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ThinkPad A series
The ThinkPad A series was a short lived line of mid to high end desktop replacements released from May 2000 to March 2002 by IBM as a successor to the ThinkPad 700 series, combining features present in the ThinkPad 300 series. It was discontinued in January 2004 in favor of R and G series ThinkPads. This is not to be confused with the newer ThinkPad A series released by Lenovo consisting of ThinkPad T and X series models with AMD processors.
The ThinkPad A series was released as part of IBM's initiative in 2000 to revamp and streamline their lineup of computers. Following decreasing sales in their PC division, a decline that started from following a high of $1 billion in 1998 and lead to $550 million in lost revenues starting the first quarter of 2000, IBM invested more into the ThinkPad line, leading to increased sales in the corporate market. The ThinkPad A series with the A20m and A20p were released to acclaim alongside the ThinkPad T series as its powerful, larger sibling. Being described as "a stellar choice for small or large businesses" that "trades portability for power" by CNET in 2002 while reviewing the A3x series. It offered little compromise when compared to the T series both in the case construction, boasting titanium composite lids, and in the keyboard, offering sturdy and responsive keyboards with 2.7mm of travel, being rated as "a cut above anything you'll find elsewhere, except on some Dell notebooks" by CNET in the same review. The A20m was also one of the first laptops to offer a Intel Celerons in a 15" form factor, leading to 15" displays being more accessible than before.
IBM's revamps were focused on improving wireless connectivity and user experience. Their wireless connectivity improvements lead to the addition of optional wireless LAN that connected to the mPCI slot and Bluetooth that connected through the UltraPort, a modified USB port that could expand a ThinkPad's functions by adding features such as a CompactFlash slot or a webcam. To give users things to do on the internet, IBM hosted online demonstrations, tips, and forums to provide user help and share experiences. To improve user experience, IBM added the ThinkLight, dedicated volume buttons, and ThinkPad button (later the ThinkVantage button).
To streamline the ThinkPad lineup, IBM replaced their previous ambiguous 300, 500, 600, and 700 series lineups with the better defined A, T, and X series, while keeping their i series around as their ultra-budget line. Naming wise, their streamlining involved the shift from a three number scheme to a system with a letter followed by two numbers. Whereas the previous naming system had a number in front to denote the series a product belonged to followed by a number indicating generation and a third number distinguishing revisions, the new scheme changed the first number into a letter that served the same function. Just like the previous naming scheme, letter suffixes can be added to the end of the model number to signify types of the model it is attached to.
The A series wasn't simply a larger version of the T series. The A series, positioned as a desktop replacement, offered many additional features not available on the T series including a line-in audio jack, 4-pin FireWire, floppy drive,, more powerful GPU options, and options for larger and higher resolution screens. The A3x generation expanded on the list of unique features by adding a second UltraBay in place of the floppy drive, web navigation keys on the left of the keyboard, and option for IPS displays. Those "flexview" IPS screens, with drastically greater viewing angles, were also added as an option for future T, R, and X series ThinkPads, leading to ThinkPads of this era being known for their great displays.
All ThinkPad A series information reference the tawbook.
The ThinkPad A20m was released in 2000 as a successor to the ThinkPad 770. It was released alongside the A20p and was meant to be both the lower cost and mainstream option of the A series. A carbon fiber case similar to the one in the ThinkPad 240 and 600 series was used to maintain stiffness while keeping the laptop somewhat light.
It came in two body types with 3 display sizes. The 14" body type could be fitted with either a 12.1" SVGA (800x600) or a 14.1" XGA (1024x768) display. The 15" body type could only be optioned with a 15" XGA (1024x768) display.
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ThinkPad A series AI simulator
(@ThinkPad A series_simulator)
ThinkPad A series
The ThinkPad A series was a short lived line of mid to high end desktop replacements released from May 2000 to March 2002 by IBM as a successor to the ThinkPad 700 series, combining features present in the ThinkPad 300 series. It was discontinued in January 2004 in favor of R and G series ThinkPads. This is not to be confused with the newer ThinkPad A series released by Lenovo consisting of ThinkPad T and X series models with AMD processors.
The ThinkPad A series was released as part of IBM's initiative in 2000 to revamp and streamline their lineup of computers. Following decreasing sales in their PC division, a decline that started from following a high of $1 billion in 1998 and lead to $550 million in lost revenues starting the first quarter of 2000, IBM invested more into the ThinkPad line, leading to increased sales in the corporate market. The ThinkPad A series with the A20m and A20p were released to acclaim alongside the ThinkPad T series as its powerful, larger sibling. Being described as "a stellar choice for small or large businesses" that "trades portability for power" by CNET in 2002 while reviewing the A3x series. It offered little compromise when compared to the T series both in the case construction, boasting titanium composite lids, and in the keyboard, offering sturdy and responsive keyboards with 2.7mm of travel, being rated as "a cut above anything you'll find elsewhere, except on some Dell notebooks" by CNET in the same review. The A20m was also one of the first laptops to offer a Intel Celerons in a 15" form factor, leading to 15" displays being more accessible than before.
IBM's revamps were focused on improving wireless connectivity and user experience. Their wireless connectivity improvements lead to the addition of optional wireless LAN that connected to the mPCI slot and Bluetooth that connected through the UltraPort, a modified USB port that could expand a ThinkPad's functions by adding features such as a CompactFlash slot or a webcam. To give users things to do on the internet, IBM hosted online demonstrations, tips, and forums to provide user help and share experiences. To improve user experience, IBM added the ThinkLight, dedicated volume buttons, and ThinkPad button (later the ThinkVantage button).
To streamline the ThinkPad lineup, IBM replaced their previous ambiguous 300, 500, 600, and 700 series lineups with the better defined A, T, and X series, while keeping their i series around as their ultra-budget line. Naming wise, their streamlining involved the shift from a three number scheme to a system with a letter followed by two numbers. Whereas the previous naming system had a number in front to denote the series a product belonged to followed by a number indicating generation and a third number distinguishing revisions, the new scheme changed the first number into a letter that served the same function. Just like the previous naming scheme, letter suffixes can be added to the end of the model number to signify types of the model it is attached to.
The A series wasn't simply a larger version of the T series. The A series, positioned as a desktop replacement, offered many additional features not available on the T series including a line-in audio jack, 4-pin FireWire, floppy drive,, more powerful GPU options, and options for larger and higher resolution screens. The A3x generation expanded on the list of unique features by adding a second UltraBay in place of the floppy drive, web navigation keys on the left of the keyboard, and option for IPS displays. Those "flexview" IPS screens, with drastically greater viewing angles, were also added as an option for future T, R, and X series ThinkPads, leading to ThinkPads of this era being known for their great displays.
All ThinkPad A series information reference the tawbook.
The ThinkPad A20m was released in 2000 as a successor to the ThinkPad 770. It was released alongside the A20p and was meant to be both the lower cost and mainstream option of the A series. A carbon fiber case similar to the one in the ThinkPad 240 and 600 series was used to maintain stiffness while keeping the laptop somewhat light.
It came in two body types with 3 display sizes. The 14" body type could be fitted with either a 12.1" SVGA (800x600) or a 14.1" XGA (1024x768) display. The 15" body type could only be optioned with a 15" XGA (1024x768) display.