Kapok/Clevo 8500/8700/8900 Series
These laptops are large desktop replacement systems that were built around a 15.1" LCD. The original Kapok 8500 from 1997 was one of the very first laptops with such a display. Different revisions of this laptop supported Pentium MMX, Pentium II, Pentium III, and Celeron processors. Here's what you need to know to understand the model scheme of these laptops:
- These were generic/ODM laptops, meaning that they were sold to distributors who would put their own brand name on them to sell. As such, you won't see one branded as a Kapok or Clevo.
- 8500, 8700, and 8900 laptops are all identical aside from some modifications to the plastic case to make them look different. They use the same motherboards. The reason these different models even exist is so different resellers could sell laptops that didn't look completely identical.
- There were 5 main models in the series - the 8500, 8500M, 8500P, 8500C, and 8500V. These mainly differ in what processors they supported. There should have been 8700 and 8900 versions of each one of them.
- The earlier models were made by Kapok, a sub-division of Clevo. Clevo re-absorbed Kapok in 1999 and as such, later models in the series were Clevos.
Specifications
| Spec | 8500 | 8500M | 8500P | 8500C | 8500V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | 1998? | 1998 | 1999 | 1999 | 2000 |
| CPU | CPU Type: Socket 7 Intel Pentium MMX @166, 233, or 266MHz |
CPU Type: MMC1 - Intel Mobile Pentium II - Intel Mobile Celeron - Intel Pentium MMX @Up to 266MHz |
CPU Type: MMC2 (66MHz FSB) - Intel Mobile Pentium III - Intel Mobile Pentium II - Intel Mobile Celeron |
CPU Type: Socket 370 - Intel Celeron @Up to 500MHz (maybe higher?) |
CPU Type: Socket 370 Intel Pentium III @Up to 933MHz |
| RAM | Type: EDO or SDRAM Standard: N/A Maximum: 128MB |
Type: EDO or SDRAM, 2 slots Standard: N/A Maximum: 256MB |
Type: SDRAM, 3 slots Standard: N/A Maximum: 256MB |
Type: EDO or SDRAM, 3 slots Standard: N/A Maximum: 384MB |
PC100 or PC133 SDRAM, 2 slots Standard: N/A Maximum: 512MB |
| Hard Disk | 2.5" IDE Uses proprietary adapter?: Yes Standard: N/A |
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| Display Options | - 13.3" TFT LCD @1024x768 - 13.8" Passive Matrix LCD @1024x768 - 14.1" TFT LCD @1024x768 - 15.1" TFT LCD @1024x768 |
15.1" TFT LCD @1024x768 | - 15.0" TFT LCD @1024x768 - 15.0" TFT LCD @1400x1050 |
||
| Graphics Chipset | Chips & Technologies 65555 VRAM: 4MB |
S3 ViRGE/MX+ VRAM: 4MB |
ATI Rage LT Pro VRAM: 8MB |
ATI Rage Mobility 128 VRAM: 8 or 16MB |
|
| Audio | ESS AudioDrive 1879 w/ WaveTable - Stereo Speakers - Microphone |
ESS Maestro-2E - Stereo Speakers - Microphone |
ESS Allegro-1 - Stereo Speakers - Microphone |
||
| Main Battery | - NiMH (Smart or Dumb available) - Lithium Ion (Smart or Dumb available) |
Lithium Ion (Smart or Dumb available) | Lithium Ion (Smart) | ||
| CMOS Battery | Unknown | CR2032 (Socketed) | Unknown | ||
| Power Supply | Proprietary 4-pin | ||||
| Disk Drives | Dual Modular Bays - Bay 1 holds 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive, LS-120 Drive, ZIP Drive, or 2nd HDD - Bay 2 holds CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive |
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| PC Cards | 2x PCMCIA Slots (2x Type II/1x Type III) - ZoomVideo Support (1 slot) |
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| Networking | Modem (Optional) | ||||
| Other I/O | - 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 2x PS/2 - 1x Dock Connector - 2x USB 1.x - 1x S-Video Out - 1x Composite In - 1x Line In - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out - Infrared |
- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 2x PS/2 - 1x Dock Connector - 2x USB 1.x - 1x S-Video Out - 1x Composite In - 1x Line In - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out - 1x IEEE1394/FireWire - Infrared |
- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 2x PS/2 - 1x Dock Connector - 2x USB 1.x - 1x S-Video Out - 1x Composite In - 1x Line In - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out - Infrared |
- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 2x PS/2 - 1x Dock Connector - 2x USB 1.x - 1x S-Video Out - 1x Composite In - 1x Line In - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out - 1x IEEE1394/FireWire - Infrared |
|
| BIOS | SystemSoft | Phoenix | |||
| Pointing Device | Trackpad | Trackpad (Alps) | Trackpad | ||
Resources
 Service Manual (8500) |
Service Manual (8500M) |
Service Manual (8500P) |
Service Manual (8500C) |
Service Manual (8500V) |
|---|
Page last updated (MM/DD/YYYY): 12/10/2024
Update Reason: page finished
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