The news is making some Thinkpad enthusiasts nostalgic for the discontinued model.
Early computer users, who were always on the go, appreciated the keyboard’s compact size.
I owned this model, and the butterfly keyboard was an immensely satisfying piece of machinery.
Wikipedia / Raymangold22
The keyboard splits into two triangular pieces that slide as the laptop’s lid is opened or closed.
Unfortunately, the 701 series was short-lived.
Even after the 701’s demise, IBM reportedly experimented with new laptops with a butterfly keyboard.
US Patent Office
And In 2021, Lenovo filed a patentfor a keyboardthat looks much like the one used in the 701.
He used a Framework Mainboard manufactured by the same company that makes the modular, repairableFramework Laptop.
I posted about that here:10.2" iPad 7 display on the internal eDP connector."
Wikipedia / Ged Carroll
Getting the keyboard and TrackPoint to work took even more ingenuity.
Wikipedia / Ged Carroll
A Future for the Butterfly?
“It also provided a more comfortable typing experience as the keyboard was full-sized and ergonomically designed.
The folding movement also made it easier to access ports and cables.
