IBM Thinkpad is probably one of the most well known laptop models. It bagged more than 300 design awards and even went to space abroad various space missions. Where does the name ‘Thinkpad’ come from? What is story behind it?
Ever since the IBM Thinkpad was launched in 1992, it became an instant hit. It was the first laptop to come with a 10.4 inch color screen. It was powered by a 486 processor and has a 120 MB hard drive–specifications bleeding edge in those years. It ran Windows 3.1 and had this peculiar ‘nipple’ in the middle of the keyboard.
The red dot was a mouse pointer controller. Developed at Xerox Palo Alto, the pointing stick didn’t find approval at IBM initially. However, later it was felt to be a much better alternative to a trackball and so was added to the laptop.
The name ‘Thinkpad’ consists of two parts—’Think’ and ‘Pad’. Both these words have a distinct meaning in IBM culture and have a long history.
‘THINK!’ was a slogan for IBM that was conjured up by no one less that Thomas Watson himself in the 1920s. This slogan appeared all over IBM’s publications and advertisements. In 1915, Thomas Watson once said, “All the problems of the world could be solved easily if men were only willing to think.” Apple’s ‘Think Different’ slogan might also have stemmed from this slogan of IBM as Steve Jobs always targeted IBM.
Now, about the ‘pad’ part…ThinkPad was actually meant to be a tablet computer–inspired from GO. Even as IBM’s tablet computer approached completion, no name was selected.
In 1991, Denny Wainwright who was working on the tablet computer suggested the name ‘ThinkPad’ by taking inspiration from posh notepads labeled with IBM’s slogan ‘THINK’ which IBM employees were given.
IBM didn’t like the name. First and foremost, it didn’t have a number and IBM couldn’t ship computer models without numbers. Additionally, IBM also had a large overseas market and so didn’t believe that ‘ThinkPad’ would be a attractive name in the non-English speaking world. However, IBM vice president Kathy Vieth went ahead and unveiled the name to the press. The name was an instant hit and the name stuck.
IBM’s attempts to market its tablet computers were an utter failure. And so, IBM decided to use the name to label its laptop which was being developed simultaneously. The original ThinkPad laptops–700, 700C, 700T and 300 were very successful and became instant hits.
Over the years IBM released many different models in the series. And some years back, Lenovo acquired IBM’s PC business. However, the ThinkPad is still held in very high regard. Without doubt, it will have its unique place in the history of computers.