IBM Portable
Encyclopedia
The IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155 model 68 was an early portable computer
developed by IBM after the success of Compaq
's suitcase-size portable machine (the Compaq Portable
). It was released in February, 1984, and was eventually replaced by the IBM Convertible
.
The Portable was basically a PC/XT
motherboard, transplanted into a Compaq-style luggable case. The system featured 256 kibibyte
s of memory (expandable to 512 KiB), an added CGA
card connected to an internal monochrome (amber) composite monitor
, and one or two half-height 5.25" 360K floppy disk
drives. Unlike the Compaq Portable
, which used a dual-mode monitor and special display card, IBM used a stock CGA board and a composite monitor, which had lower resolution.
It could however, display color if connected to an external monitor or television.
The floppy controller card was the same as found in the IBM XT and supported up to four 360K drives (two internal, two external) but was not compatible with the higher-capacity drives then gaining in popularity, notably the 5.25" quad-density ("1.2MB") drives that were standard in the IBM AT
and 3.5" 720K drives.
Portable computer
A portable computer is a computer that is designed to be moved from one place to another and includes a display and keyboard. Portable computers, by their nature, are generally microcomputers. Portable computers, because of their size, are also commonly known as 'Lunchbox' or 'Luggable' computers...
developed by IBM after the success of Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
's suitcase-size portable machine (the Compaq Portable
Compaq Portable
The Compaq Portable was the first product in the Compaq portable series to be commercially available under the Compaq Computer Corporation brand . It was the first IBM PC compatible portable computer...
). It was released in February, 1984, and was eventually replaced by the IBM Convertible
IBM Convertible
The IBM PC Convertible, released April 3, 1986, was IBM's first laptop computer and was also the first IBM computer to utilize the 3.5" floppy disk which went on to become the standard. Like modern laptops, it featured power management and the ability to run from batteries. It was the follow-up to...
.
The Portable was basically a PC/XT
IBM Personal Computer XT
The IBM Personal Computer XT, often shortened to the IBM XT, PC XT, or simply XT, was IBM's successor to the original IBM PC. It was released as IBM Machine Type number 5160 on March 8, 1983, and came standard with a hard drive...
motherboard, transplanted into a Compaq-style luggable case. The system featured 256 kibibyte
Kibibyte
The kibibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for quantities of digital information. The binary prefix kibi means 1024; therefore, 1 kibibyte is . The unit symbol for the kibibyte is KiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1999 and has been accepted for use...
s of memory (expandable to 512 KiB), an added CGA
Color Graphics Adapter
The Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
card connected to an internal monochrome (amber) composite monitor
Composite monitor
A composite monitor is any analog video display that receives input in the form of an analog composite video signal through a single cable — in contrast to multiple-cable or multiple-wire video sources such as VGA cable...
, and one or two half-height 5.25" 360K floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
drives. Unlike the Compaq Portable
Compaq Portable
The Compaq Portable was the first product in the Compaq portable series to be commercially available under the Compaq Computer Corporation brand . It was the first IBM PC compatible portable computer...
, which used a dual-mode monitor and special display card, IBM used a stock CGA board and a composite monitor, which had lower resolution.
It could however, display color if connected to an external monitor or television.
The floppy controller card was the same as found in the IBM XT and supported up to four 360K drives (two internal, two external) but was not compatible with the higher-capacity drives then gaining in popularity, notably the 5.25" quad-density ("1.2MB") drives that were standard in the IBM AT
IBM Personal Computer/AT
The IBM Personal Computer AT, more commonly known as the IBM AT and also sometimes called the PC AT or PC/AT, was IBM's second-generation PC, designed around the 6 MHz Intel 80286 microprocessor and released in 1984 as machine type 5170...
and 3.5" 720K drives.