IBM P70

This weekend, I was lucky enough to find an IBM P70 for a real cheap price. It’s not a working model, but I am pretty sure I can get it running before the end of the year.

The P70 was IBM’s first portable computer. Well actually, the first portable IBM computer was the 5155, but it weighed a ton, used 5.25″ floppy drives, didn’t have a hard drive, and boasted a 9″ screen.

Yes 9″.

I measured.

I didn’t even use a ruler.

Here’s a link to the 5155 I recently restored.

The P70 came out in 1988 and had a large hard drive, a 3.5″ floppy drive, and a 14″ plasma monitor.

Yes plasma.

In 1988.

Unfortunately, while the plasma screen was very small and very clear, it also sucked a ton of power which meant the P70 couldn’t run on batteries; it needed to be plugged in. It didn’t matter though. Even with the hefty price tag ($5K), it still sold well.

I think I can use parts from the other PS/2 desktop computers that IBM made around the same time, and once I get the computer running, I will try to find the external floppy drive, case, and mouse for it.

Should be a fun project.

My clown porn will have to stay on hold a bit longer.