IBM 5100

IBM 5100 was the name of the first series of microcomputers, IBM introduced in 1975. These included both compact ( for that time ) system units, as well as a selection of hands-on peripherals. The 5100 were indeed the predecessor of the IBM PC (model 5150 ), similar to this but technically in any way. Despite the revolutionary concept, which was very convenient, the series was a flop.

IBM SCAMP

The SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine Portable) presented the prototype of the 5100 Portable Computer (see below) dar. It consisted of a case which was similar to the then usual desktop computer. Built-in was a little 5 "monitor, a full keyboard with numeric keypad, as well as a tape drive as the processor developed specifically for this machine multi-chip solution was called PALM As a software or operating system were only the programming languages ​​APL, BASIC, or -. . By switch selectable - both available.

IBM 5100 Portable Computer

First -counter model was the IBM Portable Computer (type 5100 ), which came with the PALM CPU on September 9, 1975 to the market. Only at the much later models, the IBM had also used microprocessors from other manufacturers, such as the Intel 8085 in the System/23.

The 5100 corresponded largely to the SCAMP (see above), but had a QIC tape drive for DC300 cartridge with 204 kB capacity. Depending on the type of memory and language suggested the 5100 with $ 9,000 to $ 20,000 to book.

As an example, a code fragment for an Internal Machine Fix ( IMF) for the IBM 5100:

; Patch file for the IBM 5100, not runnable on the 5110!   0200 1064 CTRL $ 0, # $ 64; display off                            ; Clear bottom half of screen (lines 8 to 15)   0202 D201 0400 LWI R2, # $ 0400   0206 D501 0100 LWI R5, # $ 0100   020A 2653 MOVE R6, $ A6; constant 0   020C 5621 MOVE (R2 ) , R6   020E F500 SUB R5, # $ 01   0210 C503 SZ R5   0212 F007 BRA - $ 08; → $ 020C     0214 015C MHL R1, R5   0216 C103 SZ R1   0218 F00D BRA - $ 0E; → $ 020C     021A 2152 MOVE R1, $ A4   021C B140 SET R1, # $ 40   021E 3152 MOVE $ A4, R1; set RAMEXEC flag     0220 2161 MOVE R1, $ C2; address of the I / O supervisor entry   0222 3177 MOVE LJ, R1; address of ROS code to be Executed   0224 D301 033A LWI R3, # $ 033A; address of IOCB   0228 D101 0230 LWI R1, # $ 0230; address of RAM code to be Executed ( = return address )   022C 3174 MOVE $ E8, R1   022E 2075 JMP ($ 00EA ); jump to toggle return to ROS IBM 5110 Portable Computer Model 1

In 1978, the improved variant of the type 1 model 5110 came on the market. There, among other things, the new external floppy disk drives ( see below) were supported and the time at IBM otherwise common character code EBCDIC; the 5100 still used its own character code.

IBM 5110 Portable Computer Model 2

The 5110 Model 2 corresponded to Model 1, but did not include the tape drive and also no connection possible for it.

IBM 5120 (5110 model 3 )

In the 5110 Model 3 are individually not available system unit 5120, a package to in that computer and a suitable printer. In the system unit, a larger monitor, and two 8 " floppy drives were integrated. The keyboard was firmly attached to the unit. With nearly 50 kg Weight of 5110 model 3 is probably the heaviest desktop computer. From the 5110 Model 3 was later the System/23 developed, which has a very similar case.

Periphery

Periphery could be attached to the system unit via a combination of three cables that represent the system. The units could be cascaded. Example: System unit ← ← printer tape drive.

The Matrix Printer 5103 was both individually and as part of the package in 5120 models with 80 or 120 characters per second available.

The disk station was a bulky tower enclosure with two 8 " floppy disk drives. She supported including the IBM 3740 format ( which continues today in various computer systems ), allowing you to store up to 1.1 MB per disk. The 3740 compatibility allowed to exchange data with other computers by IBM and provided together with the - non-existent in the tape drive - ability to quickly and targeted to access data that the 5100 calculator are suitable for daily use in the office with several workstations.

The tape drive is similar to the 5100 or 5110 Model 1, but in its own housing.

Furthermore, an IEEE - 488 interface was available, which allowed a wide range of already available for other computer systems and accessories primarily various devices from the measurement technology for use on the 5100 series devices. Together with the portability of the system units as a number of field applications is made possible.