Thinkpads Forum

http://www.codemicro.com/store/check_pr ... id=1158639

I don't know how legit they are, I don't know what's included, but somewhere, in some warehouse, there's supposedly a few refurbished ThinkPad 700Cs lying around (9552 is the type for an early 700 series, 30B is the model for a 700C.)

I'm tempted. I shouldn't have found that site (I was googling for 9552-30B, yeah, I know, never a good idea to shop for old ThinkPads when it's 4AM and you haven't gone to sleep).

Oh, and specifications from twbook:

700C
Color TFT

Processor type: 80486 SLC
Processor speed: 25 MHz
Memory cache: 16 KB internal
Coprocessor socket: Yes (for 387 SL)
Diskette drive: 3.5" 1.44 MB

Price (retail USD): $ 4,350
Type - model: 9552-30B
Hard drive - size: 120 MB
Hard drive - speed: 17 ms
Available date: Oct 92
Withdrawal date: Oct 93

Display - type: VGA color
Display - grey scales: 256 colors 640x480
Display - technology: Thin film transistor
Display - light source: Active matrix
Display - size (diag): 10.4 inch
Display - contrast ratio: 100 to 1
180 degree display tilt: Yes

Memory - std / max: 4 / 16 MB 80 ns
Mem - sockets empty: 2 sockets (parity)
SIMM/ICs available: 2, 4, 8 MB ICs

Keyboard / # of keys: Full size alp/num/84
Fn key functions: None
Keyboard slope: 8 degrees (legs)
Mouse/pointing: TrackPoint II
Ext keyboard support: Yes (with opt cable)

Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.3 x 2.2"
Cubic inches: 214 inches
Carrying case: Blk nylon (option)
Color: Black
Weight (with battery): 7.6 pounds

Battery - type: Nickel hydride
Batt - life (per battery): 2 to 4 hours
Charge time - on / off: 1.5 hrs / 1.4 hrs
Battery - options: Yes - status indicator

Architecture: Micro Channel
External AT/MCA port: Yes
Comm Crtrdge (1 card): Yes (black)
Docking station: Yes (3550-002) blk
Port replicator: Yes (black)
Modem/serial slot: Yes
PCMCIA 2.01 slots: None
Visible LEDs - closed: Yes
Serial / parallel ports: Yes / Yes (DMA)

APM-aware BIOS: APM-aware BIOS
Other features: Hrdw security loop
Preinstalled software: DOS 5.02, PRODIGY
Warranty: 3 year - carry-in or EasyServ (opt onsite)

The 700/720 family hard disks, batteries, and docking station are NOT compatible with 360, 750, 755. The 700/720 memory IS compatible with 360, 750, 755.

FEATURES OF 700/700C and 720/720C
3 year international warranty
700/720 mono upgradeable to TFT color
700/700C upgradeable to 486SLC2 50/25
Upgradeable to 120, 160, 240, or 340 MB
Removable hard disk
Pressure activated TrackPoint II
Optional battery w/ power status indicators
Quick Charger holds 2 batt; discharge button
Coupon book with $4,000 in savings

FEATURES OF ALL PRODUCTS
Suspend/resume mode; battery life indicator
Non-disruptive battery exchange
Simultaneous LCD and external CRT
US EPA Energy Star compliant
International warranty
IBM or dealer warranty/service
30 day money back guarantee
24 hour / 7 day fax support
24 hour / 7 day bulletin board support
24 hour / 7 day telephone support at 1-800-772-2227

I'd either save my $602 or spend it on something newer and more usable like a T23 or T40 and not only get a much newer computer but also possibly have some money left over out of that $602.

If you like to collect old computers then it is tempting but the price seems way too high. I am always interested in getting old IBM's but, I have never paid more than $100 for anything in my collection.

I did pay more for an original copy of DOS 1.0 but, that's different!

DOS 1.0? Would you like a copy of Windows 1.1 to compliment it? I have an IBM Colliegiate Kit bundle sitting on my bookshelf that has IBM PC/DOS 3.3 and Microsoft Windows 1.10 included. I got this item for free from a friend who was cleaning out their basement about a year ago.

As much as I love collecting the older machines, I think that $602 is too high. Keep checking eBay. I picked up the 701CS and a 730T each for less than $25 shipped. I would love to have the 700C, but the most that I would pay would be $50-100, depending on its condition, at this point.

I found something like that sitting by a garbage can when I was working at IBM RTP. Battery was dead, I was going to put it in teh battery recycle bin and take the TP home to let my daughter play with it. But the coworkers -- killjoys -- advised me that I could get fired doing that. So back to the garbage went the TP. Somebody else snagged it before lunch.

A 486-SL 25 ... what the HECK would you use that for? I have some old DOS 6.22 and Win3.11 disks but ... after that, what? Play Wing Commander? run Quicken for Windows 2.0? CorelDRAW! 1.8? heheh. It'd be a nice toy for the daughter, that's about it.

Well, I have seen upgrade kits for $5 + ~$10 shipping to get it up to 50 MHz (it's the CPU out of the 720/720C, which is the same machine, except faster and with PCMCIA - IBM sold this part as an upgrade for the 700/700C, though).

Anyway, the machine would just be played around with, and then I'd stuff it back in the box and put it on the shelf. I agree that there's not all too much use for a machine that old. I just want to own one. Keep in mind, that machine is refurbished - it might have all of the original documentation, and it's probably the closest to NOS (New Old Stock) that one's gonna find.

I did find a lot of dead machines on eBay, and a 9552-30B was in that lot... but they're dead machines, and they didn't even throw in batteries or power adapters. And, it was like 60 pounds of computers that would be shipped across the country.

davidspalding wrote:A 486-SL 25 ... what the HECK would you use that for?

It doesn't have to be practical to have fun with! You can do a LOT with a 486.

I have a small web and file server set up on one of my IBM PC XT's. It only has an 8088 cpu. It's fun to see just what the old hardware will do, see how it was made and think about the early days of personal computers.

It's also a lot cheaper than collecting old cars.

wpwood3 wrote:It's also a lot cheaper than collecting old cars.
_________________
Bill
MercedesShop.com

How many of your old cars are diesels? Just wondering...

/me owns a 1985 Jetta diesel (yeah, not a Benz, but it was the other decent diesel from that time period, and better fuel economy to boot) - as my only car!

bhtooefr wrote:
How many of your old cars are diesels? Just wondering...

/me owns a 1985 Jetta diesel (yeah, not a Benz, but it was the other decent diesel from that time period, and better fuel economy to boot) - as my only car!

No diesels at the moment. I'm down to 1 Mercedes...a '98 E430. The VW diesels are VERY popular.

Well, point taken. I have a P-166 MMX with 80 MB RAM (not 4, not 16, but 80), PCI local bus, fast memory, big L2 cache ... and it sits doing background logging and stuff. One o' these days I'm putting Linux on it.

So a 486-25 with 16 MB could conceivably do a lot of things. ... But not for $600! Shoot I'd be lucky to $100 for my OmniBook 800CT, with docking station, CD-ROM, etc.

Well, it's the "vintage hardware" aspect.

I see 5155s go for $300. They're 8088s, the average 8088 system can't do much nowadays, and you'd be lucky to get $25 for it.

It's the fact that it's the first ThinkPad, though.

I guess I don't really have the money, though, so I won't do it...

Even for the "vintage" aspect the pricetag is far out of league. The goal of investing is to buy low and wait for the price to go up. Let's say these 700Cs do one day become worth $600 across the board; you still have a very puny profit margin because you bought high. If I were you I'd wait for a good 700C to surface on eBay and/or buy a parts unit and fix it up.

I'm sure we could use the "vintage" argument on my 600E as it was made last century and we could use the "collectors" argument on the computer as well since this computer is the direct father of the T series. However, I'd be lucky to sell this thing for the amount of money I've invested. The only time you can justify a high price when you don't plan to sell is by answering the question of will this computer pay off in given service and in the case of a "toy" laptop like the 700C, the answer is most likely going to be no if you are paying $600 for it. The reason I can justify the $250+ I put into my 600E is because of the use I get from this machine.