✓ VERIFIED

IBM PC Convertible (5140)

5140 · 1986–1989 · laptop

Specifications

Cpu: Intel 80C88, 4.77 MHz
Ram: max: 512 KB via internal expansion card · base: 256 KB
Ports: RGB/composite video (via external adapter) · Serial (via expansion card) · Parallel (via expansion card) · External 5.25" floppy drive connector · Proprietary expansion bus (two internal slots)
Battery: Lead-acid pack, roughly 10 hours claimed
Display: 9.9" monochrome LCD, 640x200 (CGA-compatible text/graphics)
Storage: base: Dual 3.5" 720 KB floppy drives · options: Internal modem card (in place of one expansion bay) · Parallel/serial adapter card
Weight: 5.9 kg
Os Support: latest: PC DOS 3.3, some third parties reported running early Windows 3.0 in real mode though unsupported · shipped: PC DOS 3.2
Release Price: $2,000 (base configuration)

Upgrade paths

RAM

512 KB via IBM's internal 256 KB memory expansion card · One of two internal expansion slots is consumed by the RAM card, competing with the modem or serial/parallel card.

~$300 for the official IBM expansion card at the time

MODERATE

storage

Add an external 5.25" floppy drive alongside the internal 3.5" drives · Added for compatibility with the desktop PC world, which still ran almost entirely on 5.25" media in 1986.

~$400 for the IBM 5.25" external drive unit

MODERATE

display

External CRT via the optional RGB/composite adapter · The built-in LCD's reflective, non-backlit screen was widely criticized, so many buyers docked to a desktop monitor whenever possible.

~$150 for the display adapter

MODERATE

other

Internal 300 baud modem card · Occupies the second expansion slot; fine for terminal use at the time but already slow by mid-1980s standards.

MODERATE