ThinkPad701C(2630-5TJ)

CPU Intel i486DX4-75MHz
VIDEO/VRAM Chips&Tech. CT-65545/1MB
640x480/64k
LCD 10.4inch/TFT
Max.RAM 8/16MB(Internal/Maximum)
HDD 540GB(StandardIDE)
Modem/Sound N/A
Interfaces:
1 Pararell/FDD port, Line-in/Headphone, PCMCIA(2-type2/1-type3) MultiPort2:1 Serial, 1 Pararell, Line-in, Line-out, headphone, ps/2, mouse, VGA
There may be no drivers on web sites.

Many people say ThinkPad701 is one of the most impressive notebook PC model not only in ThinkPad series but all of notebooks in the world. Needless to say, that's because it has specific "Trackwrite system", that is known to the name "Butterfly keyboard", the specific moving keyboard system.
By the system, 701C achieves full pitch key size of A4 notebook in its B5 ultraportable sized body.

"Trackwrite keyboard system" consists 2 sections of keyboard.
When the 701's top is closed, 2 sections are combined being shift 1 row (right section is upper, left section is lower).
When it's opened, right and left sections of the keyboard is slid to each side.


Then the sections expand to the end, right section slide down 1 row to consist the "right row" of the keys.

When the structure is finished, you can see 84-full pitch keyboard expanded over the bottom of 701C.

Mr. John P. Karidis, the inventor of TrackWrite keyboard system said, "TrackWrite is available only for the laptop system which has small LCD panel such as 8inch or 10inch. it was no longer useful for large panel such as today's notebook."
So there are few possibilities to equip TrackWrite system on recent ThinkPad series. But I want Lenovo to do it.


The bottom of TP701.
Memory module is mounted under the cover in the middle of the bottom.


Right side of TP701. There are Headphone, AUX IN/OUT, Pararell/FDD port and DC-in.
2630-5TJ doesn't have modem module.


Left side of TP701.
Battery slot and PCMCIA are on this side.
This device lost the cover of PCMCIA.


TP701 has few port connected with other devices except PCMCIA and Pararell port to shrink the body to ultraportable size (B5).
Instead of this, many ports are prepared on "MultiPort2 (MP2)", the external port replicator which is equiped in the standard for the use on desktop.


MP2 is installed on the back.
There is a thin plastic hook in yellow square. That is easy to break.


The slant stand is folded in MP2. When the stand is set up before the installation of MP2 to TP701, the body of TP701 slants and the operation of keyboard becomes comfortable.

Slant of TP701.

Different from today's PC, TP701's battery pack has Ni-MH or Ni-Cd cells.
These cell have a problem called "memory effect", but the structure is much more simple than Li-ion Pack because they need no protection circuit against overcharging.
So it's easy to change cells for new one.

First, remove a blindfold cap on one side of battery pack. This cap seems to be easy to remove and is difficult to remove.




Then divide the pack in two. It's easy using cutter knife.


AA Ni-MH rechargable battery is available for the change.


Battery pack has 3 parallels of 3 serial cells (3x3).
So solder each battery. Before soldering, polishing batteries' electrode with sand paper is needed for certain contact between wire and cells.



These new cells' capacity are 2100mAh, that is 40% more than original Ni-Cd cells. So the operation time is longer than original one.

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