NAME

5100

MANUFACTURER

IBM

TYPE

Professional Computer

ORIGIN

USA

YEAR

September 1975

END OF PRODUCTION

1978

BUILT IN LANGUAGE

BASIC, APL or both

CPU

IBM Circuit module

SPEED

1.9 MHz

KEYBOARD

Full stroke 74 keys with numeric and arrow keys

RAM

16 to 64 KB

ROM

32 t 64 KB

TEXT MODES

64 char x 16 lines

GRAPHIC MODES

None

Colors

Monochrome

Sound

None

SIZE/WEIGHT

75 lbs (28 kg)

I/O PORTS

5103 printer and 5106 external tape drive unit

BUILT IN MEDIA

Built-in 204 KB DC600 tape drive

OS

APL or BASIC

POWER SUPPLY

Built-in power supply

PRICE

From $8975 (BASIC 16 KB) to $19,975 (BASIC+APL 64 KB)

 

IBM 5100

IBM 5100

In September 1975, IBM announced its smallest and first portable computer (If you consider a 28 Kgs. computer portable), the IBM 5100, no bigger than one of IBM's typewriters. Developed in Rochester, it used the same operating system as IBM's /370 line of main frames. Thus it could accommodate the same APL interpreter, permitting the use of APL programs. A BASIC interpreter was also available, depending of the 5100 version chosen.


This was the first widely marketed and supported personal computer, and definitely the first useful all-in-one, portable computer system. However, it was a very primitive machine that was largely unsuccessful due to its high price tag (basic version costed $8,975) and limited expansion capabilities.

It had a built-in tape drive and a small 5" 64 character display. A special display mode allowed the user to select right or left bigger 32 chars. of each line. The tape drive used a 1/4 inch DC300 tape cartridge and stored 204 KB of data. The 5100 didn't feature a microprocessor chip, but a card called PALM (Put All Logic in Microcode) which acted as a 16-bit microprocessor. ,br>
Notice that the 5100 is the first serial number of IBM "Personal Computer" range that will later include the 5110, 5120, 5150 (IBM-PC) and 5160 (PC-XT).


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