The ThinkPad i Series is a group of IBM ThinkPad laptop computers that were manufactered from 1998 to 2002. These machines were an effort to address the desire for a personal entertainment device and small business users.[1] They were designed and priced to be both for productivity and play.[2] IBM desired to gain ground in the consumer market and created the i Series as an answer to their competitors.[3]
 | |
| Developer | IBM |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IBM and Acer |
Product family | ThinkPad |
| Website | ThinkPad i Series at the Wayback Machine (archived 2001-07-14) |
While designed by IBM, several models of the i Series were manufactured by Acer on an OEM basis.[4]
Several alternate names were considered for this series including "X Pad", "X Series", "TrekPad", and "Aptiva Note Personal Series."[5] i Series was chosen with the "i" standing for individuals.[6]
Characteristics
editDavid Hill who was the head of design for IBM Personal Systems Group led the design of the i Series. The design was informed by six research studies of the consumer mobile market.[7]
The i Series team collaborated with Altec Lansing to design the speaker system to fit into the thinner chassis.[5] The initial design was loosely based on the ThinkPad 600 with consumer features such as speakers mounted next to the display and front mounted optical drive controls.[3]
The red, green, blue and yellow ShortCut Keys were an effort to make the traditional corporate design feel more personal.[2][5]
The i Series introduced several items to the ThinkPad lineup including the ThinkLight.[1] Several models featured CD/DVD playback capability and a 14.1" screen.[8] The i Series was the first ThinkPads to feature wireless communications technology and the first notebook computer with an integrated antenna with a 802.11b WiFi radio.[9][10]
Reception
editThe ThinkPad i Series was generally well received. Reviewers would often note that the performance was not as good as more top of the line systems.[11] The lightweight nature of the i Series was favoured by reviewers including photographers.[12] Customers also appreciated how thin the device was built.[13] One of the common complaints was the lack of port replicator support.[14]
In 2004, IBM instigated a voluntary recall on 553,000 AC adapters, primarily bundled with i Series machines. These faulty units are labelled with the part number 02K6549. These are known to cause damage to internal components.[15]
Models
edit
The i Series S30 (later rebranded to the S30) and S31 were unique ThinkPads that featured an optional piano black acryllic painted lid that IBM called "Mirage Black." The S30 was a successor to the i 1124 hence why it was originally included as part of the i Series.[16] The S31 was sold in the Asia Pacific market with the S30 exclusive to Japan. Production ran from June 2001 to March 2002.
For a complete list of models, see the list below. Models in brackets were rebranded low-cost versions of other models. Several models were available only in specific regions.
| Model | CPU | RAM | Display | Disk | Sale period | Notes/ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i 1124
(240Z) |
Celeron 500MHz or Pentium III 500MHz | 64MB | 10.4" TFT XGA | 20GB | June 1999 to February 2001 | |
| i 1157 (570E) | Celeron 500 MHz | 64 / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
13.3" TFT XGA |
6/12GB | June 1999 to February 2001 | |
| i 1200 | iSeries 1200-x1U
Celeron 550 or 600MHz with 100MHz bus |
32/64MB
192MB Max |
12.1" HPA SVGA
12.1" TFT SVGA 13.3" TFT XGA |
5/10GB | September 2000 to November 2001 | |
| iSeries 1200-x2U
Celeron 600MHz with 100MHz Frontside Bus or Pentium III 700MHz with 100MHz Frontside Bus |
64/192MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
13.3" TFT XGA |
10/20GB | |||
| iSeries 1200-x3U
Celeron 700MHz with 100MHz Front Side Bus |
64/192MB | 13.3" TFT XGA | 10GB | |||
| i 1210 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 32MB | 12.1" HPA SVGA | 6.0GB | September 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1230 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 64MB | 13.0" HPA SVGA | 6.0GB | September 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1250 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 64MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 6.0GB | September 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1260 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 64MB | 13.3" TFT XGA | 6.0GB | September 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1300 (130) | 1300-x1U
Celeron 550 or 600MHz with 100MHz bus or Pentium III 650MHz with 100MHz bus |
64MB standard / 192MB maximum | 12.1" HPA SVGA
12.1" TFT SVGA 13.1" TFT XGA |
5/10/20GB | July 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1330 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 64MB standard /
192MB maximum |
12.1" TFT SVGA | 6.0GB | July 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1370 | Celeron 500 or 550MHz with 100MHz bus | 64MB standard /
192MB maximum |
13.3" TFT XGA | 12.0GB | July 2000 to November 2001 | |
| i 1410 | Pentium MMX 266MHz / 66MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 12.1 " TFT SVGA | 3.2GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1411 | Pentium MMX 300MHz / 66MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 4.3GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1412 | Celeron 366MHz or Mobile Pentium II 366MHz / 66MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 4.8GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1420 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 13.0" HPA SVGA | 4.8GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1421 | Celeron 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 13.0" HPA SVGA | 6.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1422 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 32MB / 256MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA |
6.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1441 | Celeron 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.0" TFT SVGA | 6.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1442 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA |
6.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1450 | Pentium MMX 266MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 13.3" TFT XGA | 4.3GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1451 | Pentium MMX 300MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 13.3" TFT XGA | 4.3GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1452 | Celeron 366MHz or Mobile Pentium II 366MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA |
4.8GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1460 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 13.0" HPA SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA |
4.8GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1472 | Celeron 366MHz or Mobile Pentium II 366MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 6.4GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1480 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 6.4GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1482 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA 13.0" HPA SVGA 15.0" TFT XGA |
12.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1483 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA
13.0" HPA SVGA 15.0" TFT XGA |
12.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1492 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA
13.0" HPA SVGA 15.0" TFT XGA |
12.0GB | November 1998 to October 2000 | |
| i 1512 | Celeron 366MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 4.8GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1540 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 4.8GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1541 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 6.0GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1542 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 12.0GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1552 | Celeron 366MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 4.8GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1560 | Celeron 433 or 466MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 6.4GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1562 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 12.0GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1592 | Celeron 500MHz or Mobile Pentium III 500MHz / 100MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 15.0" TFT XGA | 12.0GB | July 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1620 (X20) | Celeron 500 MHz or Pentium III 600 MHz | 64MB / 256 MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA | 20.0GB | May 2001 | |
| i 1720 (390) | Pentium II 266MHz / 66MHz system bus | 64MB / 256 MB | 13.3" TFT XGA | 4.3GB | January 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1721 (390) | Pentium II 300MHz | 64MB / 256MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 5.4GB | January 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1780 | Celeron 400 MHz or Pentium II 400 MHz or Pentium III 450 or 500 MHz | 64MB / 256MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA 15.0" TFT XGA |
4.8/6.4/12GB | January 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1781 | Celeron 400 MHz, Pentium II 400 MHz or Pentium III 450 or 500 MHz | 64MB / 256MB | 12.1" TFT SVGA
14.1" TFT XGA 15.0" TFT XGA |
4.8/6.4/12GB | January 1999 to April 2002 | |
| i 1800 (A21e) (based on A21m) | Celeron 600 Mhz or 700Mhz | 64MB / 256MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 10/20GB | October 2000 to July 2001 | [17][18][19] |
| i 1800 (A22e) | Celeron 750MHz or Pentium III Mobile 750Mhz | 64MB / 256MB | 14.1" TFT XGA | 10/20/30GB | June 2001 to April 2002 | [20][21][22][19] |
References
edit- 1 2 Becker, David (March 16, 2000). "Short Take: IBM launches new ThinkPads". CNET. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- 1 2 "IBM ThinkPad i Series". IBM. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- 1 2 "IBM preps $1,499 ThinkPad". CNET. October 13, 1998. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ↑ Crothers, Brooke (June 7, 1999). "Acer, IBM sign $8 billion pact". CNET. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- 1 2 3 Dell, Deborah (2000). ThinkPad, a different shade of blue. Indianapolis: Sams. pp. 425, 426. ISBN 978-0672317569.
- ↑ "Dataquest". DQ. Cyber Media. 1999. p. 46.
- ↑ "Electronic Business". Cahners Publishing Company. Vol. 25. 1999. p. 76.
- ↑ "New ThinkPad i Series Notebook PCs Double as Mobile Entertainment Centers". www-03.ibm.com. 1999-06-08. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ↑ Hamm, Steve (2008). The race for perfect: inside the quest to design the ultimate portable computer. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-07-160611-0.
- ↑ Gratton, Sarah-Jayne; Gratton, Dean A. (2004). Marketing Wireless Products. Routledge. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9781136379246.
- ↑ Morris, John (November 2, 1999). "Celeron Speeds Up". PC Mag. p. 64.
- ↑ Nodecker, Natalie (November 2000). "Glamour Tech". American Photo. p. 30.
- ↑ Kinnon, Joy Bennett (December 1998). "Toys for Adults". Ebony. p. 138.
- ↑ "IBM ThinkPad Line". PCMAG. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ↑ "Recall Alert". Maximum PC. November 2004. p. 27.
- ↑ "IBM ThinkPad s30/s31 - MacDat". www.macdat.net. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ↑ "ThinkPad i 1800 2628-IAJ 2628-IAJ". INVERSENET. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ↑ "ThinkPad i 1800 2632-I1J 2632-I1J". INVERSENET. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Personal Systems Reference IBM ThinkPad Notebooks A, T, X, and G Series 2000 to 2005 - withdrawn" (PDF). Lenovo Product Specifications Reference. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ "ThinkPad i 1800 2655-P3J 2655-P3J". INVERSENET. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ "ThinkPad i 1800 2655-PAJ 2655-PAJ". INVERSENET. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ "IBM Mobile Systems ThinkPad Computer Hardware Maintenance Manual" (PDF). thinkpads.com. Retrieved 13 November 2025.