IBM 5100

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Description(1)

IBM, deciding it might be a Good Thing to actually try to sell more than ''six computers worldwide'', started a design campaign that lead to the IBM PC (and the doom of home computing, for that matter -- but that's another story).
That campaign's first offspring was the 5100 (note that future PCs also use the model number 51xx). Supposed to be portable and personal. IBM's interpretation of these concepts made the machine weigh in at 25 kilograms (50 pounds), while the price was a bit higher than your average businessman could afford ($14000 - $15000).
The market wasn't ready, of course, and the technology even less. But the road was paved.
This beastie could use both APL (remember, IBM) and BASIC as its languages. (1)

Even though IBM called it a Personal Computer, they cost around $15,000 in 1975! The model number 5100 indicates that it is indeed the forerunner of the IBM PC (model 5150) and PC XT (model 5160) and all the ones that followed. One of the most unusual features of the 5100s is that they could run BASIC or APL or both. The C01 designation on my 5100 indicates that it came with both APL and BASIC build-in and with a whopping 16K of memory! (2)

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