rare, if not none, since they never did come preinstalled with one and those processors aren't for retail either.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 5:10 am
by fourthree
600X wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:17 am
Special edition ThinkPads like the Reserve and 20th Anniversary X1 Carbon are bound to be rare. Concept ThinkPads like the S70, X1 with classic keyboard and T431s Terminator, if these count, are obviously very rare too.
X1 with classic keyboard? I need to see this NOW!
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:03 am
by 600X
I believe you can see it on the video that explains how the X1 was designed. Initially, the X1 was meant to have a classic keyboard and you can see the keyboard in the video if I remember correctly, but you can only see it on the table, not on the machine itself. Someone could try to install the SL300 keyboard in the X1 though.
Re: Rarest ThinkPad models
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 8:11 pm
by Khipata
I relisted some of the rarest machines for super low starting prices here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/maiko2020/m.ht ... pg=&_from=