Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
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Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
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Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#2When I was a co-op student employee at IBM in the late 80s, I was given a desk in what was otherwise a storage room piled with stuff that had been used and then set aside. One box contained a 5140 convertible laptop with one of each peripheral "slice" -- printer, modem, expansion ports -- and the full set of technical manuals.
I was allowed to take that beast home with me. I learned so much tinkering with that machine. Eventually, I sold the whole set at a ham fest and I have regretted it often.
Nice to see an appreciation of it, though I would never have looked at it as alligator-like.
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#3I wonder if John Titor could have used this?
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#4Aesthetically this beats about 75% of the current laptop market.
Would love to see some genuine creativity / cyberdeck type builds from laptop makers
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#5I used to have NEC MobilePro 900 like here:
https://live.staticflickr.com/213/481422006_92cdaeb6ee_b.jpg
I miss that form factor really.
And BTW, I regret that WindowsCE is not the thing anymore. IMO it has the best development infrastructure out there backed with MSVC IDE.
I classify OSes into two major groups: "writer OS" (all desktop OSes primarily) and "reader OS" (all mobiles). But there is a void in between for palmtop form factor devices.
Sigh, probably its only me who needs this ...
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#6Were these truly meant to be “laptops” or just portable computers? I guess if they have a battery is a fairly clear discriminator.
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#7See also: “IBM Made the Longest Laptop Ever” by Cathode Ray Dude, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htl_JbZIcUU. There is, per the title, some discussion of its (somehow simultaneously inspired and silly) expansion system, but also of its other features as well, such as (spoiler alert) the fact that it may be the first personal computer to have suspend to RAM.
(So I guess—expanding on a sibling comment[1]—aesthetics is not the only axis on which “this beats about 75% of the current laptop market.”)
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#8I used to have NEC MobilePro 900 like here: https://live.staticflickr.com/213/481422006_92cdaeb6ee_b.jpg I miss that form factor really. And BTW, I regret that WindowsCE is not the thing anymore. IMO it has the best development infrastructure out there backed with MSVC IDE. I classify OSes into two major groups: "writer OS" (all desktop OSes primarily) and "reader OS" (all mobiles). But there is a void in between for…
Judging by eBay prices for Psions, you’re not the only one who misses that form factor.
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#9I wonder if John Titor could have used this?
Nah, that would have been made by IBN, a completely different company.
Re: Mod. 5140 - IBM's First Laptop Computer
#10Were these truly meant to be “laptops” or just portable computers? I guess if they have a battery is a fairly clear discriminator.
This one has a lead acid battery in it (I’m guessing a sealed one), which I don’t expect to enhance its lap-friendliness.
What somewhat puzzles me about these early portables (also including e.g. the Macintosh Portable, sold 1989–1991, in a similar form factor) is the manufacturers’ insistence on putting a (heavy) mains transformer inside the chassis. That could not have helped the weight, so I have to guess they didn’t see it as a problem?..