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2003 

performance, and new standards for battery life, portability, ergonomics and the most secure 

wireless access available. IBM also announces in March two additional ThinkPad notebooks: the 

ultraportable X31 and new models of the R40.  The following month, IBM rolls out the 

ThinkPad G40, combining the affordability of a desktop PC with the design and portability of a 

ThinkPad notebook. In October, IBM launches the ThinkPad R50 and T51 that include the 

world's first automatic hard drive protection technology. That same month, the company 

introduces the ThinkPad T41p and R50p, which combine the mobility of a ThinkPad notebook 

with high speed graphic performance and superior wireless and security capabilities.  

In November IBM sells the 20 millionth ThinkPad    a T41    since launching the ThinkPad line 

in 1992.  The computer is presented later that month to the Kellogg School of Management at 

Northwestern University in recognition of the business school's leadership in the application of 

technology to improve business performance.  

IBM equips 430 Britannia Airways pilots with ThinkPad X24 laptop computers to provide 

electronic access to all of the airplane manuals required on the flight decks of the airline's fleet 

of Boeing 757s and 767s. The notebooks also will be used to facilitate essential calculations to 

improve flight efficiency.  

The first models of IBM's redesigned PC line, the new ThinkCentre desktop, are introduced in 

May. With a significantly smaller footprint, the ThinkCentre S50, as well as the M50 and A50p, 

feature an easy access, tool free chassis design, simplifying maintenance, upgrades and service 

for customers. In September, IBM rolls out several new models of the ThinkCentre desktop line, 

including the S50, M50, A50p and A30.  

The company reaches a new milestone in its blade server sales by winning its 5,000th eServer 

BladeCenter order in February, less than three months after introducing the product. In May, 

IBM marries two of the most powerful trends in computing    Linux clusters and Blade servers    

by introducing the IBM eServer Cluster 1350, the first pre packaged and tested supercluster that 

is ultra dense and incredibly easy to manage. In November, IBM revolutionizes the ultra dense 

blade server market with the unveiling of the JS20, the industry's first blade server based on 

POWER architecture.  

In March, IBM introduces a suite of autonomic computing software technologies that allow IT 

systems to react automatically to unexpected surges in demand and dynamically deploy 

computing resources to handle them. Two months later, the company announces the general 

availability of its new DB2 Information Integrator software to help customers instantly access, 

integrate, manage and analyze all forms of information    stored on any platform    across and 

beyond the enterprise.  

IBM rolls out a broad portfolio of infrastructure software for small and medium businesses under 

the Express banner from its DB2, Lotus and Tivoli brands, joining successful WebSphere 

offerings announced in late 2002.  

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