IBM PS/2 Note and PS/note: Difference between revisions

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| discontinued = 1994

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| type = [[Notebook (laptop)computer|Notebook computer]]

| processor = [[Intel 386]]

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The '''IBM PS/2 Note''' and '''PS/note''' are a series of [[Notebook (laptop)computer|notebooks]] from the [[PS/2]] line by [[IBM]]. It was announced in March 1992, half a year prior to the release of the first [[ThinkPad]], the [[IBM ThinkPad 700]]. The series was discontinued in 1994.

== Background ==

After the departure of Bob Lawten from IBM, the team at IBM had little development direction after the [[IBM PS/2 L40 SX]]. James Cannavino pushed for the new [[Notebook (laptop)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 N45 SL, N51 SX and N51 SLC were announced on the same day as the [[IBM PS/2 CL57 SX|IBM PS/2 (color laptop) CL57 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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=== PS/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 infulenceinfluence from outside IBM.

=== PS/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 accomodateaccommodate 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 |url-status=live |website=Ret Rocks}}</ref> The main planar inside has "EXCEL-MAIN" written on it.

=== PS/2 note N33 SX ===

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=== PS/ 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 miniturisedminiaturised 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>

=== PS/2 note N51 SX ===