IBM ThinkPad 600 (2645-45U)

The ThinkPad 600 is just on the edge of what I consider vintage or retro; although it’s perfectly at home running Win98 or older, it can also comfortably accommodate XP, which from a functionality standpoint is practically modern.I acquired this unit in 2017 from the local e-waste recycler, from their junk bin after asking if they had any “old ThinkPads” hanging around. It wasn’t quite as old as I had been aiming for, but beggars can’t be choosers…

Although a little damp from a roof leak, this unit turned out to be completely functional, and isn’t in awful cosmetic shape compared to many of its brethren in the wild. It even included a newer replacement battery that still works, which made this quite a score in my eyes.

This unit is one of the later examples to use IBM’s Easy-Setup BIOS setup menu, which is both interesting and novel, as well as quite frustrating at times.

Specs

Identification: IBM ThinkPad 600, type 2645-45U, assembled April 1999
CPU: Intel mobile Pentium II, 300MHz
RAM*: 512MB (2x 256MB) of PC100 SDRAM is installed. The system recognizes 425408KB.
Chipset: Intel 440BX
Video: NeoMagic MagicGraph128XD, 2MB
Display: 13.3″ TFT LCD, 1024×768
Fixed storage*: Hitachi DK23EA-30 30GB IDE HDD
Removable storage: UltraslimBay IBM-branded Toshiba XM-1902B 24x CD-ROM drive
Sound: Crystal CS4237B with stereo speakers
Input: an excellent keyboard, paired with a TrackPoint IV
Networking: none integrated
Expansion, IO: proprietary external floppy drive interface, 3.5mm mic and headphones, IrDA, 2x CardBus, PS/2 mouse, DE15HD VGA, DB25 parallel, docking connector, DE9 serial, one USB 1.1 port, dial-up modem
Acquired: 2017, local recycler