ThinkPad530CS(TP530) was released in 1994, as a successor of "ThinkPad230Cs", the pioneer of B5-size ultraportable color notebookPC.
It's the 1st notebook PC I bought. I loved it and used for a long time because of its high ability as a mobile PC. That's why I'm very fascinated in IBM ThinkPad series.
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The keyboard is JIS-106 OADG. Different from today's ThinkPad X series, the US keyboard wasn't prepared.
As well as 230Cs, TP530 was the domestic model perhaps because its keys are too small to operate confortably for foreign people. Its keytop is about 13% smaller than that of full-pitch keyboards.
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One of the TP530's weak points is the flexible cable connecting LCD and systemboard(P/N:85G9191). It is folded in the middle of LCD panel, and is relatively easy to broken off after a long time to use in this point.
The cover of LCD panel is fasten by two screws that is placed on the axis of LCD panel and it's covered with rubber cap. You can remove it with pinset.
And after you loosen the screws, The LCD cover can remove to slide to the below. It's also stuck to the panel by a couple-face tape on the right side of LCD panel, so you need to tear off it. (Be carefully! If you enforce to remove it, you must break the hook behind the cover.)
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This is the bottom of TP530.
Ni-MH battery pack is on the upper left side.
The "rubber shoes" was stuck on each corner of the bottom, but was already peeled off.
It's misterious that this TP530 is made in Canada although it's Japanese domestic model. IBM is the world wide Computer maker indeed.
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The Maximal installation of RAM module supported by IBM is 20MB, but 32MB 72pin SO-DIMM memory module (5V) can be used with some costomization.
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The customization is very easy.
The memory module "MELCO ENL-32M" can be used. The default jumper setting is;
JP1-close
JP2-close
JP3-open
JP4-open
You can use this memory module on TP530 to change settings below;
JP1-open
JP2-open
JP3-close
JP4-close
If you test this customized module with "Easy-Setup(that boot up when turn on the power pressing F1 key continuously)", The error code;
DEV 002
ERR 83
FRU 2010
may appear. But the device works normal.
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Right side of TP530.
The small push switch in purple on left side of FDD connector is the reboot switch.
As well as other ThinkPads on that day, TP530 can boot up from PCMCIA storage cards like Flash ATA or type3-HDD.
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Left side of TP530.
MIDI data can be played if Mwave MIDI sample v2.30 is installed. But the CPU power is short for playing MP3 data.
Mwave modem v2.251 can work on 33.6kbps, but when it work on this speed, sound can't be played.
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LCD panel can display 640x480/256colors, but when external display is connected, it can display 800x600/16colors. You can use standard "Cirrus Logic" video driver on Windows95/98.
Horizontal/Vertical visible angle is narrow because of DSTN LCD.
I think the narrow visible angle is suitable for the work in Japanese commuter train on my way to office.
Small slit on top of the right side is a microphone hole.
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Others:
The change of HDD is relatively difficult. You have to take TP530 to almost all pieces to exchange HDD. The screw hole, which is placed on the mainboard for the fastening of HDD, is for "inner-hole type HDD", different from today's "outer-hole type HDD". So I stuck it on mainboard with a couple-face tape.
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