The IBM WorkPad Z50, released in 1999, was not like IBM’s other WorkPad models. While the other models were essentially rebadged PalmPilots, the Z50 more closely resembled the ThinkPad machines of the time (especially the 1999 IBM ThinkPad 240, which was roughly the same size as the WorkPad Z50, and shared many design characteristics with it.) It had a full keyboard and TrackPoint mouse, but unlike the ThinkPads, the Z50 ran Windows CE and used a MIPS processor!

It offered several options like a special battery pack that you could put AA batteries in; however, a standard proprietary Lithium-Ion battery pack was also available, in addition to an “extended” battery pack that lasted around 20 hours. My unit was bought in 2014 in excellent condition, and at the time, the extended battery still lasted at least 10 hours. There is also a 32 MB RAM expansion that can be added, which increases the memory from the base 16 MB to a total of 48 MB. The real-time clock (and all information on the primary volatile RAM disk) are kept powered by two “AAA” batteries, as opposed to a CR2032 “coin cell” battery like other Windows CE machines of the time.

Here are some pictures of the WorkPad Z50 unit I’ve had in my possession for 10 years now (2014-2024), as well as some of the accessories:

Pictures of the accessories (spiral-bound Hardware Maintenance Manual, AA-adapter battery pack):

Pictures of the accessory box:

And finally, some exterior and interior pictures of the unit, including one showing the rare 32 MB memory expansion:

Revised on February 2, 2024 (added newer pictures, plus full versions of original 2014 pictures)