IBM Intros Low-End ThinkPad

IBM today unveiled the ThinkPad 390X, a new line of mobile computers designed to provide an affordable alternative for desktop users who need to migrate to a portable platform.

Available with 15-, 14- or 12-inch display screens, the ThinkPad 390X features a modular, integrated hard drive as well as a floppy drive and a CD-ROM that plug into an UltraBay FX adapter. Options include a DVD/floppy disk drive and additional storage in the form of a 6.4 GB or 10-GB hard disk drive. The 390X line also features the option of a second lithium ion battery that can be added to extend battery life to 7.3 hours. All models of the 390X series feature active matrix TFT displays. While the 15- and 14-inch models are powered by a 400-MHz Intel Mobile Pentium II processor, the 12-inch model comes with a 400-MHz Intel Mobile Celeron processor.

The 390X models ship with a 56-Kbps V.90 modem and support either one Type III PC or two Type II PC cards. A basic port replicator or an enhanced port replicator with EtherJet are available as options. The 14- and 15-inch models are Windows 2000-compatible and available with Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 pre-loaded. The 12-inch model is pre-loaded with Windows 98, supports Windows NT 4.0, and is Windows 2000 ready.

"The 15-inch version of the 390X, in particular, has IBM aiming, in addition to mobile presentation customers, toward small-business customers who can't afford to implement and maintain dedicated desktop computers and dedicated notebook computers," says John Dunkle, president of consulting firm Workgroup Strategic Services Inc. "It represents the best of both worlds."

Pricing begins at $1,999 for the 12-inch model, at $2,799 for the 14-inch model, and at $2,999 for the 15-inch machine.