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IBM introduced the ThinkPad line in 1992. The name “ThinkPad” had roots in IBM’s corporate history and culture. Thomas J. Watson, Sr., had first introduced “THINK!” as an IBM slogan in the 1920s. For decades IBM distributed small notepads with the word “THINK” emblazoned on a brown leatherette cover to customers and employees.The name ThinkPad was suggested by IBM employee Denny Wainwright, who had a “THINK” notepad in his pocket.
The first three ThinkPad models introduced were the 700, 700C, and 700T, which debuted in October 1992. The 700C had 25 MHz 486SLC processor, 120 MB hard disk drive, the industry’s first 10.4″ TFT color display,[5] 2.2 in (56 mm) × 11.7 in (300 mm) × 8.3 in (210 mm) dimension, and 6.5 lb (2.9 kg) weight, cost US$ 4,350. The design of the commercial versions differed significantly from the prototype’s keyboard-less tablet design. The bright red TrackPoint, a kind of pointing stick embedded in the keyboard, enabled the notebook to be used on an airline tray table without a mouse. As stated above, an IBM researcher conceived the title “ThinkPad” from a corporate-issued leather-bound pocket notebook with the corporate motto ‘Think’ embossed on the cover. The name faced disagreements from the IBM corporate naming committee because the nomenclature system for the IBM computers was then numerical; however, the brand name “ThinkPad” was kept as the press showed appreciation for the title. The first ThinkPads were very successful, and soon collected more than 300 awards for design and quality.
The ThinkPad 750 flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope on December 2, 1993. The ThinkPad 750C’s task was to run a NASA test program which determined if radiation inherent in the space environment causes memory anomalies in the 750C or generates other unexpected problems. Throughout 2006, a ThinkPad A31p was being used in the Service Module Central Post of the International Space Station and seven ThinkPad A31p laptops were in service in orbit aboard the International Space Station.[9] As of early 2010 the Space Station is equipped with 68 ThinkPad A31 computers plus 32 new Lenovo ThinkPad T61p laptops.
ThinkPads have been praised for exceptional build quality, system reliability, services and design throughout their decade and a half of presence in the consumer market.The original design was a collaboration between Tom Hardy, corporate head of the IBM Design Program, Italian-based designer Richard Sapper (noted for the design of classic products such as the Tizio lamp for Artemide, office chair for Knoll, kitchenwares for Alessi and ballpoint for Lamy) and Kazuhiko Yamazaki, lead notebook designer at IBM’s Yamato Design Center in Japan.[11][12] Sapper proposed a design inspired by the Shōkadō bentō, a traditional black-lacquered Japanese lunch box.
The fold-out butterfly keyboard, which appeared in the ThinkPad 701 series, is widely considered a design masterpiece and is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The ThinkPad 760 series also included an unusual keyboard design; the keyboard was elevated by two arms riding on small rails on the side of the screen, tilting the keyboard to achieve a more ergonomic design.
The 755CV featured another design quirk: the screen could be separated from the lid, allowing it to be used to project the computer display using an overhead projector, before data projectors were commonplace.