IBM 5100

The IBM 5100 placed a complete interactive computer, display, keyboard and tape drive in a transportable desktop enclosure. Its PALM processor emulated larger IBM architectures so that APL and BASIC could run locally.

It was one of the earliest commercially successful portable computers and established IBM’s compact-computer line years before the IBM PC.

Notable Features

• APL and BASIC were available from resident firmware.
• The compact machine nevertheless weighed roughly 24 kg.

Historical Significance

• It was one of the earliest commercially successful portable computers and established IBM’s compact-computer line years before the IBM PC.

Collector’s Notes

• Original IBM documentation, matching display and keyboard, and an unmodified configuration add historical context.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	IBM 5100
Manufacturer	IBM
Launched	Monday, September 1, 1975
Discontinued	1978
Launch Price	From approximately $8,975
Country	United States
CPU	IBM PALM processor
Units Sold
Form Factor	Portable all-in-one desktop computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	No integrated networking
Operating System	APL and/or BASIC in ROM
Expansion / I/O	Tape, printer and external device interfaces
Keyboard	Integrated keyboard with numeric keypad
Storage	Built-in quarter-inch cartridge tape drive
Sound	No general-purpose sound
Colours	Monochrome
Graphics	Text and limited character graphics
Display	Built-in 5-inch CRT; 64 x 16 characters
ROM	Microcode and language firmware
RAM	16KB–64KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 1.9 MHz