Understanding the IBM 755CV

[losmeme]

Hey All;

Just picked up a virtually mint 755CV (9545-CVX) off Craigslist here in Raleigh. Finding info on this model has proven difficult, though. The model number doesn't show up at either Lenovo or IBM. It was built August 1995, has info on machines this old already been deleted from their servers as being too stale?

It came with two HDD (540MB and 720mb) [sarcasm] sooooo spacious![/sarcasm] one of which has the original Windows 3.11 build still installed. The splash screen at startup shows a map of the European Union, and a circle of stars surrounding the name "IBM ThinkPad". Was this a model available only in the EU? (It was made in Greenock, Scotland)

This machine takes what is called IC Ram. I think this type of ram is just a chip with prongs on either side that fit into a socket. (Haven't taken machine apart yet) Anyone know of a source for these?

I was intrigued looking at the HMM (that I found on a third party website) that spoke of an NTSC TV turner option that fits in the floppy drive bay, would LOVE to find one of those.

The machine is absolutely mint, with the exception of the keyboard latches, of which one appears broken. The coolest thing about this model is the fact that you can remove the back of the LCD (The cover) and use the machine on overhead projection machines for presentations. (What innovation!)

So anyone know anymore about this mystery machine?

Thanks for your input

[JaneL]

I think Bill has one of them.

I used to have one of the TV tuners for the 755 series, but I gave it to someone on the mailing list several years ago.

[thinkpad adrian]

the 755 was a "presentation" computer for business people to give
slide show style presentations. befor the advent of vga projectors. it is a pentium 1 class machine,
at 75 mhz. will run windows 3.1, 95, or 98 with enough memory
(40 megs max) and sold new for close to $6,000 !!
my, we've come a long way!!
adrian

[losmeme]

All; Thanks for your comments

Nonny; Any comment on the usability of the tuner? Do you mean Bill Bolton?

Adrian; Yea, $6700, WE HAVE come a long way haven't we?!

I have found alot more info about the ram, interesting formats they used. But the fact that there are two formats (a PCMCIA like card, or an adapter that you mount individual DIMMs on) just shows the innovation and quality we all have come to expect out of our ThinkPads.

The machine is a DX4 486 at 100MHz w/8MB of internal ram. Windows 98 runs like a charm. The screen is beautiful, and though it isn't VGA the colors are amazingly accurate.

[JaneL]

No, I meant Bill Morrow, the forum owner.

I never was able to use the tuner. I bought it for peanuts in a clearance sale but didn't have one of the 75x models that it fit at hand and couldn't get it to work with anything I had on hand (I can't remember which ones it worked with). Years later, I shipped it and a few other obsolete things that I wasn't using out to someone from the mailing list.

[phool@round]

losmeme, where did you find the info on your model number? I've been looking since you posted....... I have the twbook and the HMM but neither have your model number?

I'm now hooked on Craigslist.......again...... another addiction to battle.

The TV Tuner is yet another...... and I've heard that they really didn't work all that well but........ once a tweeker, always a tweeker. I've been looking for an el cheapo one to try in a 760, it has the knock out plug for it, the same as the 755's.

By the way, nice catch!

[losmeme]

Phool;

I finally found Lenovos page of drivers for the 755 series after searching "IBM, 755CV" in google. Looks like all the 755 series driver info has been grouped with the 701's and 750's. Go HERE for that information. Entering the model number and build or just the model number at Lenovo produces nothing. (Mine is 9545-CVX) Actually, model 9545 was common to many of the 700 series, but no info on 9545 seems to be available anywhere at Lenovo.

Go HERE for a great press release of the initial launch of the 755CV and 755CX models. It gives a really good rundown on specs.

I found the HMM for the 755's from a third party web site. (Can't remember where) This HMM covers models 340x, 355x, 360x, 370x, 700x, 701x, 720x, 750x along with 755x. The front cover states that is it Volume 2. Haven't found Volume 1, if there is one.

There is an old TW.pdf file HERE that outlines the 3xx, 5xx and 7xx series. (Thanks to Ray R for updating the link)

Thanks for the feedback on the tuner, I won't waste time looking for one of those. I do need some memory, though.

I wrote Lenovo a service email for info on where these items are located on their servers, but don't expect a reply.

I own a total of 7 ThinkPads now. This 755cv, the oldest of the lot, is by far the most intriguing one I have encountered.

[thinkpad adrian]

the PCMCIA port was origonally itended to add aditional memory to
laptops, and also used on the first generation digital cameras for
photo-data storage. the origonal tuner cards used on 486 machines were isa based, they worked, but produced a picture
reminicent of a fast slide show. the resolution was not very good
either. had one in my first computer, a compaq pro-liniant 486
(66 mhz processor) givin to me by a good friend, what a learning experiance.
adrian

[klkoehler]

I have the TV Tuner, Perhaps I'm the one Nonny sold it to, I tried it in my 760XD and got no results, since the bios does not have it enabled, it appears that you have to boot the Thinkpad into TV Mode in order for the Device to work, unless one could find drivers or software for say win98 but that aside, The tuner was manufactured for one of the 750 models and will probably only work with that model C- specifically because of the lcd resolution- also depending on the screen type tft or vga svga xga can't recall but I think it is limited to standard NTSC or PAL screen resolution i.e. 640x480 in the video ram in the Thinkpad TV Tuner Mode so a 860x?whatever will most likely not work. I also have a 755cd semi broken and a 755CDV that I'll try the tuner with someday but the screen resolution probably wont match. whether it would be compatible with the trident video capture system I don't know or know if it working stand alone would allow capture of video to disk- This again is pretty irrelevant since the Analog TV signals will be shut of beginning next year anyway - It will put any of the existing TV Tuners out there into complete obselescence<sp?>