What year was the IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155 (model 68) introduced to the market?

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. 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 kilobytes of memory (expandable to 512 kB on the motherboard), an added CGA card connected to an internal monochrome amber composite monitor, and one or two half-height 5¼" 360 kB floppy disk drives.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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17 Comments

George Oliver Prince

Cheated, asked my son, the computer guru

Anita Clark Morton

I 'picked a card' as it were, and lucked out. I had NO idea

Carolyn Brior

I had one of these. "Portable" a laugh. It weighed a ton!

Irene Townsend

Great got this from a wild guess

Ellen Chuplis Cole

matthew rosa, Unfortunately that was the Apple Mac ad

scottlarock

I got a late start to college due my time in the Army, but that put me in college in the early 80s...it was a great time to learn computers...they were new and growing...we programmed the pcs ourselves...there was no internet yet...now its all code...mores the pity

Dave Osborn

IBM says it was introduced on August 12, 1981.

Cheryl McMeekin

Great question, missed this one.

Richard Elliott

I had a compaq "portable". It was so heavy that I could not take on as cabin luggage when I flew up to Scotland. It had to go in the hold. The battery did not last long either.

Rob Farr

I remember this event … a good science-based trivia question and explanation

Janice Fish

Like the book...LOL

matthew rosa

It's Remembered For The Famous "Hammer-Thrower" Ad Where A Female Athlete With A Sledge Hammer Interrupts A "1984"-Type "Big Brother" Telescreen Gathering And Threw The Hammer At The Screen Destroying "Big Brother" To The Shock Of All His Followers Watching. It Ends With The Announcement "So That 1984 Would Not Be Like "1984" "