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{{Short description|Laptop by IBM}}
{{Infobox computer hardware
{{Infobox computing device
| name = IBM PS/2 Note and PS/note
| logo = File:IBM logo.svg
| logo-size = 100px
| logo_caption =
| image =
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| designfirm =
| manufacturer = [[IBM]]
| introduced releasedate = 1992
| discontinued = 1994
| cost =
| type = [[Notebook computer|Notebook computer]]
| processor = [[Intel 386]]
| frequency =
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== Background ==
After the departure of Bob Lawten from IBM, the team at IBM had little development direction after the [[IBM PS/2 L40SXL40 SX]]. James Cannavino pushed for the new [[Notebook computer|notebook]] series, which fell behind schedule.<ref>{{Cite book|last=A.|first=Dell, Deborah|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/781169669|title=ThinkPad: a different shade of blue|date=2000|publisher=Sams|isbn=0-672-31756-7|pages=84|oclc=781169669}}</ref> The N45SLN45 SL, N51SXN51 SX and N51SLCN51 SLC were announced on the same day as the [[IBM PS/2 CL57SXCL57 SX|IBM PS/2 (color laptop) CL57SXCL57 SX]]. During this time [[Laptop#Terminology variants|there was a distinction between notebooks and laptops]], where the former are A4 sized and the latter are larger.
 
The notebooks were modeled after the [[IBM PS/55 Note|PS/55 Note]] which was released by IBM in Japan in April 1991.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Scannell|first1=Ed|date=23 Dec 1991|title=IBM readies 6 portables|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FT0EAAAAMBAJ|magazine=[[InfoWorld]]}}</ref>
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== Models ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="min-width:40%";
! colspan="6" |IBM PS/55 note, PS/2 note, and PS/note laptop models
|-
!
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|PS/2 note
|
|N33&nbsp;SX
|N33SX
|N51SXN51&nbsp;SX;{{br}}N51SLCN51&nbsp;SLC
! colspan="2" |
|-
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|-
!
|N45&nbsp;SL
|N45SL
! colspan="2" |
|}
=== PS/2 note ===▼
Mainstream line with 7-row layout only.
 
==== N33SXPS/55 note ====
Simply branded as PS/55 note, the type 5523-S0x was the first Japanese notebook from the 55-series with a 12Mhz 80386 CPU, 2Mb RAM built in and a 9.5" 16-greyscale VGA LCD (640x480). It was only released in Japan. The two main planars inside consisted of two separate boards "APEX-MAIN" and "SUB-BOARD" leaving room inside for either a floppy drive or a hard drive - but not both. The keyboard has a 7-row layout only. It was not common for IBM to add codenames or words to their internal PCBs, suggesting some influence from outside IBM.
[[File:IBM_PS2_N33.jpg|thumb|IBM PS/2 Note N33SX with external [[floppy drive]]]]▼
The ''PS/2 Model N33 SX'' (also known as ''PS/2 note N33 sx'') was the first notebook-sized computer from IBM which was announced in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IBM PS/2 Note - Computer - Computing History|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/30500/IBM-PS-2-Note/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-20|website=[[The Centre for Computing History]]}}</ref> This model was based on the AT-bus and had between 2 or 6MB RAM. It has a 9.5" 16-greyscale VGA LCD, a 1.44Mb floppy and expansion ports and a 40Mb or 80Mb HDD, and weighs {{Cvt|5.5|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Name|date=1992-02-25|title=IBM UK LAUNCHES COLOUR LAPTOP AS WELL AS NOTEBOOK|url=https://techmonitor.ai/techonology/ibm_uk_launches_colour_laptop_as_well_as_notebook|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Tech Monitor|language=en-US}}</ref>▼
==== N51SX ====
The ''PS/2 Model N51SX''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Personal System/2 Models N51 SLC and N51 SX|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/docs/pdf/brochures/ibm-ps2-modeln51-slc&sx.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> (or ''PS/2 Note N51SX'') was a low-end mainstream notebook, which contained a slower version of the typical 386SX found in other notebooks. The N51SX was delayed for months.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Fitzgerald|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ioRslYZXVkAC|title=Going down in history|date=1992-03-30|work=[[Computerworld]]|publisher=IDG Enterprise|pages=38|language=en}}</ref>▼
 
==== N51SLCPS/55 note N23 SX ====
This was a second generation PS/55 note type 5523-S1x with N23 SX added to its case badge and also only released in Japan. This machine had a 16Mhz 80386 CPU and a redesigned motherboard consisting of just one planar. The additional space inside meant the machine could accommodate both an internal floppy disk drive and a hard drive. It also featured an external VGA output and display invert switch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maggs |first=Alexander |date=April 2025 |title=IBM PS/55 Note N23 SX (5523-SC4) - Japan |url=https://ret.rocks/index.php/ibm/early-ibm-portables/ps-55-note-n23-sx |website=Ret Rocks}}</ref> The main planar inside has "EXCEL-MAIN" written on it.
The ''PS/2 Model N51SLC'' (or ''PS/2 Note N51SLC'') was based on IBM their [[IBM 386SLC|368SLC]].<ref name=":1" /> This model has a [[IBM PS/55 Note|PS/55 note]] sibling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PS/55note N51SLC 8551-S08|url=http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~ayase/tp/ps55n51slc.htm|access-date=2021-05-18|website=www.mars.dti.ne.jp}}</ref>▼
 
=== PS/2 note N33 SX ===
▲[[File:IBM_PS2_N33.jpg|thumb|IBM PS/2 Note N33SXN33 SX with external [[floppy drive]]]]
Entry-level line.
▲The ''PS/2 Model N33 SX'' (also known as ''PS/2 note N33 sxSX'') was the first Western-released notebook-sized computer from IBM which was announced in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IBM PS/2 Note - Computer - Computing History|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/30500/IBM-PS-2-Note/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-20|website=[[The Centre for Computing History]]}}</ref> This model was based on the AT-bus and had between 2 or 6MB RAM. It has a 9.5" 16-greyscale VGA LCD (640x480), aexternal 1.44Mb44MB floppy andconnector, expansion ports and a 40Mb40MB or 80Mb80MB HDD, and weighs {{Cvt|5.5|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Name|date=1992-02-25|title=IBM UK LAUNCHES COLOUR LAPTOP AS WELL AS NOTEBOOK|url=https://techmonitor.ai/techonology/ibm_uk_launches_colour_laptop_as_well_as_notebook|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Tech Monitor|language=en-US}}</ref> There were two versions with one based on the original Japanese 12Mhz PS/55 Note and the other based on the Japanese 16Mhz N23 SX. The main two changes is that neither had internal floppy drives and they both had a Western keyboard.
 
==== N45SLPS/ note C23 SX ====
A joint third generation PS/Note took the ISA-bus N23SX and added a 10.4" colour TFT panel from the CL57, but successfully miniaturised to fit within the smaller notebook lid. They were branded 'Thinkpad' on the colour IBM logo.<ref>{{Cite web |title= PS/55note C23V (5523-V2/VJ)|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/PS55/5523/5523-V2.html |website=Ardent Tool Of Capitalism}}</ref>
The ''PS/Note N45SL'' was priced at $2,045 and contained a 25MHz [[80386SL|386SL]]. It had 2MB RAM and a 80<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=1992-12-22|title=IBM PS/note N45sl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9TVJ_G_sk8C|magazine=[[PC Mag]]|language=en|publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc.}}</ref> or 120MB HDD<ref>{{Cite web|title=PS/Note N45 SL|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/docs/pdf/brochures/ibm-ps-noten45sl.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and was equipped with only 6-row keyboard without dedicated navigation block; the similar layout has a low-end [[ThinkPad 300]] laptop.▼
 
▲=== PS/2 note N51 SX ===
▲The joint third generation ''PS/2 Note N51 SX'' (or ''PS/2 Model N51SXN51 SX''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Personal System/2 Models N51 SLC and N51 SX|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/docs/pdf/brochures/ibm-ps2-modeln51-slc&sx.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> (or ''PS/2 Note N51SX'') was a low-end mainstream notebook with the new MCA bus, which contained a slower version of the typical 386SX found in other notebooks. The N51SXN51 SX was delayed for months.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Fitzgerald|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ioRslYZXVkAC|title=Going down in history|date=1992-03-30|work=[[Computerworld]]|publisher=IDG Enterprise|pages=38|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== PS/2 note N51 SLC ===
▲The ''PS/2 ModelNote N51 N51SLCSLC'' (or ''PS/2 NoteModel N51 N51SLCSLC'') was based on IBM their [[IBM 386SLC|368SLC386SLC]].<ref name=":1" /> This MCA-bus model has a [[IBM PS/55 Note|PS/55 note]] sibling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PS/55note N51SLC 8551-S08|url=http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~ayase/tp/ps55n51slc.htm|access-date=2021-05-18|website=www.mars.dti.ne.jp}}</ref>
 
=== PS/ note N45 SL ===
▲TheManufactured by Zenith, the ''PS/Notenote N45SLN45 SL'' was priced at $2,045 and containedcontains a 25MHz25&nbsp;MHz [[80386SL|386SL]]. It had 2MB RAM and aan 80<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=1992-12-22|title=IBM PS/note N45sl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9TVJ_G_sk8C|magazine=[[PC Mag]]|language=en|publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc.}}</ref> or 120MB HDD<ref>{{Cite web|title=PS/Notenote N45 SL|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/docs/pdf/brochures/ibm-ps-noten45sl.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and was equipped with only 6-row keyboard without dedicated navigation block;, the similar layout hasas a low-end [[ThinkPad 300]] laptop.
 
[[PCMag|''PC Mag'']] considered the display a disappointment, but noted its good design and performance.<ref name=":0" />
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It was manufactured by [[Zenith Data Systems]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=PS/2 Model N33 SX|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/8533/8533.html|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Ardent Tool of Capitalism}}</ref>
 
==== 182PS/E82/N82note T22 SX ====
The T22 SX is an unusual non-backlite greyscale tablet and detachable keyboard offshoot from the main note range. It sold in small numbers.
The ''PS/Note 182'' and ''PS/Note E82'' was equipped with 80386SL CPU, ''PS/Note N82'' was equipped with 80386SX and released in 1992. This line has a 7-row keyboard layout and similar to next-year PS/note 425 model case (but with gray case color and without [[Pointing stick|TrackPoint]]).▼
 
==== ModelPS/note 425182/E82/425CN82 ====
▲TheA side project with Lexmark, the ''PS/Notenote 182'' and ''PS/Notenote E82'' was equipped with 80386SL CPU, ''PS/Notenote N82'' was equipped with 80386SX and released in 1992. This line has a 7-row keyboard layout and similar to next-year PS/note 425 model case (but with gray case color and without [[Pointing stick|TrackPoint]]). The case badge uniquely resembled the style of the PS/1.
The ''PS/Note 425/425C'' are identical to the [[IBM ThinkPad 350|ThinkPad 350/350C]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/bp_thinkpad/tpvol1.pdf|title=Hardware Maintenance Manual Volume 1: Laptop, Notebook, Portable and ThinkPad Computers|pages=205}}</ref>▼
 
=== Model 425/425C ===
▲The ''PS/Notenote 425/425C'' are identical to the [[IBM ThinkPad 350|ThinkPad 350/350C]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/bp_thinkpad/tpvol1.pdf|title=Hardware Maintenance Manual Volume 1: Laptop, Notebook, Portable and ThinkPad Computers|pages=205}}</ref>
 
== Accessories ==
*Communication cartridge
*Communication cartridge II <ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=8551 - PS/Note N51|url=https://ardent-tool.com/8551/8551_Common_Devices.html#Communications_Cartridge_II|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814105304/https://ardent-tool.com/8551/8551_Common_Devices.html#Communications_Cartridge_II|archive-date=2020-08-14|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=IBM Personal System/2 Communications Cartridge II|url=http://ps-2.kev009.com/basil.holloway/boo-to-pdf/S10G_4421_00.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=kev009.com}}</ref>
*External [[floppy disk drive]]
*External [[numpad]]
 
== Discontinuation ==
In March 1994, it was reported that IBM would consolidate the PS/Notenote series into the ThinkPad 300 series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DTsEAAAAMBAJ|first=Yvonne|last=Lee|title=IBM revamps line with four ThinkPads|magazine=[[InfoWorld]]|date=21 March 1994 }}</ref> In May 1994, the [[ThinkPad 360]] series was released.
 
== Timeline ==
{{Timeline of the IBM Personal Computer}}
 
== References ==
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* [https://thinkwiki.de/N51 Thinkwiki.de - N51]
*[http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~ayase/tp/tp350c.htm Comparison between PS/Note Model 425 and ThinkPad 350C]
 
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[IBM PS/2 L40SX|PS/2 L40SX]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = PS/2 Note
| years =
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[IBM ThinkPad 300|ThinkPad 300]]
}}
{{s-end}}
 
{{IBM personal computers}}
 
[[Category:IBM laptops|PS/ 2 Note]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1992]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PS/2_Note_and_PS/note"