website/content/museum/ibm-5140-convertible.md

---
title: IBM 5140 Convertible
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1986'
cpus:
- Intel 80C88
params:
  name: 5140 Convertible
  image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_5140_2s.jpg
  company: /companies/ibm
  company_name: IBM
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: 5140 Convertible
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: IBM
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: april 1986
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: 1987 ?
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Microsoft Basic
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full Stroke
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 80C88
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4.77 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: 256 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: Unknown
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 640 x 200
  - label: COLORS
    value: 10'' monochrome LCD display (non-backlit on early models)
  - label: SOUND
    value: Integrated PC Speaker
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 5.5 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel interface, CGA video ouput, Serial port, Proprietary Snap-on Port, Expansion bus
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 3.5'' floppy drives (720 KB each)
  - label: OS
    value: PC DOS 3.2
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External poxer supply 15Volt / 2.7Amp - -(o- +
  - label: PRICE
    value: $2000 (USA, 1986)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  photos:
  - title: SIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [www.computercloset.org](http://www.computercloset.org) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_5140_2.jpg
  - title: FRONT VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_5140_1.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: CONVERTIBLE PRINTER
    subtitle: '... attached to the back of the computer'
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/ibm_5140_printer_1.jpg
  comments:
  - author: Griffith
    date: Wednesday 11th December 2013
    text: Hello,I''m a "IBM Clicky keyboard" fan,could someone tell me which keyboard is of the IBM 5140,the Model F,or the Model M?
  - author: Batman
    date: Saturday 23rd November 2013
    text: It''s Sad Only A Few Were Sold.
  - author: saruk (vulcan)
    date: Thursday 27th May 2010
    text: your human computational devices are illogically designed.
  - author: Acoustiq (Romania)
    date: Saturday 27th September 2008
    text: |-
      I found this machine a couple of weeks ago, and just now got it to start. The display is ridiculous $I have the version with no back light$. On the other side, mine has 512K , the printer and a couple of LPT/COM adapters daisy-chained. I''m using a Toshiba power adapter $15V, 3A$ on which I had to replace the connector.\
      Anyway, the machine is fun, old, great looking, slow and annoyingly wonderful :) I love it!
  - author: Marius (South Africa)
    date: Monday 9th April 2007
    text: Have a printer only (brand new/ unused!) for the IBM 5140 convertible. Possible to convert existing 72- port to standard paralel pin for use on newer pc?
  - author: Philip Schetrompf (Earth)
    date: Tuesday 11th July 2006
    text: I owned one of these computers. I bought it at a yard sale for $10 and it worked fine. Later I found another one with a portable dot-matrix printer that attached to the rear of the computer. The built in display was amber/brown in color which I thought was cool on an old laptop.
  oc_id: 1182
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608085208/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1182
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

IBM had little luck with it's portable models, and realized to keep up, they needed a laptop. IBM came up with the 5140, it was a laptop that could be converted into a main desktop in seconds.

The LCD screen detaches for a color CRT to be attached. IBM didn't sell many of these due to the fact the LCD was not backlit, and conpetition was less expensive.

The IBM 5140 was available in two models, the 2 and the 22; the only difference being the 22 came with diagnostics software. IBM saw little success from this machine due to high costs, slow processor at 4.77 MHz, hard to read screen, and cumbersome size. Both models were expandable to 640KB RAM with third party upgrades.

This laptop is unique however because it used static memory, instead of dynamic memory. The static memory was more reliable, and gave the CPU 7% more processing power.

There were three distinct display models for the IBM 5140. One was the standard 10” monochrome LCD, which was hard to read. Later on IBM changed this to a super twist LCD, which was much easier to read.

The first CRT option was an IBM 5144 monochrome display, which was easy to read, it came with a stand, ac power cord, and CRT adaptor for the 5140. The second and final option was an IBM 5145 color display, which was easy to read as well, it came with a stand, ac power cord, and CRT adaptor for the 5140. The CRT monitors sat atop a stand which was placed over the 5140, the 5140 then could be slid in and out from under the monitor stand for easy conversion. The LCD screen that attaches via proprietary connection could be disconnected and removed easily with the push of a button.

There is a 72 pin port on the back of the unit for several expansions; serial, parallel, and CRT interfaces were available.

These computers also came with a small, direct-attach thermal printer that was same width, height, etc as the computer so you could carry computer, printer and all by the one handle.

Thanks to **Alex Rushing** for info and [www.computercloset.org](http://www.computercloset.org) for the picture.

---

**Pharoah** adds:\
These computers came with a disk of bundled software which had a graphical menu, and made use of TSRs to allow you to "pause" one program and load another (IE to do a calculation for your text document). They also had an optional internal modem.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>