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Documenting obscure 90s laptop brands - WinBook

Glad you got refunded at least. I hope there are some usable parts that come out of it still.

Also - I just went ahead and created a thread for general discussion on the Green laptops here: https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/alphatop-ecs-green-laptop-documentation-thread.1245859/
I need to work through the ECS Green laptops and then I should be about ready to push an update live that will have info on them.

I've been on another WinBook research binge over the past day or two though, trying to get info on the last of their laptops I haven't documented yet - their mid-late 2000s models. I was able to find low-quality photos of several of them on microcenter.com through the wayback machine. I'll have several new WinBooks documented for the next site update.
 
I've started new discussion for the Green 751 and added a few photos (for now): https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/green-751-laptop.1245860/#post-1352814

I will start one for the Green 735, 753 & 753+ and one for the Green 756 (AKA Micron VLX+/NEC 33-T) as I have time.

Regarding the VLX, not a single piece of plastics is whole. This includes the floppy drive module that has a broken plastic case which might be able to be glued, but the drive might not be any good. Needs testing. I've removed the LCD, the inverter, the hard drive module and keyboard to test once I get a Green 755 taken apart so I can connect the LCD. The motherboard mostly survived with the exception of the battery connector which has bent pins. Since I have many Green 755 motherboards to test, I'm sure one that's terminal could donate a connector should this motherboard work. The main battery is also intact, but has signed of green puss on the contacts. The real shame is that other than the cracked LCD plastics (as shown by the seller) this laptop was complete and had a good chance of working once the correct 4 pin AC adapter was plugged in. But now ---- another one bit the dust.
 
New site update: 12/09/2023

WinBook Home - MacDat

macdat.net macdat.net

The following WinBook models have pages now:
A200
A700
GL20
GL30/80
GL35
N4

In addition, the existing pages on the WinBook FX and the 330/331 have been updated with additional information & images.

Still 13 models left, believe it or not.
 
New site update: 12/24/2023

Includes no new pages, but I went and did the following:

- Many new print ads added for the earlier models (SLC, SX DX, XP, XP5, XP5 Pro, FX)
- 2000s models are now formatted with the same table layout the 90s models have.
- Other new or improved images.
 
New site update out today. Adds pages for the WinBook T200, TL30, and TL35.
We're nearly the finish line, only 9 left now without pages.
 
IMG_6837.jpeg
Just got this one in from eBay. Been wanting a J1 for a while now, was one of the first models I had my eye on when I started researching the company. One finally showed up for cheap on an auction so I pulled the trigger! It came without the proprietary hard drive adapter, thankfully the same one the WinBook X4 uses so I can rob the one from there to test it. I’m going to have to order another one of the adapters though, it’s the same one that the Dell Inspiron 7000 uses, along with several other laptops, so they’re common.

This is one of the last Green series laptops to be made by Alpha-Top and not ECS - it’s a rebadged Green720.
 
IMG_6838.jpeg
Holy wow. That’s a (soldered) desktop Pentium III. Was not expecting that!
 
It took a bit longer than expected due to a few issues, mainly that the CD-ROM drive died during the install, but it’s set up now. Pretty nice laptop too!
IMG_6842.jpeg
 
CPU-Z HWID info calls it a Green799, which is interesting. Don’s site said the G799 was a 13.3 inch version that has a smaller case footprint. I wonder if it’s just an oversight from Alpha-Top or if there’s more too it than that.
24CCCA44-7CAE-4501-9D7F-BD4C46736566.jpeg
 
Let me know if you need a new CD drive. I should have them in my stash, but I'll need to know the brand since the faceplate mounting varies with brands. Also, If your J1 has a modem only (or early no security WiFi) the card can be swapped for an Intel 2200BG Wifi card and perhaps a couple of generic Wifi antennas.
 
A4900746-32D2-4196-9317-46D9DDB56E50.jpeg
Here’s the drive, it’s a Toshiba. I swear that every time I have a dead laptop optical drive, it’s usually a Toshiba. No clue if that’s a coincidence or if these Toshiba drives are just unreliable.
I’m pretty sure this J1 is a Modem+Ethernet model. Definitely has no WiFi at all on board.
 
67A7E993-4A44-445A-BD8C-CB2CF2E5AABD.jpeg
Network hardware.
This thing’s also fully Plug and play with Windows XP. Not a single unknown device or driver to install.
 
I see that your J1 ID'ed as a Green 799. I had (have?) a non-Winbook (I think) Green 799 and didn't remember the J1's were this small. IIRC, I thought the J1's I had were the larger Green 720 size. Interesting. Too many years ago, I guess. My spare parts were always very limited for the Green 799. Not much was available from the service center. Do you know that the G799 LCD lid was made out of metal? It is! Ditto on the Green 720's. Sometime found with dents, but less failures.

I think many laptop optical drives back then were so reduced in weight that they all they had high failure rates. I assume they improved with time, but can't prove that. I'll look around for a Toshiba CD-R/W with DVD read for you. Might take a few days - there's lot of disorganized stuff to dig through!
 
My J1 IS a Green720 - says so on the bottom. I'm pretty sure all of them were, although WinBook did list a 12 and 13 inch display option? All photos I've ever seen have the 14" display in them.
IMG_3670.JPG
That's what makes that hardware ID strange. I'm about 95% sure it's a 14 inch display in there too.
Your site page on the Green799 said your unit was a Leo Designote, and also that some parameter you set (removing the hard drive and clearing BIOS I think?) caused it to show the WinBook J1 splash screen.

Back is indeed metal - same with my WinBook X4/ECS Green550. It's a very nice touch that these have, definitely.
IMG_3669.JPG

DeltaDon said:
I'll look around for a Toshiba CD-R/W with DVD read for you. Might take a few days - there's lot of disorganized stuff to dig through!
Click to expand...
Sure - I'd take one with whatever the next lot of parts ends up being. CTX stuff whenever/if ever you find that, plus I'm sure you'll have more Alpha-Top stuff at some point that I won't be able to resist :)
 
New site update out today adds pages on the WinBook V100/V200 series.
More updates will follow in the near future, including improved images on the J1 page now that I own one.
 
Lord send help, I bought another one.

WinBook J4, Green732.
2.66GHz desktop P4, 512MB RAM, 1400x1050 LCD. It's a black one so that means I'm going to have to scrub off the rubber coating they had, no problem.
Will update more when it actually arrives. I couldn't resist, it was a working 732 model with the optional high-res LCD, I had to go for it! I'm a sucker for SXGA+ and UXGA XP laptops :)
 
The G732's can use the 3.06 GHz Hyper Thread CPU's, but you'll need to reload the OS to use the HT CPU. IIRC, there were a few (very few) 2.8 GHz HT CPU's (Dell only) that I guess failed full speed and might be a little bit cheaper. The G732 2032 CMOS battery is a chore to replace. Maybe 2 dozen screws and of about 8 different sizes to get to it. Needs extra care removing the video cable from the motherboard connector too.
 
My Inspiron 9100 actually has the 2.8GHz HT CPU. Didn't know they were rare at all.
I'm probably not going to upgrade the CPU as you said the CPU power fuse can fail if the 3.06GHz chip is installed - not something I'd like to happen.
 
New site update out last night adds pages for ALL remaining WinBooks that didn't previously have pages.
- WinBook V300
- WinBook V400
- WinBook W100
- WinBook W200
- WinBook W300
- WinBook W500
- WinBook X500
- WinBook X600

I also updated a few of the existing pages with additional details.
The section is "done" now, but there's still more to do. I have more print ads to put up, more information to hunt, etc. Still a good milestone to hit though.
 
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