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Got myself IBM 365XD... and I'm kinda disappointed :(

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First post, by OldCat

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Okay, this one is going to be a bit weird. So I really wanted IBM Thinkpad from early "bento" line for pure DOS gaming. Ideally: compatible sound card (many have ESS1688), decent VGA card, 640x480 pixel screen. 760L or LD would be great, but it's not classic "bento". 365CD is probably the closest to what I wanted, but with 486 Cyrix and supposedly crappy mono speaker (dunno if it's the same as on mine). 701C would be lovely - but it is prohibitively expensive.

I have finally settled for 365XD because that's the only one I could A) find and B) buy at a reasonable price point (<<100EUR).

I got it earlier today. In good shape and original charger, which is rare. I dig "bento" style, really like keyboard, speakers (clear sound!) and manual volume adjustment, the screen is quite good too... Except when it comes to DOS games. Since it's 800x600, you either play in a small square, covering only part of the screen, or turn on full-screen scaled thanks to PS2 HVEXP ON command. Unfortunately, one is very small (I have poor eyesight) and the other one is fugly. Theoretically I knew that prior to buying, but didn't know fullscreen would look that terrible. Eh.

So, what now?

Chase elusive 365CD (and possibly get disappointed again due to something else)? Stick to my old not-IBM DOS laptops, which are fairly good (especially NEC), but don't have that lovely "bento" form factor and IBM keyboard? Try to find another IBM model that will have proper 640x480 screen (according to Thinkwiki I am limited to these options: 345C, 365C, 365CD, 370C, 365E, 700C, 701C, 720C, 750C, 755C, 755CDV, 755CE, 755CV, 755CX, 820, 850)? Try to put 640x480 screen in 365XD (is it even possible)?

I would love to hear your opinions and suggestions.

Reply 1 of 7, by PCBONEZ

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I had the same problem way WAY back but too long ago to remember if I solved it or switched laptops.

There might be other video bios &/or drivers that will help.

This: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:365XD
Says it's a Trident Cyber9320
.

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Reply 2 of 7, by GL1zdA

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OldCat wrote on 2019-12-31, 21:32:

So, what now?

Chase elusive 365CD (and possibly get disappointed again due to something else)? Stick to my old not-IBM DOS laptops, which are fairly good (especially NEC), but don't have that lovely "bento" form factor and IBM keyboard? Try to find another IBM model that will have proper 640x480 screen (according to Thinkwiki I am limited to these options: 345C, 365C, 365CD, 370C, 365E, 700C, 701C, 720C, 750C, 755C, 755CDV, 755CE, 755CV, 755CX, 820, 850)? Try to put 640x480 screen in 365XD (is it even possible)?

The 365CD is a 75 MHz 486, so it will be much slower than your 365XD. I think 760L, 760LD are also 640x480 and this would be my pick, if I wanted 640x480. The 820 and 850 are PowerPC laptops, they won't run DOS except for the NT DOS box. I don't think you can easily put a 640x480 display in a 365XD. I replaced the whole "display assembly" of my 380ED with one from a 385ED (my 380ED had a STN display, the 385ED donor had a TFT display), but these have identical dimensions and connectors.

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Reply 3 of 7, by keenmaster486

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365CD is upgradeable to any Socket 3 CPU. I've upgraded mine to a Cyrix 5x86 83 MHz and it runs about as fast as a 486DX2/66.

As for me I would prefer the 385XD. I don't mind the scaling.

Is yours a TFT?

Also I would warn you about the hinges. The screen lid will crack at the hinges over time. I had to melt mine back together with the soldering iron.

World's foremost 486 enjoyer.

Reply 4 of 7, by OldCat

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keenmaster486 wrote on 2020-01-03, 04:52:

Is yours a TFT?

Yup, mine is the active matrix, TFT that is.

keenmaster486 wrote on 2020-01-03, 04:52:

As for me I would prefer the 385XD. I don't mind the scaling.

Which corner of the world are you from? Maybe we could swap?

Reply 6 of 7, by Baoran

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Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this but is there any way to see from pictures of an ibm laptop if it has tft or frstn?
I remember an old rule that if it had 2 sliders next to the screen it is suppose to be passive matrix and if it has only one slider it is suppose to be active matrix, but not sure if it applies to all old laptops.

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