I was able to pick up some additional hard drive for cheap.
I can use these build a DOS computer.

Upgrades,
5gb IBM hard drive
32mb of ram for a total of 46mb.
3com PCMCIA Ethernet card.
Red pointer replacement.

I have some new Win-95 software.

I have another one of these that I am going to use with DOS and Win3x.
IBM provides drivers for this.

This is the Best Retro Laptop ever
Love the BIG Key Keyboard..

No-one has replied to this wonderful little laptop in 2 years?

It still resembles the modern thinkpads so much. That black with the red accents.. instantly recognisable.

Are there any other upgrades you can make to it? Can you upgrade the CPU to a 233MMX?

Ah... I used to have the 380XD and i loved every second of it. I have a soft spot for certain IBM's. The last one I bought is a Thinkpad t420s and the reason why I didnt go with the t430 was precisely the keyboard. As far as I am concerned no other brand comes even close to the pleasure that is using those keyboards and the 430 uses kinda chiclet keys which I really dont like.
Sadly mine does not have a socketed CPU so I am stuck with an i5 2520m because I do own a i7 but I cant switch it. :sadface: Anywhoo... loved that laptop too.

On a separate note. If you search ebay for MMC-1 you might find a much needed processor upgrade.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr … =MMC-1&_sacat=0

I dont know if that laptop supports the microcode needed for the pentium II but... hopefully it does. 😁

I'm unsure if they have the same motherboard in the 380s vs the Pentium II class 385 and above, the modules look similar. I have heard of Tillamook modules being interchangable with low end PII in some laptops, but not sure about this one in particular.

BitWrangler wrote on 2022-04-01, 18:20:

I'm unsure if they have the same motherboard in the 380s vs the Pentium II class 385 and above, the modules look similar. I have heard of Tillamook modules being interchangable with low end PII in some laptops, but not sure about this one in particular.

I dont know either. But the processors ARE cheap so having one of those, even if it doesnt work cant hurt your budget much. I think they may be, since the northbridge is in the package but bios support might be an issue. Power delivery may also be something to consider. Best that can happen is that it simply works. Worst that can happen is that the whole thing burns down to a pile of ash because it wasnt compatible. 🤣 Nah, kidding. Sadly there arent any tillamooks available for that laptop RN.

Donovan V. wrote on 2022-04-01, 20:19:

BitWrangler wrote on 2022-04-01, 18:20:

I'm unsure if they have the same motherboard in the 380s vs the Pentium II class 385 and above, the modules look similar. I have heard of Tillamook modules being interchangable with low end PII in some laptops, but not sure about this one in particular.

I dont know either. But the processors ARE cheap so having one of those, even if it doesnt work cant hurt your budget much. I think they may be, since the northbridge is in the package but bios support might be an issue. Power delivery may also be something to consider. Best that can happen is that it simply works. Worst that can happen is that the whole thing burns down to a pile of ash because it wasnt compatible. 🤣 Nah, kidding. Sadly there arent any tillamooks available for that laptop RN.

Well, there might be a risk of something else being damaged ... I'm not sure I'd dare taking that risk ...

One of the Best Laptops of 1997

This Laptop had the Best TV commercial. They don’t make laptop commercials like this anymore.

On a Color CRT TV with 720p in 1997

Video link:
https://youtu.be/N0zHan7E7Ps?si=bRt2Y3tDvHdsCzIh

I have an upgrade.
Two 64mb RAM Sticks.
One for each of my 380 laptops.

In 1995 64mb in a laptop was Very Expensive and Unthinkable.
Even in 1997 it was very expensive for a Desktop an NOT common.

8mb and 16mb of RAM was more common in computers before 1998.