ThinkPad 235: The Rebadged Subnotebook!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- The IBM ThinkPad 235 was a Japan-exclusive subnotebook from the late 90s...that you could buy elsewhere in the world under a different brand name.
Sources:
Laptop Pics page on the ThinkPad 235: laptop.pics/ch...
ThinkPad 235 specifications page (Japanese): www.ibm.com/co...
Popular Science, April 1998.
Epson Endeavor TK-300 photo: pc.watch.impre...
PC World, November 1997.
PC World, May 1998.
"Where in the world is Nimesh Desai?", Peter Golden, EDN. www.edn.com/wh...
PC Magazine, January 1998.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please consider supporting my work on Patreon: / thisdoesnotcompute
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram! @thisdoesnotcomp
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music by
Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsou...).
Intro music by BoxCat Games (www.box-cat.com).
Even though it's not 'perfect', I love how those Crystal Audio chips sound.
I thought he would play a couple of short wav file clips too, not just Yamaha OP2 FM synthesis.
I really should've known it was IBM that actually manufactured it and not the other way around just by the keyboard, but the Crystal audio definitely tipped me off. Lot of older IBM PC's used it, including a newer PC 300PL I have that sounds a bit warmer and cleaner than this. I think PowerBook G3's also used Crystal chips but I don't think they had the FM synth or, was at least inaccessible
That sound would have blown my mind in 1997.
@@marioman971 a lot of Dells did too, later. Dells of this era usually used ESS chips.
I love when youtubers are like 'i'll let you judge how this sounds.' I'm over here listening to this on my phone with a usb earbud and i'm like 'yep, that's exactly what it sounds like.'
ya, i want to hear keyboard clicks too!
So I did the leg work for you. I compared the audio he provided of passport.mid to my Sound Blaster 16 with a real OPL3 chip. I used the same set of Creative desktop speakers to listen to both samples.
My conclusion is that the Crystal chipset in this laptop is pretty close to the real thing, I really couldn't tell a difference. That doesn't mean it's 100% Sound Blaster compatible, because as I found even Creative had difficulty with that back in the day.
@@akaJughead creative make speakers? I thought they only make headphones and sound card.
@@asmc1492 i have a creative webcam
Haha yeah I know what you mean. Despite having a smartphone since 2014, mine rarely gets any use other than occasional whatsapp wifi calls and TomTom GPS. Doing anything else with a tiny 6 inch screen and no keyboard or mouse, is like torture. Plus the video and audio chips inside those phones are very generic, and in an electrically noisy environment.
Bios accessibility while on desktop?!? that's the dream right there!
I really wish modern computers could do the same thing. But perhaps most changes might require a restart anyways(?)
A lot of Dells and Toshibas did the same thing at the time.
7:49 ハードディスク [hādo disuku] "Hard disk"
I love Yahoo auctions Japan! so cool to see someone else getting neat stuff from there. I really feel that the Japanese culture takes so much more pride when they resell stuff. I had one person repackage a fully built lego set into individual baggies, the same way one woulda got it from LEGO 10 years ago!
I just love how those machines look, feels so comfy and professional
It's been so long since I've seen a laptop without a USB port, it now feels weird to see one needing an adapter. USB is one of the best things to happen to computers. No more worrying about serial, parallel, PCMCIA, PS/2 ports and more. Now it's evolving to pretty much replace any connection (Display, power, etc..).
Everything basically. Look at laptops like the 2016-2020 MacBooks. While they really shouldn't of had, 4 USB-Cs and a headphone port and that's it. Kinda impressive.
Show. Off. Some. Software. Please.
Half the fun of LGRs videos is seeing things run on whatever he’s building or showcasing.
Since my ex wife made me get rid of all my retro stuff, hence EX, I live vicariously through you. Thanks for the video
You should had made here ex. before you sold your stuff...just saying
I can see why she's your ex
Ahh good old midi now that brings back memories lol.
Still used to this day as its brilliant. Supposed to be MIDI 2.0 on the way but no idea when.
Still has more features than my modern Lenovo, considering I bought it from a crappy refurbisher and it can't connect to the web.
To quote Alan Partridge: 'they've rebadged it you fool!'
CrystalFM is actually pretty decent except certain broken implementation like, CX4235.
Ahh yes 446 likes with 147 views. That's because everyone liked it 2-3 times
AOL , now for some very slow download porn that stopped halfway through 😂
Passport is a banger. I danced in my kitchen to the whole track.
The nice thing about FM music is it's mathematically defined. As long as it's still OPL2 or 3 compatible, and not emulating FM from some other tech, music will have only minor differences. If you don't like FM though there's no saving it. Still I bet this thing kicked but for games if there were DOS drivers.
What is it about computers before the 2000’s? They have an undefinable charm.
Love that Sega fart midi
It's adorable because it tried lol
Well if it had 98 on it the specs would have been fine for dos gaming lol.
Why not just install DOS 6.22
Using sony batteries as the powersource, thats frikking brilliant! I mean, not great battery life to be honest, but who cares when you can hotswap a non-proprietary battery!
put the sound card in a Eurorack module and a fortune could be yours..!
Actually pressing a hotkey during Windows 9x to enter BIOS is also found on Dell laptops, all the way up to 2003!
Even on something like a Pentium M equipped Latitude D600, D800, if the machine isn't running in ACPI mode with Windows 2k or XP or such, you can still press Fn+F3 to get to the BIOS battery page which enters the BIOS too. Seems like ACPI mode prevents this from being possible so you don't see that feature on newer laptops. The Latitude Dx10 series with their total BIOS UI redesign (as opposed to the same BIOS layout Dell used in 386, 486 days) no longer have this feature.
I’ll have to try that on my latitude c600 when I get it a new case(the right hinge is snapped)
$2400 for that 1997 laptop is too much. Wait many years later putting that same money amount towards a gaming laptop instead.
3:44 -- you might as well follow this around fat people like off Family Guy because all I hear for the most part is tubas at the start
That crystal audio sampler music was smooooooth!
Can someone make a modern shell/dock for like a cellphone or raspberry pi that has this form factor and look?
I have the Epson Endeavor TK-400. It was still off for about 1 year, and now not run the S.O. The internal battery is low (1,9 V) but I think there is something wrong on BIOS or RAM because not see the internal hard disk and on POST, the word displayed is not correct. Where can I take info on this beatiful micro notebook? I tried on google but this model is very hard to get some information or link to download old BIOS
theres a standard camcorder battery? huh, learn something new every day i guess. pretty damn cool, wish it was more common in laptops and smartphones
3:45 That's up to LGR to decide
the cool thing about this laptop is it use cam recorder battery that still sells new today, i hope modern laptop do this
I know this is kinda unrelated but I picked up a ibm Thinkpad 380ed at a thrift store about a week ago for 7$
it powers on and everything but I have a puzzling issues with it.. first of all it doesn't have any sound at all I even took it apart to check if the speaker was unplugged and it wasn't, second whenever I put a cd in the cd-drive one of two things happen if its a data cd the drive spins up and it reads it but then the computer just shuts off completely and you have to unplug it and re-plug it to power it on again, second if I put a audio cd in it it doesn't cut power to it self and it works but there's still no sound.... I replaced the cmos battery because it was dead and the main battery is also dead and makes a strange whining sound when its in the computer.... also I'm using a universal onn brand power adapter because the I got it without the power adapter... Do you know what could be possibly causing these issues? Any help would be appreaceated.. Thanks!! :))
I love these videos about vintage Laptops. Make me wanna get a few myself! :)
Hey @This Does Not Compute!
Love your content. What's the name of the song @6:08?
I've been searching for it forever!!
I sold PCs back in the mid to late 90s. These videos really take me down memory lane.
Think my 570 Thinkpad has Crystal Audio too. Seems quite a common laptop soundcard.
Hi Guys, I recently found a thinkpad 235 does anyone know how much they could be worth?
Great video Colin, always love watching your uploads
Man.... I have forteen of these on eBay back in 2011 and i waste 2000 dollars
I own 235, as well as lots of other IBM laptops. 235 if by far my favorite.
Hi sorry to bother I just came across this video after getting a 235, would you know how much they could be worth?
@@shane._.morgan one in a decent condition about 500$
"good things can come from small packages"
yeah haha, tell that to my future wife
6:04 -- They spelled "fluorescent" wrong :P
The perfect video for my morning cup of coffee before work.
Lmao I can wake up hours before my shift starts and yet I somehow never have free time for coffee or a small video. Teach me.
that aesthetic is what i see when i close my eyes and think of "laptop"
"The track pad is small". What track pad, I legit don't see one 🤣
Nice. I've heard worse audio out of IBM's NetVista line.
Man laptops just looked better back then! I just gave away a old Lenovo x200 to a mate whos into old computers...
hell yeah that sounds DOPE, my Mac Fixerman
I think I have a smaller one Lookup a Sony Vaio PCG-505FX with a Intel P1, Sony has used this model number in newer models I think.
And it looks just like every other ThinkPad ever.
The audio chip sounds nice
Did you say Pentium MMX @ 266mhz? I didn’t think there was a Pentium at that clock speed.
IIRC this was a mobile-only part, the desktop Pentium MMX maxed out at 233MHz.
Definitely not trying to be a Libretto. Definitely not.
my favourite "little pc" is toshiba libretto, rlly cute
USB 1.0 ... I remember when Windows 98 having issues with detecting some of my devices.
The music in the testing part for the audio really sounds like something you hear from a 1980's Adult film
You mean passport.mid
@@Tom2404 Yeah that. My bad
Hi
3빠
Interesting. About the sound is not brilliant but i seen better
Awesome video mr Collin!!!
Ngl, that Passport song was 🔥🔥🔥
It's included in Wondows 9x
I compared the audio he provided of passport.mid to my Sound Blaster 16 with a real OPL3 chip. I used the same set of Creative desktop speakers to listen to both samples.
My conclusion is that the Crystal chipset in this laptop is pretty close to the real thing, I really couldn't tell a difference. That doesn't mean it's 100% Sound Blaster compatible, because as I found even Creative had difficulty with that back in the day.
As far as FM OPL synth, the Crystal chipset does a pretty good job.
"supplemental software" is a nice way to put it
i remember those days when this device released i was a peeping outside because purchased this lap a costs fortune how much now i need a one
Could you try ReactOS on the IBM Thinkpad in this video?
that crystal audio sounds just like my old PC, i give it top Passport marks
I am not even into retro computers but you always explain everything so well and make things sound so interesting! Thank you!
I find the midi song really good ! Would it be possible for you to upload it ?
3:43 Oh that's funky!
I still have a couple of Thinkpad 240Xs knocking around, along with a floppy drive that looks like it would hook up to that Hitachi. They were perfect (20 years ago) for taking to site for PLC programming duties.
2:38 Somebody call Cathode Ray Dude because he likes infolithiums
Npf battery to power laptop? That's great!!
Years later and I'm still subscribed and watch your videos. I'm not into old tech, although I do remember these days in computer history, I just find your videos entertaining. Thanks.
Please, do a video on alphasmart neo
ahh.. those MIDI tracks are so nostalgic...
wow, nice video
Crystal audio was aight.
that midi is... its close... its unique...
Have you had a Libretto?
No my friend it sounds bad
Passport kinda slaps, ngl
Just waiting for the dom notebooks now.
I still remember the first windows 3.1 laptop my mom ever brought home from work, it blew my kind that windows could be run portably.
source on the fly tunes?
Whoa! NP-F batteries!
Sounds good for that time
Its a mini cutie .
I had an unbranded one of these which I brought from CPC back in the late 90s early 00s (P120 IIRC), great little machine and got it for a good price. As you say the screen on it was good for the time, alas it got lost in a move as it would make a great DOS gaming machine (well maybe not sound wise!) with the native 640x480 display.
That does compute 😁
That Passport.mid sample sounds identical to how I remember it sounding on my Genius PCI Soundcard, except for some reason, on Windows 98 midi files played mono and at a slightly higher pitch, like a semitone up.
I love old stuff
A perfect fit for the Japanese market. There was some extra magic with these early sub-notebooks with can't quite can't be matched with ultra thin bezelless designs. Though those are cool too, doesn't maybe seem quite as impressive.
I just wanted to say that, i really enjoy watching all of your videos, and i think you are very intelligent, keep up the good work.
Looks like ThinkPad that would have been nice to own back then.
Nice.
Are you gonna make a teardown video for Game & Watch The Legend of Zelda?
Not sure…I doubt it’s much (if any) different inside.
@@ThisDoesNotCompute Yeah, but I guess the PCB will be still interesting since there is logo on the back which is being illuminated by the LCD backlight.
Neat, you’re a great collector for Vintage Computing!
This was a blast from the past! This brought back the old days of laptops.
Like the look of Hitachi one much better than the original IBM model. Is the CPU socketed in these ?
Very cool machines! I have a rather scarce sub notebook myself. Mine is a Panasonic Toughbook CF-M32. Its a Pentium MMX 166mhz, 96mb RAM maxed out, Yamaha OPL3SAx sound, USB 1.1, Type 3 Cardbus & infrared on the machine itself, Docking Station for using the external floppy drive + Serial, Parallel, & PS/2 and it has a Li-Ion battery which still lasts 3 hours or so. It came with a 2gb hdd although since I got it, I upgraded to a 4gb hdd. I did buy a M-Systems Aerospace 8gb SSD which they call an FFD. These subnotebooks from this time period are awesome and although at the time people didn't buy them, they are highly sought after by collectors such as you and I. I like small laptops. That thinkpad 235 is very cool. I wouldn't mind finding one someday.