I'm so appreciating IBM's thoughtfulness in RTC batteries right now.

[Thinkpad4by3]

With the exception of the 701C, all IBM's laptops had a nice, easily replaceable RTC battery. I'm working on this Magnavox 286 laptop and it uses a soldered RTC battery in a chip that you have to unsolder all 24 pins. Due note, this laptop for some reason uses screws that are UNSTRIPPABLE!! These screws are beaten to hell and back, and they still back out with no issue what so ever.

[oeuvre]

Gah, I hate soldered RTCs... is it one of those Dallas RTC block things?

[Thinkpad4by3]

Gah, I hate soldered RTCs... is it one of those Dallas RTC block things?

You bet it is a Dallas RTC block. Dealt with them before but this one is not socketed. I bought one NOS about 3 years ago and it is dead again but atleast it is socketed. I will have to mod this one.

[edik]

And the RTC Battery was just the start

Not sure about the 701C or whether the trend started with the 76X series but I always appreciated the complete modular system simply by lifting up the Keyboard.

http://a4.pbase.com/g10/46/470146/2/166 ... 46SpOL.jpg

Disk Swap? RAM Swap? Floppy/CD Swap? All could be done in a matter of seconds.... and color coded!

The old days!

[Thinkpad4by3]

Started with the 750 series I believe. The 755 series does infact have it.

[edik]

Hmmm not sure why the image isn't showing... it was when I posted... and it is hosted on my pbase account!

Started with the 750 series I believe. The 755 series does infact have it.

Well I suspected actually the 755 onwards.... should have mentioned that... drat.... never however played with a 755 although have most of the 76X series and 770....