A big, bright color screen puts the best face forward on the full-featured multimedia ThinkPad 755CD
Rex Baldazo
If you've ever wondered how much functionality a notebook can deliver and still remain portable, IBM may have the answer for you. In a compact package weighing 7.3 pounds, the new
IBM ThinkPad 755CD
includes an impressive 10.4-inch color screen, an Mwave DSP (digital signal processor) for high-end audio functions, motion-video I/O ports, infrared ports, and a
double-speed CD-ROM drive
.
We got our hands on the newest ThinkPad for an extended evaluation, and while there are a few flaws, it is nonetheless a state-of-the-art portable for the power user. We were so impressed by an early look at the ThinkPad that we gave it the Best of Show
award at Comdex last fall.
True Multimedia
The 755CD features an Intel 486DX/4 running at 100 MHz internal and 33 MHz external. It comes standard with 8 MB of RAM and a 540-MB hard drive. We ran the new BYTE Benchmarks (see ``BYTE's New Benchmarks'') to test overall performance and CDStone to test CD-ROM performance.
The results show
that the ThinkPad 755CD is a solid performer.
Video quality is outstanding. IBM calls its new display technology Black Matrix on Array, capable of 65,536 colors at a VGA resolution of 640 by 480 pixels. The ThinkPad also has a port to connect an external monitor.
The built-in Mwave DSP provides audio and telephony capabilities, including Sound Blaster emulation, audio recording and playback, modem (data and fax), and MIDI synthesizer. An adapter provided with the machine lets you connect standard MIDI devices, and it also doubles as a joystick port.
The double-speed CD-ROM meets MPC Level 2 specifications. On
the CDStone tests, it posted respectable numbers for a double-speed drive. The CD-ROM's spring-loaded, rather than motor-driven, mechanism opens only when the ThinkPad is on; a smart feature that prevents accidental opening while the computer is stored.
Battery life was also respectable. Our Thumper 2 test, which simulates word processor use, managed a run of 4 1/2 hours. But this does not utilize the CD-ROM. When we ran Rebel Assault, a CD-ROM arcade game that essentially runs the CD-ROM constantly, we managed a still-decent 90-minute battery life.
Front and rear infrared ports on the 755CD can communicate with another similarly equipped computer or peripheral (e.g., a printer). We tested them with Extended Systems' JetEye, which provides an infrared interface to most printers. The ThinkPad's infrared port must be pointed directly at and within a meter of the JetEye but it works well within those restrictions. No more plugging and unplugging cables to print from your laptop.
One of the
more interesting features of the 755CD is the ability to capture or output NTSC and PAL video. An adapter that accepts either standard RCA or Super-VHS jacks plugs into tiny ports on the side of the 755CD. Audio is connected on the other side of the computer, through the Mwave DSP.
Presentations created on the ThinkPad can, in turn, be output to NTSC or PAL video. You can't use the ThinkPad for broadcast-quality video, but you can record presentations onto an ordinary VCR.
The Art of Compromise
The ThinkPad 755CD comes close to replacing a desktop multimedia system, but you'll need to make a few compromises. You can remove the CD-ROM drive and replace it with the included internal 31/2-inch floppy drive, but you can't have both. And installing the battery requires that you temporarily remove the CD-ROM drive. If the 31/2-inch floppy drive is installed, the battery compartment is readily accessible. The extra overhang from the CD-ROM partially blocks the battery.
You
lose some, you win a lot. At a suggested retail of over $8000, this isn't the portable for casual use. Except for its lack of a built-in network adapter, this machine is a capable desktop replacement and a groundbreaking integration of multimedia components into a truly portable computer.
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
IBM ThinkPad 755CD (8 MB of RAM)
540-MB hard drive $7599
810-MB hard drive $8149
IBM Personal Computer Co.
Route 100
Somers, NY 10589
(800) 772-2227
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The IBM ThinkPad 755CD with removable CD-ROM and floppy drives.
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The IBM ThinkPad 755CD with removable CD-ROM and floppy drives.
Rex Baldazo is a BYTE technical editor. You can reach him on the Internet or BIX at
rbaldazo@bix.com
.
True Multimedia Road Warrior
