Fully Restoring the Iconic IBM ThinkPad 701C Butterfly Laptop from 1995

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  • Опубликовано: 19 окт 2024

Комментарии • 126

  • @TechDave
    @TechDave Год назад +43

    the patience, precision & workmanship here is quite frankly astonishing, genuinely impressed

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +4

      Thanks so much Dave!

    • @TechDave
      @TechDave Год назад +2

      @@polymatt I came for the thinkpad, I stayed for the aforementioned 😉

  • @kaitlyn__L
    @kaitlyn__L 10 месяцев назад +9

    Dude, watching you repaint this is a lot like watching people painstakingly repaint 50s cars. They're both surprisingly robust examples of their engineering yet at the time were designed to be basically disposable. Both involve taking care to undo decisions which clearly were not expected to have any impact on the longevity of the product. Both involve loving the product far more than the manufacturer ever did. I love it.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад +1

      Totally! I liken the repair/restoration of vintage machines to classic cars all the time. The hardware itself is much more simple and elegant than it is today - far easier to understand and diagnose as well. You may enjoy my 90’s Mac unboxing video that turned into a full-on repair :)

  • @404MULTIFAIL
    @404MULTIFAIL Год назад +11

    I watched the video from start to finish and I'm still not 100% sure you didn't just somehow open a portal to 1995, grab a brand new 701c and use its parts to restore this one. Magnificent work.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +4

      😂 next video: how to build a Time Machine…

  • @racinggameschannel
    @racinggameschannel 9 месяцев назад +5

    This is the nicest restoration of a thinkpad, thank you for keeping such a rare machine out of the garbage!

  • @ThatOneBonk
    @ThatOneBonk Год назад +13

    this is genuinely amazing, and i don't mean just the video - the dedication and effort you put into the 701c is just incredible, and it's all open source as well. i don't think i'll ever get my hands on a butterfly thinkpad but still i want to say thank you a lot for your work

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +2

      I really appreciate that and keep in mind a lot of these techniques can be used for a list of early to mid-90s ThinkPads!

  • @marti3668
    @marti3668 Год назад +1

    Man you're cool, you're bringing back the past

  • @LaptopRetrospective
    @LaptopRetrospective Год назад +4

    Phenomenal work! This is probably the only way of owning a pristine model now with time taking its toll on the originals. Certainly puts all the ones I've seen in person to shame.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +1

      Thanks so much! These are definitely getting harder and harder to come by.

  • @jakesincase
    @jakesincase 5 месяцев назад

    So many specific tips and techniques here to do the job right. The dry transfers especially look so cool. I love feeling like I'm in a pro's workshop learning things I couldn't know otherwise!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  5 месяцев назад

      Thanks so much Jake! Really glad you enjoy the content and are able to pick a few things up :). I learned a lot of what I know from other channels.

  • @jonathan.writes
    @jonathan.writes Год назад

    Loved it. Love that you dont talk on your videos. I find myself dancing to the music while watching haha

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Awesome! The same thing I do when I'm editing :)

  • @wiebel7569
    @wiebel7569 8 месяцев назад

    I feel very strong Baumgartner vibes. I could watch you all day.
    You notice immediately that it's pre ROHS. the leaded solder flows so much nicer. Granted it also has a lower melting point, but look at the flow, love it.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  8 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks so much and great callout! Leader solder is definitely a different beast. Working on these old machines you can absolutely tell. Also I hadn’t heard of Baumgartner before but just watched a couple of his restorations and now I’m a fan! Incredibly impressive work. Thanks for that and for turning me on to him!

  • @viniciuslima5021
    @viniciuslima5021 10 месяцев назад

    The surgical precision is just mesmerizing to watch

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад

      Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

  • @Van_Darkhole
    @Van_Darkhole 4 месяца назад +1

    oh my.. the design of this thing is kinda insane, in a good way

  • @thej3799
    @thej3799 2 месяца назад

    This is what I would do if I had money, time, and my own space to do it. *cries in already being 42 and having none of that* But at least I can see what it's like on RUclips. It seems amazing to be able to collect repair and test vintage hardware.

  • @wenboquan9275
    @wenboquan9275 Месяц назад

    I really love your videos. I have a 701c that my best friend left me when he moved away 10 years ago. I've kept it in storage and never really touched it. About 5 years ago, I checked on it and found the battery had leaked, so I threw it away. The surface also became very sticky. Since then, I've always wanted to clean it up and have searched online for information, but after reading up on it, I felt like I couldn't do it myself, as I didn't want to make it worse. I even brought it with me during my recent move. Today, I felt inspired to refurbish it and found your video on RUclips. It's really professional and your craftsmanship is amazing. After watching it, I'm even more convinced that I can't do this. It's too difficult for me. Now, The laptop can power up but doesn't have OS. I have a question: how did you reinstall the system? If you have time, could you teach me? Thank you very much.

  • @johnferguson3254
    @johnferguson3254 Год назад

    Nice Work. I was the original owner/operator of one of these and it must have been 1995. I changed jobs in 2000 and moved to a Compaq M300 which is about the same size but with a shrunk keyboard. In 2004 +/- I decided to restore the 701C. T1 bits were not easily sourced at the time, and I ended up buying mine from IBM with a couple of the other parts it now needed. I bought a second one on Ebay, and combined parts to make one that worked and was nice.
    But, the coating had become sticky. We tried to un-stick it but nothing worked, so I removed the drives from them and they were left on a bench at the Marina - were gone same day.
    I'm very impressed that you took on refinishing. It is clearly a lot of work.
    Your video is excellent, thanks
    john

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much John!

  • @johnwelander
    @johnwelander Год назад

    Incredible job! The true meaning of 'attention to detail'... Thank you, wonderful to see old machines like this restored so well.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much John! Glad you enjoyed it.

  • @spirieo
    @spirieo Год назад

    This is like the scene in Toy Story 2 when the toymaker restores Woody, except Woody is an IBM Thinkpad 701C. Amazing work as always Matt.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +1

      😂 thanks! Btw I’d 100% watch that movie: A ThinkPad Story.

  • @gfhfhrthsefsehtjgngd
    @gfhfhrthsefsehtjgngd 6 месяцев назад

    I have one of these that's in a desperate need of restoration. I might use your guides if i restore it in the future. Thanks for putting this up

  • @wasdplayer
    @wasdplayer Год назад

    I wish I had this IBM ThinkPad. Please make more videos like this. It is so addicting... Excellent quality work. You deserve more subscribers and views!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much and will do!

  • @fschnidi
    @fschnidi Год назад

    This is one of the most satisfying vids I watched here on YT. Bravo for that wonderful restauration!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it. Really happy with how this one turned out. Doesn’t always go well :)

  • @LetsPlayKeldeo
    @LetsPlayKeldeo Год назад

    The decals are the cherry on top ! Amazing work

  • @reggietheporpoise
    @reggietheporpoise Год назад +1

    Really beautiful work. Your attention to detail is really admirable and super satisfying to see. Can’t wait to see your next project 😃

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thank you very much!

  • @richardgilmore5607
    @richardgilmore5607 Год назад

    This blew my mind. I had access to one of these back in the day. Being in a it support department I came across a lot of ibm Thinkpads. This one I had my hands on from one of the executives in the company I worked for. Thanks for bring up the memories. I still have one of the other laptops prior to this one. It was my work laptop when I took work home. Doesn't boot and rathering dust. I will check in your videos and guides to see if there is a way as a project of mind to get it working again.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      That’s awesome. Embarking on a renovation of these is no small feat but crazy rewarding. Hope it helps!

  • @hectoraracena7076
    @hectoraracena7076 6 месяцев назад

    wow..! a really wonderful Job...My Respect and admiration for the level of care and detail.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  6 месяцев назад

      Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

  • @ronescholz-nielsen3559
    @ronescholz-nielsen3559 Год назад

    Amazing work and craftsmanship! My first was a 700 model from 1991, and have had Thinkpads since :) (current X1 Nano G2)
    Keep up the amazing work!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! ThinkPads are just great machines. I’ve got a slight lean to pre-Lenovo but probably purely nostalgic.

  • @TheBasementChannel
    @TheBasementChannel Год назад +1

    Another epic restoration journey. Great work Matt, enjoyed the video.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much Johann! 🙏

  • @sluxi
    @sluxi Год назад

    Truly a wonder to see such skilled and insanely detailed restoration work!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      This was a really fun one for me. Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @RealMoochie
    @RealMoochie Год назад

    This is incredibly well done! The algorithm found you for me, and I imagine with videos like this you'll take off soon enough. Sharing with a bunch of friends.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Really glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for sharing! 🙏

  • @RealTPFanatic
    @RealTPFanatic Год назад

    one of the most incredible videos I have ever watched. Thank you.

  • @retrotv1tech
    @retrotv1tech Год назад

    Nice! I just got one of these as well, and I need to fix a broken right hinge. I have been very nervous to take it apart because the plastic is very brittle, but this video helps a lot in seeing what I need to do!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Awesome. Glad I could help and best of luck on the restoration!

  • @QuantumGarage
    @QuantumGarage Год назад

    This is amazing work and a refreshing change from other refurbs, that seem rushed and never quite right. Looking forward to seeing what other machines you apply that magic touch to

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much! This was a fun one and I get pretty methodical. Really glad it resonates :)

  • @ST-RTheProtogen
    @ST-RTheProtogen 8 месяцев назад

    It belongs in a museum!

  • @Samplers
    @Samplers Год назад

    Incredible. Beautiful work. Thank you for documenting and sharing.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      It was a fun one. Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @jozsefizsak
    @jozsefizsak Год назад +1

    This is sensational! I and countless others could actually rescue one of these now, thanks to your meticulous research, dedication and skill. I still wonder what primer is suitable for the plastic case though. Also, I'm used to leaking corrosive battery electrolyte in old computers being alkaline and thus neutralized with white vinegar. Baking soda is of course alkaline as well and used for neutralizing acid. Do we really have acid here? I'm no battery expert so I have to wonder what battery tech was used back then.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks for the questions! The primers are a long story and I’ve tried quite a few. The best I’ve found are acrylic used with a “soft touch” top coat. Unfortunately they’re hard to come by and the company I used stopped making them before I filmed this. Haven’t found another suitable replacement with the same feel.
      You’re also💯% right and this was a miss on my part. The batteries are Nickel Cadmium which are alkaline. I definitely should have used white vinegar to neutralize the electrolyte.
      Thanks so much and I’m glad you enjoyed the process!

  • @mauromerconchini
    @mauromerconchini Год назад

    Impressive work Matt, the level of meticulous attention to detail is insane! Great job!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @jdavilape
    @jdavilape 5 месяцев назад

    Good job, great machine and pretty dog

  • @Hadisabetghadam
    @Hadisabetghadam Год назад

    Best Restoration I'm Ever see

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thank you very much! I’ve had a lot of practice with these.

  • @heinhtettunoo
    @heinhtettunoo 11 месяцев назад

    Beautiful restoration work! Subbed to the channel

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  11 месяцев назад

      Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the sub! Definitely more to come.

  • @robocopvegan
    @robocopvegan Год назад

    AMAZING WORK. VERY PATIENT AND DETAILL

  • @LongGlovv
    @LongGlovv 8 месяцев назад

    Greatest work what i'v seen! Bravo!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  8 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @ale6242
    @ale6242 Год назад +2

    Amazing work!! looks brand spanking new!! I am curious however, at 16:10 you state that the dry transfers need to be sealed. and yet you dont show this? do you not seal them and are just careful around them? or is there a step i missed?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +3

      Thank you! Good catch. I unfortunately didn’t get the footage but I used light coat of a matte acrylic spray paint to seal them.

    • @jozsefizsak
      @jozsefizsak Год назад +1

      @@polymatt Wonderful! One lingering question out of the way. 😀

  • @hawkeye454
    @hawkeye454 2 месяца назад

    Magnificent work

  • @Numfuddle
    @Numfuddle Год назад +1

    That was really cool to see and how everything comes together in the end. Must have been a lot of time, effort and money until you had all of the parts and the workflow down.
    Would it have been possible to repaint the Thinkpad with rubberised paint to get it 100% there? Have you ever looked into this or is this simply not feasible?
    I have one request though if it’s not too much hassle. I love the zen aspect of watching you work without talking and having the context provided via subtitles. Another channel I love - Primitive Technologies - does it the same way and it really makes me focus more on the content.
    Could you maybe increase the on screen time of the subtitles though?
    I had to skip back quite a bit because - especially longer - sentences vanished before I was able to read them or before I even noticed that they were there.
    You usually have the time and space for the titles to just linger a few seconds longer and it would help out a lot.
    Thanks and keep up the great work

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thanks so much for the comment. I’m definitely still finding the sweet spot for the subtitles and will continue to try to make them more readable.
      As for the paint, I’ve actually don’t a lot of research into it. Most *commercial* rubberized paints today aren’t very durable. We’re taking about the plastidips, etc. I have tried those and one bump and you need to peel the whole thing off.
      The closest I’ve found for durability are soft-touch coatings. They have a velvety feel similar to how the paint was originally and I have seen some pretty good success. Unfortunately before I shot this video the supplier I found in Spain stopped making it so I’m back to hunting for a solution. Ultimately I’ve been trying to find someone to do a custom paint. If you look closely during the striping process there are small blue and red shiny flecks in the paint as well. I’d love to do a complete reproduction, but in order to do that, I couldn’t do a clear coat and would have to silk screen the labels on, which again I’d need to figure out how to do myself or find someone who could do a very precise and very custom job!

  • @cleanycloth
    @cleanycloth Год назад

    I’ve got a ThinkPad 600e with the rotting rubber disease. I’ve been wondering what materials to use to remove it all and repaint it, now I know! Excellent restoration 😄

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Thank you! Yeah it’s definitely a common coating they used on early to mid 90s ThinkPads. It was so luxurious when it was new but man have they not aged well.

    • @cleanycloth
      @cleanycloth Год назад +1

      @@polymatt Yeah, I have a 600 as well that’s also like it and it’ll make any laptop near it *stink*. Thankfully my T23 and T43 haven’t gone that way…yet!

  • @GarthBeagle
    @GarthBeagle Год назад

    Incredible work!!

  • @MightyJabroni
    @MightyJabroni 6 месяцев назад

    Wow, what an effort! I think, that is as great a result, as one could hope for. If only we could go back in time and slap some sense into the guys, who came up with the rubber coat on old Thinkpads. I love these machines, but dealing with the rubber falling apart and getting all sticky is just a massive pain.
    How long did this process take, if I may ask?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  6 месяцев назад

      I’ve gotten to the point where I can do a full restore over a weekend - but that took a while to get right :)

  • @joshuah5542
    @joshuah5542 Год назад +1

    My 701c is in shambles, just falling apart. Wish you offered this as a paid for service for 701c owners.

  • @bustersgarage
    @bustersgarage 10 месяцев назад

    @polymatt I love it when people aren't ham-fisted with things that are a balance between lightweight and "strong enough."
    That being said, break down, repair and even repainting is an exercise in patience! Until this video, I had only heard about the butterfly models.
    The mid to late 90s Thinkpads were the stuff of dreams as a teenager, I would read about them in magazines and see the benchmark values and would be in awe/shock at the capabilities and price tag. When the average house where I lived was 20 to 50 grand, these things were 3 to 5!
    I have a 770z project arriving in the next couple of weeks. I believe it's mostly complete, just ugly because the soft touch rubber coating has seen better days. I wonder what the graffiti removal equivalent is here in Ireland. They're pretty restrictive in what chemicals are sold retail here.

  • @tvamos73
    @tvamos73 Год назад

    Wow! Amazing!

  • @IMAGINUMfilms
    @IMAGINUMfilms 9 месяцев назад

    Magnificent job! I also own one. Mechanism works fine, hinges and keyboard are perfect. But the soft touch paint is a mess. What would be the price for such a restoration? Plus mine has a broken display :(

  • @Fezzler61
    @Fezzler61 10 месяцев назад

    WOW! Outstanding! I have removed that rubber paint from older Psion 3C and it is a tough job! Looks fantastic. As for the paint, does it dry hard enough that you don't need a clear finish for durability? Thanks!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks! Yes the paint is super durable however I do add a soft-touch clear coat (that I didn’t show in the video) in order to protect the dry-transfer decals as they’re only semi-permanent.

  • @overnxted
    @overnxted Год назад

    Awesome work!!!

  • @KylesDigitalLab
    @KylesDigitalLab Месяц назад

    Hi Matt, great video. I have a 760ED and 770Z with bad rubber paint, but worse. On the lids of both machines the paint/rubberized coating is completely coming off and exposing the bare shiny metal. On the 770Z even the paint on the palmrest is coming off and exposing the shiny metal. Do you recommend using the same method to remove the rubberized paint and the same method to apply a new coating of paint using the same paint you used?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  22 дня назад

      Thanks so much - replied on Reddit. Hope that helps!

  • @rahithahsan188
    @rahithahsan188 5 дней назад

    2:26 The screwdriver has the colours of the ThinkPad.

  • @Hadisabetghadam
    @Hadisabetghadam Год назад

    good job

  • @MrSunDevil23
    @MrSunDevil23 10 месяцев назад

    VERY impressive!!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад

      Thank you! Cheers!

  • @mariocmoreno2220
    @mariocmoreno2220 10 месяцев назад

    Excellent crftsmanship. What paint did you use?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад

      Thanks! It’s a Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Flat Black. I’ve tried many rubberized paints over the years and unfortunately none with good success. This one matches the color the closest!

  • @tkb301
    @tkb301 10 месяцев назад +1

    Woaaah! You wouldn't happen to be open to commissions would you?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  10 месяцев назад

      Glad you enjoyed the video! I would love to be able to take on individual projects but unfortunately I just don’t have the time.

  • @mabuchild
    @mabuchild Год назад

    牛逼! 啊,非常精细的修复.

  • @levimaaia
    @levimaaia Год назад

    Nice!

  • @CleytonFernandoEugenio
    @CleytonFernandoEugenio 6 месяцев назад

    Iniciei um curso de Rede de computadores, pra nós amantes de tecnologia é um deleite ver uma restauração dessas! Diretamente de São Luis MA , Brasil!

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  6 месяцев назад +1

      I'm glad you enjoyed the restoration! Best of luck in your class and maybe you can introduce your students to some old technology :)

  • @kylenorris9585
    @kylenorris9585 9 месяцев назад

    What paint did you use that looks great

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  9 месяцев назад

      Thanks so much! It’s a matte black acrylic. You can see the exact paints on the project page at 701c.org.

  • @Byte5
    @Byte5 Год назад

    Well, I have one of them (701C instead of 701CS). Unfortunately, I don't have the same talent that you have with this kind of repairs.... Also, the screen is bad, everything else seems to be working (except the battery that is long gone [I don't have it anymore]).
    The board works, the computer turns on and even booted the last time I tried.
    If you would consider repairing it for me, we can probably sort that out some way (I'm very far from you since I'm brazilian).

  • @wrtucey
    @wrtucey 10 месяцев назад

    Wow.

  • @retroanderson
    @retroanderson 11 месяцев назад

    Hey, have you ever got ride of coloured lines on the LCD or figure out how to find out what memory chip is bad?

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  11 месяцев назад

      Hey there. I've definitely seen damaged LCDs from the era with the colored lines. In my experience this points to corrosion, water or impact damage on the LCD panel itself and not something I know to be easily fixable. Id try first dismantling the LCD panel and see if anything is obvious. The other option might be a damaged ribbon cable, but from the sounds of it, thats a lot less likely.
      As far as the memory chip goes, I'd remove any expansion ram and use the memory check in the BIOS utility and compare the addresses to the memory map - you should be able to find it online. If it is the onboard RAM I don't envy you... finding a replacement chip and getting it soldered in there is tricky business!
      Best of luck!

  • @Fatallizm
    @Fatallizm 11 месяцев назад

    i love it

  • @emmettturner9452
    @emmettturner9452 Год назад

    What did you use to seal the dry transfers? I didn’t see that part.

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад +1

      Yes! I didn’t get footage of it but I sealed them using a light matte acrylic clear coat.

    • @emmettturner9452
      @emmettturner9452 Год назад

      @@polymatt thanks! You were amazingly thorough.

  • @imissyy
    @imissyy 11 месяцев назад

    fxxking amazing 💯

  • @mainlab7021
    @mainlab7021 Год назад +1

    You are D*** GOOD

  • @proximacentauri1574
    @proximacentauri1574 8 месяцев назад

    Never seen a keyboard do that before

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  8 месяцев назад

      It’s a really cool mechanic that came out right before wide screen formats became a thing. They wanted a way to get a larger keyboard but keep the sub-notebook form factor. It was an incredibly solid mechanic but just came out a little late to catch on.

  • @TheoHoffmann
    @TheoHoffmann Год назад

    :oo

  • @b0zzz
    @b0zzz Год назад

    cool video, as a feedback I personally don't like the music you add to the videos, would love to have unlisted videos without the music if you could make

    • @polymatt
      @polymatt  Год назад

      Hey thanks so much for the feedback. I know it’s not for everyone!

  • @KaterKomPuter
    @KaterKomPuter Год назад

    Amazing work dude