IBM PC Convertible Commercial

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 IBM Portable and was model number 5140. The concept and the design of the body was made by the German industrial designer Richard Sapper.

It utilized an Intel 80c88 CPU (a CMOS version of the Intel 8088) running at 4.77 MHz, 256 kB of RAM (expandable to 512 kB), dual 720 kB 3.5" floppy drives, and a monochrome CGA-compatible LCD screen at a price of $2,000. It weighed 13 pounds (5,8 kg) and featured a built-in carrying handle.

The PC Convertible had expansion capabilities through a proprietary ISA bus-based port on the rear of the machine. Extension modules, including a small printer and a video output module, could be snapped into place. The machine could also take an internal modem, but there was no room for an internal hard disk.

Pressing the power button on the computer did not turn it off, but put the machine into a "suspend" mode. This avoided the long process of booting up. The CMOS 80c88 CPU has a static core, which means that it can be stopped simply by stopping the system clock oscillator that is driving it, and it will hold its state indefinitely and resume processing at the point it was stopped when the clock signal is restarted, as long as it is kept powered. CMOS circuits use extremely little power when they are not changing state, so an 80c88 that is on but not being clocked uses very little power.

The screen was not very tall, so text characters and graphics were compressed vertically, appearing about half their normal height. The display was capable of resolutions of 80x25 (text), 640x200, and 320x200.

The machine sold very poorly for a number of reasons. The Convertible was heavy, not much faster than the Portable it replaced (despite the newer CMOS processor and use of static RAM), didn't come with traditional PC expansion ports (such as serial ports and a parallel port) without an add-on, and had a hard-to-read, oddly-shaped LCD screen (the first screens lacked a backlight). It also competed against faster portables based on the Intel 80286 that offered optional hard drives, from companies such as Compaq, and laptops from companies such as Toshiba and Zenith that were lighter and offered similar specifications, sometimes at half the price. With the screen, the keyboard was also widely criticized.

It was replaced in 1991 by the IBM PS/2 L40 SX, and in Japan by the IBM Personal System/55note, which was the predecessor to the ThinkPad.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Commercial
• Computer
• Intel
• IBM
• Laptop

[Yitzhakonline]

wow, i'm so getting this one! They reinvented the portable computer!

[aaronvsteimle]

I used to program dungeon crawling games on this in BASIC. It was a decent machine, and I think the distorted screen gave it an unique quality. Also, it really was only as physically large as a 19" LCD monitor laid flat, about 2.5 inches tall. It was a bit heavy, though. It's a desktop replacement machine, really; much like any "laptop" today with a larger than 12" screen.

[CallOfDrewthulhu]

I actually recently inherited one of these from a friend. I have no idea how to see if it works since it did not come with an AC adapter, ha.

[smikules]

0:08 he thought it was touch screen

[Quaaludedude714]

They are nice , I got to use one , It's on my Wishlist :) QC

[16437457]

ima get that tommorow lol!!!!!!!!!1

[mik3sss]

WOW Coool =D

[UtenteMacSenzaMac]

wow

[MrTr0llol]

@haarp35117 wrong its the Osborne 1

[luckysod04]

that thing is soooooo pimp