IBM ThinkPad 701C: The Iconic Butterfly Keyboard

The 701 transforming ThinkWrite keyboard is the stuff of legend. In 1995 it let you have the portability of a subnotebook with the full-sized keyboard of a normal IBM Think Pad laptop!
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Campers Day, Qualms of Conscience 2, Open All Night, Coffeeshop Lounges 2, Car Game Showroom, The Ballroom Dance, Coney Island
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[@PixelPipes]

This was my first computer. I paid less than $100 for it at a school auction back in 1999 when I was a preteen. I had the floppy disk drive, port expansion, and everything. Great memories playing Wolfenstein 3D, Skyroads, and anything I could fit on a 3.5" floppy. It's literally a perfect 90s DOS computer nowadays with its VGA TFT screen. Not to mention the history behind it. I wish I still had mine but after a couple years I stupidly took it apart and broke it (I wanted to upgrade it, haha), and eventually it was tossed out. Man I miss that thing. Had AOL 3.0 on there and got my first experiences with IM, email, and the internet. Stayed up late at night typing up journal pages and trying to get things to run on it that had no hope of working. I'll always have those memories at least!

[@TenshiCat]

Thank you for sharing those lovely memories with us!

[@TheAtmonauti]

Love your story. My first computer/laptop was a Dell Smartstep 250N in the early '00s, I wanna say 2002. Can't find anything about that computer these days, no videos or anything. I remember it suffering from overheating issues from the get-go. I wish I had gone with something more lasting like the 701C, even though it was much older at the time

[@BilisNegra]

Why use ridiculous terms as "preteen" when you can just can say "kid", like 99% of people do?

[@the_kombinator]

When identifying with computational nostalgic elements, there's a special attachment that can only be described as being lived in the pre-teen years (10-12). In this context, I instantly knew what was being referenced. Why you gotta hate on this guy for being specific?

[@DOCAMAZON]

PixelPipes I

[@glifwsatti]

A ThinkPad flapping its keyboard in Brazil can produce a tornado in Texas...

[@TheMagno619]

Dimitri Andreou What?

[@LGR]

Heh. The Butterfly (keyboard) Effect.

[@Dojan5]

Hah! Good one! You just made me choke on my tea.

[@glifwsatti]

Dojan5 Glad i made you choke from laughter bro

[@conversationtosaurusrex]

rodolfo quesada guido, no the concept of the butterfly effect has existed for a long period of time, matter of fact. It even existed in the movie The Butterfly Effect.

[@bibasik7]

>butterfly keyboard >no ports; needs an adapter Hmm, that sounds a lot like a certain 2015-current laptop computer...

[@pizzaboxer]

is it the HP pavilion?

[@bandombeviews6035]

xtremeguy2256 Macbook

[@unionite6062]

BandomBeviews i think he may have been joking

[@pizzaboxer]

yeah of course i was joking I knew it was the macbook it was just so obvious I decided to say something else

[@rayzen_undogen]

@@pizzaboxer 99% of laptops

[@DanMacWilliams]

“It belongs in a museum indeed!” - most excellent audio syncing with Indy there!

[@alexandergauvin8265]

That "butterfly" keyboard is very satisfying to see it shift into place

[@AmyraCarter]

Yes, it is. Very satisfying and even more in person. (Yes, I've used one of these myself.)

[@snoballuk]

One of these is seen briefly in Q's Lab in 'Goldeneye'.

[@nos1000100]

I love how the iconic thinkpad design didnt change much at all. If it anit broke, dont fix it. Even the new lenovo thinkpads still echo that look nicely.

[@SomePotato]

What is nicer than simple shape in soft-touch, matte black? It's timeless!

[@r0galik]

It's quite shite

[@sintes88]

It actually sucks - especially in the Lenovo models.

[@soljafon]

@@sintes88 people who say actually and then state an opinion are low tier

[@scrolls6211]

Sintes I’ll agree that any model made post t470 is shit but you can’t say the same for any model before the t440p.

[@tefras14]

This world would be a better place if we had more gimmicky keyboards!

[@truckerallikatuk]

Only other one to vie for best gimmick keyboard was a Psion handheld. And that's it really.

[@wolfgangervin2582]

If only to annoy chyrosran22 with.

[@worldshell2313]

Rex Warden and don't forget with crysis

[@CheapSushi]

I love keyboards where you get rid of the numpad (useless IMO) and put a trackpad there. Only Logitech does this but they're not really great keyboards for a desktop.

[@CheapSushi]

You can buy a separate numpad if it matters that much. But we are talking about "gimmicky" keyboards. There's already 99999999 bog basic standard same shit keyboards out there with numpads. There's less out there for something unique but still well made. Only now in the past 4-ish years have there been a big demand for tenkeyless boutique (not generic OEM) mechanical keyboards. I just wish one came out with a trackpad while still mechanical keys...just one. In a business setting, nobody is buying anything unique or interesting anyway usually, so you get your basic keyboard with numpad already and enjoy your 8 hours in a cubicle.

[@MarkyShaw]

Growing up in this era of computing, you'd be hard pressed to find someone that didn't know about this notebook. I loved that design so much. Alas, something of that caliber would have been far out of my reach as a youngin'. I was digging through refurbished machines at the local "unclaimed freight" store and picked up an 8086 Toshiba T1100 for about $125 and later a 286 for around $300. I think it was a Zenith Supersport 286. Needless to say, the Thinkpad 701C was one of those machines I would die for back then.

[@CanuckGod]

Don't recall seeing one of these in person, but being in my teens at the time, I had a subscription to PC Magazine and recall seeing this in print ads and thought it was a really cool concept. Given the current prices, I don't feel compelled to pick one up, but it's still a neat idea and if I do happen to find one for a reasonable price, I'm sure I'd do so. Thanks for the video, Clint.

[@rs0389]

Marky Shaw I am not sure it would have appealed to me. A Toshiba would have been better designed back then. I cannot stand trying to cram everything in on a 13" notebook. 10" and 8" tablets are like being consigned to hell and just are unusable in this day and age. I can imagine this laptop being a fad like the iPad pro or Chromebook as opposed to a real competitive machine with respectable construction and specifications. it is why android has not took off on tablets and why iPads are a novelty and not really a computer by todays standards. A complete lack of connectivity on tablets, lack of inputs, and too many vulnerable wireless communications standards in use. And a poor software infrastructure that is like a diluted windows or Linux OS software system in comparison. And the storage cock up s is the real final nail in the coffin. No one wants to let companies look after files on their behalf. Why not just take ownership of your files and steel all of your ideas and creations? Do not get me started. Computers seriously need to be put right rather than being interfered with by big so called "entrepreneurs" and "radical", "revolutionary" changes, and "game changing" changes in technology. What a lot of corporate hype, production and investment designed to break the capitalist work class system of the UK and the US and other similar country's in the world. Change needs to happen but not at the speed or in the ways that big corporations are thinking of. They are just holding people back and removing work from the property who need work to live a healthy and enjoyable life.

[@ghostunix731]

Marky Shaw you're right so I had one as the very first thing I ever bought on the internet. Keep I just got out of high school in 1995. which I was lucky enough they have a friend who owned a computer with Windows 95.

[@driftercarbon]

Dang. That's some pretty sexy folding action right there. Am I the only one who still wishes this sort of thing was a thing? I'd be cool with an alternate reality where instead of touch screen smart phones we had wrist-mounted mini computers that unfold on command.

[@screwthenet]

BY the gods, I still say the 1990s were as close to perfection as humanity has ever gotten. I miss that decade.

[@piero17y65]

I agree. I miss those days.

[@hamodhossain4261]

100% agreeeeed

[@FunkadeliccCheese]

Its so hard to watch this video. When i was about 15 i was given one of these for free from a friend who didnt know what to do with it. At this time i was getting into older computers and this thing was rocking Windows 95, i had no idea this was rare at all, just thought it was cool and always reminded me of some CIA laptop of some sort. Using this thing always felt like i was using some hacker laptop or some military terminal. Well, why this video is hard to watch is because at the time, the charger i had was broken so i had to shorten the wire to get it to work, the battery in the laptop also didnt work so that meant i had to have it plugged in all the time. Well one day my dog decided to trip over the wire, the laptop fell maybe 2 feet and shattered into a million pieces. The thing looks like a tank, but is as durable as glass. Funny thing is, i still have the port adapter and what i think to be the original 3 button mouse that i was given. No use for them now though..

[@gearz2570]

damn that sucks

[@hellopinkham]

Hey I got one of these. Paid 20 for it at a yardage. Needs a powersupply

[@WinVisten]

RIP your ThinkPad 701C . D:

[@kevnar]

Damn, did those alien bastards pay for shooting up his ride.

[@hypolyxa7207]

They paid in blood. \m/

[@volocat]

No, they retaliated with lag!

[@visionist7]

Don't have time to play with myself

[@Bartonovich52]

It’s time to kick ass and chew bubblegum... and I’m all out of gum.

[@TrueDrezzer]

What are you waiting for, Christmas?

[@MrTruth-yn7pq]

I wonder, why he didn't write down the idea for the 701 series keyboard on his original pocket ThinkPad. I thought that all the "cool kids" at IBM carried them for situations like this...

[@Xqrement]

I love that either Duke Nukem 3D or Doom has to make a cameo on pretty much every single video on LGR, haha. Another awesome and super informative video, Clint! That keyboard mechanism is a thing of beauty. Thanks for all the hard work!

[@AgentTasmania]

Don't forget Commander Keen

[@ebolapie]

Props on the shot @ 1:54, the way you have the light highlighting where the keyboard separates is really clever.

[@smallmoneysalvia]

We had one of these in my computer class that was liquid damaged. Don’t disassemble the keyboard mechanism, that thing is extremely difficult to reassemble properly and we never did get ours back together. I feel like I took part in destroying art.

[@pizzaboxer]

Well, we can't blame you. Although you did destroy a piece of art, it was liquid damaged after all.

[@junichi200123]

I'm so excited!! Definitely, this is the most beautiful mechanical computer I've ever seen!!

[@johns123]

Dude your channel is so cool! I love retro technology bc it's a history lesson plus a neat piece of tech rolled into one. I also love how personal you are in the videos, definitely makes it better for what you're doing here. I've seen a couple of your videos and can't wait to watch more. Subscribed!

[@dembalachannel]

One of the best LGR videos, very well written, great topic, quality in every way. Thanks for it !

[@andlabs]

Congratulations (and thanks a lot!!!) for making the first high-video-quality presumably-in-depth look at this keyboard to ever be posted to KZbin :D I say presumably because I haven't watched it quite yet (Firefox is being buggy right now so I'll have ot watch it with something else first), but still, I have wanted to know more about this than just a demonstration of the mechanism for a long while now...

[@soliman15]

Glad to finally see someone covering this remarkable thinkpad. Other thinkpads I like to see you taking about are the 755CDV and the Transnote. By the way I have both and will be more than hoppy to lend them to you.

[@AndyAKratz]

Just came across one of these in the shop today and was in awe at the whole keyboard bit. The one that came in was for recycle and was not in very good condition and was missing parts. I decided to look it up online to get some more information on the unit and "Holy S***! Clint has a review on this very system!?". You covered everything I wanted to know and then some! Awesome!

[@flowermaze___]

Thank you for making these videos, sir. Fascinating!

[@MrBeeblebrox85]

I just watched James Bond Goldeneye and I think one of these was in the scene in Q's workshop!

[@TheducksOrg]

We had one of these in a storeroom at UBC in 2012 - pretty neat machine :)

[@PistigriloXP]

I simply love these things! Thank you Clint for showing us these wonderful classic things!

[@fuxter]

I love the stroke of sun light across the keyboard you got there. Nice touch!

[@Oosystem]

Just open it again, I can't stop looking at that keyboard.

[@aserta]

I have one of these in perfect condition. I mean, you could showcase this. And to save its coating from degradation i've plastidiped (original PlastiDip) it in one very thin layer, not enough to hide the IBM TP colors on the case. I've done this with several of my machines and upon inspection (twice per year) they seem to hold without any adverse effect. I even plastidiped the tips of the keys to protect the lettering using a stencil (feels weird after that tho, really weird, but better than losing lettering).

[@ariathyf144]

Great mindset. Your units could become the last hope for conservation and engineering studies.

[@bourdonbt]

Your production quality has improved! I really enjoy your channel. Keep on keepin' on. The slow electronic jazz in the background adds a nice ambiance.

[@emiel333]

I owned a IBM Thinkpad, not the model you showed in the video but actually with the red ball trackpad. It worked fine for me. Used it up to 2009! Not for complex tasks of course but more for typing text. I like IBM computers, laptops and other stuff from them a lot. Great video! Greetz, Emiel

[@kuntdestroyer5093]

When I first saw the thumbnail I thought "what kind of obscure piece of shit is this going to be" low and behold that's the coolest shit I've seen a laptop do ever.

[@xxxSlenderManxxs]

Exactly my thoughts.

[@tortron]

Lazy Obscure piece of shit reviews?

[@dr.daystrom521]

Wow that is gorgeous

[@thetrioffish]

Hella cool machine. Thanks for showing it off. I've always wanted to know more about it but never wanted to go hunting for that information. You should do more ThinkPad videos.

[@ArthurD]

Wondrous! I became kinda fan (maybe a little obsessed) of Thinkpads recently and here is one of the reasons why.

[@savagemadman2054]

I used to have TWO Thinkpad 701C 75MHz systems, complete with official matching bag, docking station, external drive caddy, manuals and more.... recycled them both about 10 years ago as they were just taking up space. They'd have been worth a reasonable sum today. I remember they required an absurdly small torx screwdriver to access the insides.

[@WinVisten]

bet you feel dumb now don't you? D':

[@savagemadman2054]

It's right up there with dumping my Voodoo 5 and the Ultrasound MAX.

[@Mishkafofer]

feeling your pain dude. Who knew retro gaming will be a thing? my prized collection of the day was Voodoo 3 AGP. Voodoo 5 was for the cool kids.

[@robsku1]

@Java Monsoon Oh man, so much lost hardware I've had too! I'll never recycle a computer (or a part of one) again!

[@dmitrynardelli1625]

I loved it! And I love these tank-like machines from the old IBM days. By the way, you could make more videos talking about these great ThinkPads (e.g.: the legendary A30 and A31, both considered "desktop replacement" laptops)! :)

[@ZeeZeeBun]

I remember seeing one of these in a store as a kid.. I also remember wanting it just for the keyboard... It really did make it stand out.

[@shreyaskul]

Ahh more IBM stuff please! Old school IBM PC's and your ASMR like narration is always great!

[@axcentrixx]

The keyboard amuses me. I'd buy it just for the keyboard.

[@JasonZakrajsek]

Why do you think they're so expensive? A lotta people feel the same way.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

Adrianna H. I had a portable keyboard from windows waaaay back when that had this folding mechanism to fold up then you folded that in half squishing down the keys and I wish would work with modern stuff but it uses some sort of proto blutooth, like it IS blutooth but some version that is not forward compatable

[@varkokonyi]

I'm pretty sure today who buys it, buys it for the keyboard. I mean aside from the keyboard, this is a pretty crappy laptop

[@imadeyoureadthis1500]

EJT6503 Nah it is crappy you can’t deny but it was good for the time

[@WinVisten]

@@varkokonyi Sure, it's crappy NOW, but when it was NEW it was a BEAST.

[@spaghetts]

How did this style of keyboard not stick around?? That's glorious

[@hamodhossain4261]

because there is a little tiktoker developers creating laptops now a days r lazy and dont have good mind to try .. they just want every thing faster money simple & easy ( just put a 4k screen and max that graphic card with 5G wifi " facebook & youtube " .. and yea make some cute super thin metal design look ) that's it .. now they r good to go ..nothing creative .. that's why 90% of laptops looks identical ... what a shame

[@DaMiaNNL]

The screen on this laptop is very small, I don't think you need it with current screen sizes

[@WaluTime]

​@@hamodhossain4261 what the absolute fuck are you talking about, this keyboard got discontinued almost 30 god damn years ago. Its not even remotely related to tiktok at all??? This keyboard literally was discontinued *before I was born.* The reason why it died got explained in the video: The sub-notebook market died out because bigger, good screens got cheaper and folks didn't want to have to squint. Not everything you hate is related to you also hating Tiktok???

[@YodaPagoda]

I’m so glad that I ended up getting the ThinkPad 600E instead of this, I desperately wanted that Butterfly Keyboard. What a marvel of design and engineering! Thanks for the video Clint!

[@alliejr]

OMG I had totally forgotten about this model with the "fold out" keyboard. Great video.

[@SysLocal]

7:21 Why do old laptops booting up sound so good??

[@pizzaboxer]

Because they had floppy drives and hard drives.

[@SysLocal]

I mean, obviously :P

[@augcrn]

Agreed! This boots surprisingly fast also.

[@SysLocal]

It's easy to miss, but Clint edited a minute off the boot sequence (says bottom left at 7:32 ). But even then a minute is pretty good, haha.

[@pizzaboxer]

yeah. They always sound nice.

[@mspenrice]

Wow, didn't know that they were worth so much now, even the CS models... I've got a 701 tucked away (can't remember if C or CS, but it is the 75mhz model) which I bought off ebay ages ago, when they weren't worth a red bean, with the intent of using it as a cheap everyday typing hack in place of an even older monochrome 486SLC model that I literally bartered for some soap powder at university... Problem is, it came with no floppy drive or port replicator, and when I bought a thinkpad external floppy it of course had the wrong cable with it. Managed to have some success moving files back and forth by pulling out the hard drive and using a 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor cable with my desktop PC (if only I'd known that it was fairly easy to get transciever dongles for desktop motherboard IRdA headers if you looked in the right places, and that you could just use the built-in windows Terminal to transfer files...), but that quickly destroyed the connecting ribbon-film cable built into the caddy... Since then the 701 has been sat in a drawer, effectively dead, and I had to get a different, more conventional cheap laptop instead. It's been a few years, so I'm hoping the preservation scene for these things is a bit better now - does anyone know how the heck I might get hold of a compatible cable for the floppy drive, and even better a new hard drive caddy or at least the cable that runs from the drive proper to the internal plug? Obviously I don't really have a practical use for the machine any more, as I'm writing this from the second of two much more modern machines I eventually ended up buying, but it'd be nice to return it to the land of the living, and particularly use it as a half decent retrogaming rig (as the 486SX desktop I salvaged for that purpose turned out to be a little underpowered for anything that uses 3D graphics)... I mean, are IBM likely to still hold any spares for it? Think I might even have a replicator now, but that came along a bit too late. And might be for an entirely different laptop. So if there's any source for those as well...?

[@robsku1]

You should first check that the battery hasn't leaked, and maybe replace it with the trick mentioned in the video (was it rechargable AA-batteries that was mentioned in the vid?).

[@KevinJLyons]

Props for detailed sound descriptions in the captions!

[@thecatherd]

Holy wow, that is a cool keyboard. I vaguely remember my parents' workplaces would lend them these laptops in the ripe year of 2004. They may have been obsolete pretty fast in terms of what was available on the market, but it seems like a few companies held on to them anyway. Also, THANK YOU for the subtitles! It really helps for people who struggle to process speech like me. :)

[@AluminumDragonRawr]

The keyboard looks kinda goofy when it's open, but watching it slide is so satisfying :3

[@TechBaffle]

That's got to be the most satisfying laptop to open. Like if you were having a bad day, just open the ThinkPad 701C and all is well!

[@TheOtherSteel]

Thank you so much for reviewing this. :D

[@LotoTheHero]

Oh man, I've never seen one of those before but that keyboard is fantastic. I'm totally in love with the design. What an amazing looking little slice of computer history!

[@peruprofundodance]

A truly innovative piece of equipment...

[@EpicLPer]

Awesome, just as I got bored you uploaded a video :D

[@PoloDaBear]

Just as I was illegally downloading a game he uploaded a video :D

[@johnny14794]

Wow this video was superb! Had no idea IBM had a sub-notebook like that back in the glory days of Windows 3.1 and DOS!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@frxn211]

This videos are so good you can listen to them while doing other things, just awesome.

[@KentuckyRanger]

@ 9:08 LMAO!!! I had a 1996 Ford Thunderbird that had this "Rubber" finish to the dashboard. While cool at the time, it started to get scuffs and scratches over time, and in 1999, when I traded it in, the dash was looking pretty bad... All you had to do was thing about it, and the dash would scratch. I guess back then, it was some uber modern finish many companies were doing, to make their stuff look *"Modern..."*

[@prismstudios001]

Kentucky Ranger And in electronic gadgets, it gets sticky, and gross as it ages and breaks down.

[@vacantlight4959]

Cleaning out the closet a couple of years ago, I found my dad's old 701c. I saved it from the garbage not knowing what it was because I thought it was cool. I'm glad I know what it is now

[@DynamixWarePro]

That is in interesting and very innovative way of creating a laptop keyboard. I have never seen it before. It looks so satisfying to open and close and I feel the same way as you about it and I'd buy it just for the keyboard if I had the spare money. Thanks for sharing an interesting piece of computing history. 11:01 haha, love that error message!

[@topo8444]

This video was somehow perfectly timed. I've recently been pretty nostalgic for my old IBM 1400 iSeries and seeing this just blew my mind! Though mine had built in CD and floppy drives, it didn't have that awesome keyboard!

[@pauljs75]

PCMCIA thing may be solvable by copying drivers from Windows Me. (And maybe even NT and XP.) Stuff missing from 95 and 98 surprisingly still works if you copy the needed files from the newer OS to the older one. Interesting workaround if the install disks for some things failed to do their job. Also it's not just the .dll files but .sys and .vxd files. Yeah, I got a wireless networking card working on a Presario 1690 with 98SE working that way.

[@RazgulTheKind]

Oh gosh I am so satisfied right now.

[@Zippan84]

Freakin awesome! Love that keyboard action. And LGR.

[@Dakktyrel]

The marriage of mechanical and digital is just so good. I love it. Thank you sir for documenting this and sharing.

[@crue9116]

Im a simple man. I see thinkpad, I like.

[@MaskedGEEK]

Well Clint I know this video will be demonetized by the KZbin bots. After all this is just straight up tech porn. I can't get over that butterfly keyboard either.

[@tomtinakiyama9949]

For some reason this didn't show up on my KZbin feed. I'm glad I follow you LGR on twitter or I would have miss out on this video. :)

[@_Bashar]

I simply can't thank you enough for this AMAZING video!!! 🌹🌹🌹

[@DanielTekmyster]

We occupy the old IBM buildings where this was designed 😁 Ny medical college

[@nonpervenuto7464]

that red "nub" has a well known name in the industry the clicktoris

[@The_One_Eyed_Rouge]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡ °)

[@A7exandersca7es]

Lovely job Clint, Been waiting for something like this all week :)

[@XAustria]

I was hoping you'd do a video on this!! Lots of people were hoping they'd bring back the keyboard for the anniversary edition ThinkPad they released not long ago, maybe in the future though

[@joenodden]

Can we have keyboards like this today please?!?!

[@holyfists7765]

I wish newer laptops had the butterfly keyboard feature. That would be quite amazing.

[@Redhotsmasher]

HolyFists You'd think they would've released one during the netbook craze, would've made perfect sense.

[@holyfists7765]

Indeed it would have been the perfect time.

[@mspenrice]

You just get folding bluetooth ones instead now...

[@smorrow]

It would add thickness.

[@stigrabbid589]

mspenrice folding keyboards are not as cool though. A Bluetooth Butterfly Keyboard would be a cooler alternative.

[@TSChina1996]

Finally! I've lived long enough to see this video! Bravo LGR! Bravo!

[@supermetroid009]

i absolutely love this channel full of passion for computers just cuz he loves em good work.

[@jmalmsten]

WHY IS THAT KEYBOARD MECHANISM SO SATISFYING??? WHY????

[@hugomelder7161]

Die Tastatur ist ja viel größer als das Gehäuse 😂. Beeindruckend wie sie ausfährt.

[@nilswegner2881]

Ohh look another German here... I thought I was the only one crazy enough to watch videos about old ThinkPad xD

[@Acul095]

You are not the only one friend :) @@nilswegner2881

[@md_vandenberg]

Oh this is hilarious. I just assigned this exact machine a week ago to a new character I made for a D&D Modern campaign I'll be starting soon. She has the Sage background and a modern Sage ain't gonna use scrolls and quills to take notes. So why not a slightly screwball laptop to fit her slightly screwball personality? (It also helps that a machine of this age is ignored by everyday folk, so her potentially world ending secrets are safe.) Thanks for keeping us abreast of all the awesome computer oddities, Clint.

[@GearSeekers]

That keyboard is fantastic! I remember this when it came out!

[@TobyCowles]

Wow that keyboard looks like it would be so prone to failure

[@thelonelytimbit]

I think because it's all a very simple mechanical system (just movement due to a few springs and the shape of a plastic bezel) it would actually be quite reliable, the keyboard itself though does look a tad fragile.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

It's got an IBM logo and is still working after 20 years ... I'll think it will outlast anything that is thrown at consumers today.

[@ducciboi]

Classic Thinkpad keyboards are probably the best keyboards I've ever used on a laptop

[@OrangeCrusader]

On top of that, if you pause and read one of the articles about it, they mentioned that they could lift the laptop by the keyboard (4lbs) without damage, though they did feel the tab/enter keys flex when hammered on. I imagine it is decently robust for what it is, if it were to be done now I'm sure it'd be junk with a 1-year lifespan.

[@esserstein]

It's an old-school IBM, running a tank over it probably kills the tank.

[@TehkNinja]

I got to meet the guy who invented the ibm selectric

[@Aleli54]

Another amazing video by LGR

[@grumpyoldwizard]

That is SUPER COOL! Thanks for sharing.

[@herrajoku75]

Can you do ThinkPad ASMR?

[@yungchop6332]

- chkk - -chkk- -deeee- -skrr -

[@Liljericho]

12:29

[@weltfremd]

i want this keyboard on my smartphone

[@airraan1692]

Keep up the good work man!

[@sameregarde]

thank you so much for this awsome video the view on this machine makes me regret the good old times

[@pascalculate]

Another great video to watch while im having my ramen. Excellent job

[@AmyraCarter]

I'm about to have some ramen in a bit. Great minds...

[@robsku1]

@@AmyraCarter Ramen to that.

[@sshep86]

I had a laptop provided to me by a programme at my school in the late 90s. Those little nipples, to function as mouse controls, in the middle of the keyboard were the worse. Don't really see them anymore. Track pad is so much better.

[@eandrad00]

Steve Sheppard hp zbook from 2015 has it, its my work laptop and I never use that.

[@prismstudios001]

Steve Sheppard I am one of those weirdos that hate trackpads. I keep a tiny wireless mouse in my laptop case....not sorry.

[@danem2215]

My high school had ThinkPads that were made under Lenovo. I remember liking it, actually. Perhaps it was just improved since IBM.

[@dav2462]

Thank you for the videos Clint. My father passed recently, and your videos make me laugh. Thanks for the good times, and keep up the quality.

[@LGR]

My condolences! Glad the videos can be of some comfort though :)

[@dav2462]

You do a great job, one of the highlights of my week is popping into youtube and seeing what piece of misbegotten but not forgotten piece of yesteryear tech you have in store. I especially enjoy your DOS games reviews, and your Oddware. Keep it up. Will we be seeing any new DOS games reviews in the near future, or do you prefer to keep it loose?

[@srooij]

Thanks man, awesome vid!

[@conversationtosaurusrex]

If you could, could you possibly do a review on the Acer Aspire One?

[@christophermurphy408]

Don't hold the bios battery like that! your shorting it out!

[@JEMHull-gf9el]

I"ve been looking for one of these for such a long time!

[@staticfanatic]

god i love LGR videos. you take this stuff so seriously.

[@levyroth]

Windows 3.1 still boots faster than my Windows 10 on an NVMe SSD.

[@stigrabbid589]

Levy Roth That's because older versions of Windows don't have as many background processes and fancy graphics as newer ones. I have an old Windows XP equipped Thinkpad, and it boots faster than my Windows 10 desktop which has a lot more ram (and faster ram speed too), a much faster processor, 3 more processor cores, and a much higher rpm HDD.

[@pizzaboxer]

Getting windows 10 to boot faster is inevitable as you'd literally have to uninstall ALL of your applications that you've downloaded.

[@Forthelemon]

xtremeguy2256 actually no, the number of programs you have installed doesn't really make a difference. It's about how many programs are set to run at startup.

[@BlaizeV]

Why the hell hasn't this continued being a thing!?

[@CWINDOWSsystem32]

Because of bigger displays.

[@csudsuindustries]

I kept one of these in the CoLocation at work. Made a great small serial terminal.

[@JeremFrancoi]

Loved it thank you, i still boot up that thinkpad t42 i got as a gift and that keyboard ooh god :)