My ever changing collection:

Message

#1 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:54 pm

EDIT: I've decided to turn this thread into one about my ever changing computer collection and as it changes, I'll post different pictures here for viewing enjoyment. Links to the pictures can be found if you scroll down.

I just purchased these two laptops off eBay and am now waiting for the to get here and check out that winning bid price of $2.75usd! YAY! The 350c is the first laptop I ever owned so this is really a nice trip down memory lane for me and since the auciton lists them as having no HDs (luckily, this model doesn't use caddies so I won't have to worry about that) I have a pair of 800mb drives ready and waiting as well as a pair of 32mb SIMM chips (these things also use desktop RAM). Despite the 25mhz 486SL CPU, if you set things up right, Windows 95 will run faster than a Ferrarri on one of these old tanks and pair that with one of the best keyboards IBM ever produced, you have one heck of a battleaxe for a machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

Well, I'm done now, I just wanted to get this out of my system.

christopher_wolf · #2 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:07 pm

Nice catch you got there; $2.95 for a pair of 350Cs is a good deal, assuming you have the HDDs and everything else in order for them (which it sounds you do, as always).

#3 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:32 pm

According to the auciton, these won't have batteries either but since they used what seemed to be a pretty generic battery, I'll see if the one in my 50mhz Epson laptop which appears to be similar style works in one of the 350Cs.

My only concern now is the risk of these things drawing attention away from my current beloved 486 computer, the Fujitsu Biblo FMV-4100 NL/s listed in my sig running Windows 3.1 on a 100mhz AMD 486DX4. With a Lithium Ion battery (that lasts FOREVER), infrared, dual PC card slots, APM, decent soundcard, 1mb video and a standardized RAM slot (uses whatever is used in a TP701), modular bay and a trackpoint, this is possibly the most advanced 486 comptuer I've ever seen. It's also one of the tiniest laptops from the era I've seen.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:34 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:According to the auciton, these won't have batteries either but since they used what seemed to be a pretty generic battery, I'll see if the one in my 50mhz Epson laptop which appears to be similar style works in one of the 350Cs.

My only concern now is the risk of these things drawing attention away from my current beloved 486 computer, the Fujitsu Biblo FMV-4100 NL/s listed in my sig running Windows 3.1 on a 100mhz AMD 486DX4. With a Lithium Ion battery (that lasts FOREVER), infrared, dual PC card slots, APM, decent soundcard, 1mb video and a standardized RAM slot (uses whatever is used in a TP701), modular bay and a trackpoint, this is possibly the most advanced 486 comptuer I've ever seen. It's also one of the tiniest laptops from the era I've seen.

Your laptop and associated parts collection never ceases to amaze me. That Fujitsu must have come out at around the same time as the 701c, no?

#5 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:42 pm

When I took it apart I found a datestamp that said 10/95 yup, it's on the same timeline as the 701c and just like the 701c, this computer has a 10" screen. Another thing notable is that this computer, to go along with the small formfactor, has tiny keys that were obviously designed for someone with small hands. This computer is also Japanese which also adds to the crampedness on the keyboard but that isn't too big of an issue except it took me forever to get used to the different placement of various symbol keys and in MS-DOS, instead of having a backslash, I have a yen symbol. Still, all-in-all, once used to it, the keyboard is actually very comfortable and the keys, despite making no noise what so ever, have pretty good tactile feedback.

I'm thinking that since I managed to get some English software on this laptop (WFWG 3.11, Office 4.3, MS Entertainment Pack) and the battery holds good charge, I might actually get some regular use from this machine. It's also decent, I suppose, to know that if I ever took up trying to learn Japanese, I have one computer that supports it.

christopher_wolf · #6 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:44 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:When I took it apart I found a datestamp that said 10/95 yup, it's on the same timeline as the 701c and just like the 701c, this computer has a 10" screen. Another thing notable is that this computer, to go along with the small formfactor, has tiny keys that were obviously designed for someone with small hands. This computer is also Japanese which also adds to the crampedness on the keyboard but that isn't too big of an issue except it took me forever to get used to the different placement of various symbol keys and in MS-DOS, instead of having a backslash, I have a yen symbol.

Muhahaha; you cannot beat the awesomeness of the Trackwrite "Butterfly" folding action keyboard on the 701c. Although the rest of those specs are very impressive for a system like that of the time around the 701c.

christopher_wolf · #7 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:47 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:When I took it apart I found a datestamp that said 10/95 yup, it's on the same timeline as the 701c and just like the 701c, this computer has a 10" screen. Another thing notable is that this computer, to go along with the small formfactor, has tiny keys that were obviously designed for someone with small hands. This computer is also Japanese which also adds to the crampedness on the keyboard but that isn't too big of an issue except it took me forever to get used to the different placement of various symbol keys and in MS-DOS, instead of having a backslash, I have a yen symbol.

Muhahaha; you cannot beat the awesomeness of the Trackwrite "Butterfly" folding action keyboard on the 701c. Although the rest of those specs are very impressive, and a trackpoint too, for a system like that of the time around the 701c .

#8 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:47 pm

What's really fun is spending a day using this computer with it's keyboard layout and using a yen symbol instead of backslash and after that, go to my desktop and try typing on my spacious Model M. That will send your fingers into spasms almost.

#9 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:26 am

Well, if anyone is interested, I decided to take pictures of the Fujitsu laptop as well as some other items in my collection.

For an idea what it's like for my hands when I switch computers, I have my 600E, Fujitsu FMV-4100 and my Model M desktop keyboard:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1104032/comp.jpg

The Fujitsu laptop with my cell phone to the left and an old camera to the right:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/ ... /comp2.jpg

MS-DOS with a Yen symbol in place of the backslash; yuck!:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/ ... os_yen.jpg

This is the OS the computer came to me with which is still installed. The Japanese version with all the Japanese characters just feels more cluttered than English Windows with an equal number of icons clogging my desktop:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/ ... jp_win.jpg

--

My 250mhz PowerBook G3:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1104032/G3.jpg

The best screensaver EVER made:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/ ... asters.jpg

christopher_wolf · #10 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:55 am

That Fujitsu looks like a very neat little unit, keyboard may be a bit small but I suppose that is the price that gets paid when you scale a system donw that much and don't put in something like the Trackwrite keyboard in. Everything else about it looks well-proportioned. Japanese characters on the keyboard and OS? Very small price to pay for having it, IMHO.

#11 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:00 am

I have an English version of Windows 3.1 (actually WFWG 3.11) coexisting peacefully with the Japanese Windows 3.1 and the Japanese DOS can be changed to English and back with the US and JP commands. The US mode has a backslash in the drive prompt.

I'm definitley planning to get some real use out of this system now I have afew games on here because it only weighs about a pound or so. Now if only I could get the Flying Toasters screen saver (that I have on my PowerBook G3) on this laptop...

dsigma6 · #12 Post by **dsigma6** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:48 am

i was looking at a bunch of thinkpads from that ebay seller (firebuy)...looking forward to hearing what kind of shape theyre in.

#13 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:29 am

Well, I'll give firebuy credit for their photographs because they don't skimp out on resolution at all. If you click on the thumbnails on the 350c auction I linked, the pictures, when viewed full size will 1) probably not fit on your screen and 2) show every scuff and possible imperfection there. I know both have some scuffs and one has a small amount of plastic chipped off near the outside of the screen bezel but otherwise they look good. When I recieve them and install hard drives I'll post on the working condition as well.

dsigma6 · #14 Post by **dsigma6** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:46 am

yea i took notice of the huge pics and did a good once over- as if i was buying it. didnt look bad. im interested in one of the 600's he always has for sale, but im doubtful the lcd will work. most of them say cracked or broken screen, but the ones that dont- you figure he would part them out to make more money.

Website · #15 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:56 am

Hey Alpha,

I might be interested in one of those 350Cs if you get them up and working. It would be a nice addition to my collection. After I get this i1400 up and running that I got from JimmyD, I'll be taking pics of my entire Thinkpad family.

#16 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:59 am

It seems his standard practice is just to strip the hard drive and RAM and sell the laptop shell though in the case of the 350s, I'm really not sure how much more money would be made off those stock 125 or 250mb hard drive those things ship with from IBM.

For a 600E, it seems the most common issues are pink/red backlights, dead system boards and BIOS passwords. Also, if you go for a base model 600, be aware that there is a passive matrix screen version which according to an e-mail I recieved from a fellow forum member, uses a different internal display connector than the TFT models.

#17 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:02 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:Hey Alpha,

I might be interested in one of those 350Cs if you get them up and working. It would be a nice addition to my collection. After I get this i1400 up and running that I got from JimmyD, I'll be taking pics of my entire Thinkpad family.

Sure, I only intend to keep one of them. PM me with an offer (I need hard drives; hint hint) and I'll probably accept though you might want to wait until I recieve them and declare clean bill of health.

As for the iSeries, my government teacher from last semester actually used one and it looked decent though I don't know if I'd trade in my 600E for one. Can't wait to see the pics.

pianowizard · #18 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:50 pm

AlphaKilo470, are these all of your computers? Do you have newer computers than these, or do you just love to use dinosaurs?

#19 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:01 pm

Well, I have a 400mhz 600E circa early 2000 and today I recieved an 850mhz PIII based Vaio (that I'm in search of an AC adaptor for now) and my desktop computer has a 1.4ghz Pentium 4.

As for the dinosaurs, I don't think I can really say much except that there is certain feeling of freedom associated with having a bunch of computers you can tear apart anytime without worrying about significant money amounts or warranties going to waste. Still, many computers actually don't stay unles it's something I deem "uber-cool" and unsellable. I like to play around for awhile then try selling the computer at a small profit. As for actual use, I do get some use out of the various dinosaurs from time to time. I remember back when I was juggling 760s, I would use those things for internet, MP3s and going places I didn't trust anything more expensive. The Fujitsu 486 I had pictured is probably going to serve me well for taking notes and doing spreadsheets and killing time with Tetris.

#20 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:29 am

Is running Windows 1.04 on a circa 2000 400mhz 600E considered "misuse?"

christopher_wolf · #21 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:52 am

Not really as I just find myself staring at the 600E pretty much.

#22 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:54 am

Yeah, I'm just having some fun with my 600E before I sell it to one of my friends who plans to use it in school. The Windows 1x and 2x color schemes were real eyesores involving lots of bright reds and yellows (and some pastel shades in Windows 2x) so I gave the software a 3.1/95 style color scheme before taking the photo.

#23 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:24 pm

For those interested, I've put up two photos of the two computers I recieved today; a ThinkPad 750P and a ThinkPad 560Z.

The 750P and 560Z side by side:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/ ... p_560z.jpg

The 750P folded up:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1104032/750p.jpg

If anyone has a stylus that'll work with the 750P, let me know. Thanks.

mfratt · #24 Post by **mfratt** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:45 am

AlphaKilo470 wrote:Is running Windows 1.04 on a circa 2000 400mhz 600E considered "misuse?"

No, running any version of Windows is "misuse."

Ok ok, thats a little harsh. But if that computer is running any version of windows, it should be 2000.

lucas · #25 Post by **lucas** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:54 am

win2k is my favorite, although the wireless support seems horrible.

if you have a good suggestion, please check out:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=28837

My ever changing collection:

My ever changing collection:

Who is online