In September 1975, IBM announced its smallest and first portable computer (If you consider a 28 Kgs. computer portable, that is), 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 $8,975) and limited expansion capabilities.
It had a built-in tape drive and a small 5" 64 character display. A special display mode allowed the user to select right or left bigger 32 chars. of each line.
The tape drive used a 1/4 inch DC300 tape cartridge and stored 204 KB of data.
The 5100 didn't feature a microprocessor chip, but a card called PALM (Put All Logic in Microcode) which acted as a 16-bit microprocessor.
Notice that the 5100 is the first serial number of IBM "Personal Computer" range that will later include the 5110, 5120, 5150 (IBM-PC) and 5160 (PC-XT).
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
In reference to ''John Titor'' and the 5100 - the "IBN 5100" had a leading role in the time travel anime series "Stein$s gate" where the 5100''s APL code was needed to translate the evil ''SERN''s time travel logs. Really good anime BTW.
Wednesday 5th June 2019
Larry (Indonesia)
Last time I looked the Smithsonian had the development prototype of the 5100. It was called Scamp or Mercury, depending on the phase of development. The one at the Smithsonian was made of wood and had a nine inch screen. It was given to them by Dr. Paul Friedl, one of the early inventors at the IBM Scientific Center in Palo Alto, California.
Friday 4th September 2015
Alvin Ginsburg (United States)
NAME
5100
MANUFACTURER
IBM
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
September 1975
END OF PRODUCTION
1978
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
BASIC or APL or both
KEYBOARD
Full stroke 74 keys with numeric keypad and arrow keys
CPU
IBM circuit module
SPEED
1.9 MHz.
RAM
16 KB to 64 KB by 16 KB steps
ROM
32 KB to 64 KB
TEXT MODES
64 chars. x 16 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
None
COLORS
Monochrome
SOUND
No sound capabilities
SIZE / WEIGHT
24 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 unit
PRICE
From $8975 (BASIC 16 KB) to $19,975 (BASIC+APL 64 KB)
