In the mid-1990s, I bought a used IBM ThinkPad 701 in Hong Kong. Ten years before "netbooks," this wonderful little laptop had a very unique approach to compact

In the mid-1990s, I bought a used IBM ThinkPad 701 in Hong Kong. Ten years before "netbooks," this wonderful little laptop had a very unique approach to compact size: A "butterfly" keyboard that unfolded when you opened the laptop. There are some photos and historical information about the 701 here: http://renaissancechambara.jp/2012/04/26/ibm-thinkpad-701/ http://renaissancechambara.jp/2012/04/26/ibm-thinkpad-701/ Supposedly, the design was inspired by a black bento box. Although primitive by today's standards, it was a solid little laptop that served me well for the tasks I was engaged in at the time -- writing, Web surfing, learning HTML, and playing Doom. In the late 1990s, I had a house fire. No one was injured, but the butterfly ThinkPad was burned, the exterior case charred and partially melted. There was data on it that I wanted, including a manuscript. I brought it to the local IBM repair center in Taipei. Two young techs were at the service desk, and hardly battered an eye when I took it out of a plastic bag. They got a small electric saw, cut open the case, removed the keyboard, and took out the HD which looked intact. They attempted to connect it to their diagnostic machine but it wouldn't read, unfortunately. But I really respected their attempt.