A timeline of IBM keyboard history

The IBM and family keyboard timeline is an illustrated overview of some of the most important events affecting IBM, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions keyboards. This includes notable keyboard releases and withdrawals, corporate history like company founding, divestures and change in OEMs, and patents. Due to their relationship and impact on the keyboards around them, host devices such as personal computers, terminals, consoles and typewriters also appear throughout the timeline. 143 events have been recorded for the "show all" versions of the timeline.

Sources

ASK. Admiral Shark's Keyboards original content. License/note: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

  1. IBM - The Guide to personal computer offerings from IBM Fall 1983 Winter 1984 (#6936938-1) [accessed 2025-05-03]. License/note: photos used under fair dealing.
  2. ASK Keyboard Archive Photos - P/N 4783896 (198X, SMK) [accessed 2025-03-28]. License/note: photos archived from Recycled Goods, used under fair dealing.
  3. snuci - File:IBM 73x3832 Unsaver keyboard front.jpg [accessed 2024-10-02]. License/note: public domain.
  4. IBM - IBM 4693/4694 Store Systems Hardware Service Manual for Point-of-Sale Input/Output Devices [accessed 2022-04-24].
  5. themk - donated photo. License/note: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
  6. Richard Sapper - ThinkPad 701 [accessed 2025-03-25]. License/note: copyright of Richard Sapper, used under fair dealing.
  7. Mechanical Keyboard Tryout - IBM KPD8923 Keyboard image gallery [accessed 2023-11-12]. License/note: photo used under fair dealing.
  8. davkol @ deskthority - Lenovo Thinkpad USB Keyboard with Trackpoint (aka SK-8855) [accessed 2021-10-16]. License/note: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped & perspective fixed).
  9. DZ-World @ AliExpress - ThinkPad Tablet 1838 1839 Booklet Keyboard Leather Folio Case w/ US English keyboard USB Port 00HM470 SM10E37708 03X6354 04W2157 [accessed 2024-02-18]. License/note: photos saved from AliExpress listing, used under fair dealing, retrieved via Wayback Machine (2024-02-18 snapshot).
  10. Lenovo - Parts - X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 (Type 21ES, 21ET) Laptop (ThinkPad) - Type 21ES [accessed 2023-11-08]. License/note: photos used under fair dealing.