What Are Thinkpads?
ThinkPads are laptop PCs that U.S. technology company IBM introduced in the 1990s. The ThinkPad has a distinctive black, boxy design, which it borrowed from a thin, square-shaped Japanese lunchbox called a Bento-Bako. It has not wavered from this design throughout its production lifespan, and today the ThinkPad is one of the most recognizable laptops in the personal computer market.
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Origins
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The "ThinkPad" name is a portmanteau. The "Think" part has its origins in a slogan that IBM President Thomas John Watson Sr. (1874 to 1956) introduced in the 1920s. Its visibility was most apparent in the word "THINK" emblazoned on company leather notepads that were distributed to employees. One employee, Denny Wainwright, decided to take the concept a bit further. Working on a tablet computer, he decided to join the words "Think" with "Pad" in 1991 to come up with a name for the project.
From IBM to Lenovo
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In 1992, IBM introduced the ThinkPad, not as a tablet computer, but a laptop. In addition to its boxy design, it had a TrackPoint pointing device placed in the middle of the keyboard in the form of a small red dot. The very first ThinkPads comprised the 700-series: the 700, 700C and 700T. The laptops were very successful, and IBM was in charge of making and selling these machines until 2005, when Chinese computer technology company Lenovo bought IBM's PC division. Thus, Lenovo took over ThinkPad production and marketing.
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Current Lineup
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As of early 2011, Lenovo offers seven types of ThinkPads. The T-series serves as the laptop's flagship line, marketed as a reasonable combination of size, performance and battery life. The SL-series is geared toward small business use, while the Edge is its sleeker and newer counterpart. The L-series is the more energy-focused entry for corporate users, and the X-series serves as the ThinkPad workstation for people concerned with high performance and sturdiness. Finally, there's the X-series, which is designed as the ultrathin and ultralight version of the laptop, with a convertible tablet included in the lineup.
Significance
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Notably, the corporate naming committee of IBM opposed the ThinkPad name, as it deviated from the company's tradition of naming its computers in a numerical manner. Since the debut of the ThinkPad, however, it has not only become IBM's most famous computer, but it also has built a reputation for its distinctive styling and reliability. According to IBM's website, the ThinkPad has won more than 300 awards from publications such as "PC World," "PC Magazine" and "Laptop" magazine for the aforementioned attributes. Also, the ThinkPad is the only laptop certified for use at International Space Station, an internationally developed research facility scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
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