IBM WorkPad was a line of portable devices, produced by

Palm Inc. Palm, Inc. was an American company that specialized in manufacturing personal digital assistants (PDAs) and various other electronics. They were the designer of the PalmPilot, the first PDA successfully marketed worldwide, as well as the Treo ...

and branded by IBM. This line contained personal digital assistants (PDAs) and one subnotebook model (WorkPad Z50).

Overview

This line was released in 1997 and discontinued in 2002. After discontinuation of its self-branded line, IBM still offers the main Palm line on its site. This IBM-branded line of PDAs were rebranded PalmPilots, with only a few software improvements (easy sync for

Lotus Notes HCL Notes (formerly IBM Notes and Lotus Notes; see Branding below) and HCL Domino (formerly IBM Domino and Lotus Domino) are the client and server, respectively, of a collaborative client-server software platform formerly sold by IBM, now by HCL ...

, DB2 EveryPlace, and IBM Mobile Connect).

Reception

Early WorkPad PDAs were received positively, similar to parallel Palm models; but later this conservative business-oriented line lacked notability, and multimedia options of latest models were described as relatively poor.

Models

WorkPad Z50 - 1999,

subnotebook Subnotebook, also called ultraportable, superportable, or mini notebook, was a marketing term for laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical notebook-sized laptop. Types and sizes As typical laptop sizes have decreased over ...

thin client In computer networking, a thin client is a simple (low-performance) computer that has been optimized for establishing a remote connection with a server-based computing environment. They are sometimes known as ''network computers'', or in ...

, powered by Windows CE, equipped with an NEC MIPS processor and with an 8.2" screen.

PDAs

All WorkPad PDAs have a similar gray-scale screen (with better resolution and contrast for C series, but with same physical size and similar layout); only the c505 model has a color screen. The WorkPad 30X can be upgraded to a Japanese version, using the Open Extension slot. WorkPad - 1997, rebadged

PalmPilot The PalmPilot Personal and PalmPilot Professional are the second generation of Palm PDA devices produced by Palm Inc (then a subsidiary of U.S. Robotics, later 3Com). These devices were launched on March 10, 1997. Accessories and pricing P ...

WorkPad 20X - 1998, rebadged

Palm III The Palm III is a personal digital assistant that was made by the Palm Computing division of 3Com. It went on sale in 1998 as a replacement for the PalmPilot handheld. It was the first Palm handheld to support infrared file transfer and a Flash R ...

WorkPad 30X - 1999, rebadged

Palm IIIx The Palm IIIx is a PDA from Palm Computing released in 1999, briefly before the scaled down Palm IIIe was introduced into the marketplace. The Palm IIIx improved upon the Palm III by featuring a new enhanced and easier to read LCD and 4 MB RA ...

WorkPad 30J - 1999, Japanese version of 30X WorkPad 31J - 2000, same as 30J, but with

PHS PHS may refer to: Organizations * ''Partido Humanista da Solidariedade'' (Humanist Party of Solidarity), a Brazilian political party * Peninsula Humane Society, for animal welfare in San Mateo County, California, US * Pennsylvania Horticultural ...

broadband module. WorkPad 31A - 2000, version of 31J with locked phone operator. ''C series'' with new thin, sleek metal case: WorkPad c3 -1999/2000, rebadged

Palm V Palm V is a personal digital assistant (PDA) by 3Com. Released in 1999 by 3Com, the PDA has an aluminum enclosure containing a Dragonball EZ central processing unit (capable of overclocking to 39 MHz) and 2MB of memory. The 16-shade gra ...

/ Vx; also known as WorkPad 40J and WorkPad 50J. WorkPad c500 -2001, rebadged

Palm m500 The Palm m500 series of handheld personal digital assistants consisted of three devices: the Palm m500, Palm m505, and Palm m515. The series was a follow-up to the popular Palm V series with a similar, though slightly shorter, footprint and form fac ...

; also known as WorkPad 60U. WorkPad c505 -2001, rebadged Palm m505; also known as WorkPad 70J.

Accessories

Most WorkPad PDAs can use the same peripherals as the PalmPilot; for example, the external keyboard available for some models, and most WorkPads can be attached to a cradle for charging or connection to a PC; the WorkPad can be attached to a Palm cradle, and vice versa. Some WorkPads (and sibling Palm models) can be attached to some

ThinkPad ThinkPad is a line of business-oriented laptop computers and tablets designed, developed and marketed by Lenovo, and formerly by IBM until 2005, when IBM's PC business was acquired by Lenovo. ThinkPads have a distinct black, boxy design la ...

laptops, using an Ultrabay cradle; This would be the Palm V, m500, m505, and the WorkPad c500 and c505 models.

References