What is the difference between a 380ED and a 385ED?

[PowerPC]

I understand that the letters attached to the numbers determine features. E, ED, XD, etc.

But I am not being able to figure out what makes a ThinkPad a 380 or a 385.

[ilakast]

Probably ... no differences. They were introduced simultaneously to the market even. Only IBM knows...

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/researc ... WIK-3RMPD4

[Tasurinchi]

At that time there were a bunch of submodels. Which ones exactly do you want to compare?

380
380D
380E
380ED
380XD
380Z
385D
385ED
385XD

[PowerPC]

380ED to 385ED. What does make them different?

[Tasurinchi]

Seems it was only the hard drive size, the rest looks the same

380ED: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:380ED
385ED: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:385ED

Hope this helps!

Cheers

[PowerPC]

Well, you found a difference. Congratulations.

Thanks for pointing it.

However, that's odd. The one with the higher number normally is superior in some way.

[Tasurinchi]

I found it odd as well... Maybe they marketed it as a cheaper version

[pianowizard]

380ED to 385ED. What does make them different?

Compare their detailed specs yourself: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/twbook.pdf

I understand that the letters attached to the numbers determine features. E, ED, XD, etc.

IBM used to add an "E" to denote a newer model, then an "X" for the successor to the "E" model, and a "Z" for an even newer model. For example, 770 --> 770E --> 770X --> 770Z, and 600 --> 600E --> 600X (no 600Z). The 240 went straight to 240X, and then 240Z.

[rkawakami]

According to the twbook of the day, the 385ED was marketed as a retail model. Which basically means that the pre-installed software included AOL, AT&T WorldNet and CompuServe packages and that apparently the on-site service option was not available (as with the 380ED).

ref: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/twbook.pdf

[PowerPC]

According to the twbook of the day, the 385ED was marketed as a retail model. Which basically means that the pre-installed software included AOL, AT&T WorldNet and CompuServe packages and that apparently the on-site service option was not available (as with the 380ED).

ref: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/twbook.pdf

That explains everything. Including why the 380 version is so common (they were corporate laptops, the kind that floods the market when a company gets rid of its inventory).
With the 385 being a final user version, of course it is more difficult to find one.