IBM 5120

The IBM 5120 Computing System (sometimes referred to as the IBM 5110 Model 3) was announced in February 1980 as the desktop follow-on to the IBM 5110 Computing System. It featured two built-in 8-inch 1.2 MB floppy disk drives, 9-inch monochrome monitor, 32K RAM and optional IBM 5114 stand-alone diskette unit with two additional 8-inch 1.2 MB floppy disk drives.[1] The system was sold with both APL and BASIC languages in ROM and provided a toggle switch on the front panel to select the language. APL allowed numerous business software written on IBM minicomputers to run on the 5120.[2]

IBM 5120
ManufacturerIBM
TypeProfessional Computer
Release date1980 (1980)
Introductory priceUS$13,500 (equivalent to $41,890 in 2019)
Media2 x 8-inch 1.2MB floppy disk drives
CPUIBM PALM processor
Memory64KB RAM, 64KB ROM
InputKeyboard
Mass45kg
PredecessorIBM 5110
SuccessorIBM Datamaster
Closeup of a running 5120

Description

It was launched in 1980 as the lowest-priced IBM business computer to date. Depending on the options the overall system prices ranged from $9,340 to $23,990. To emphasize its office image IBM released in that same year 6 new programs: task inventory, billing, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger accounting.[1]

Aside from larger screen size and performance benefits over its predecessor, the IBM 5120 design incorporated several usability advantages:

  • Reduced 'footprint' requiring less desktop space
  • Reduced glare on monitor, keytop and product surfaces
  • Ease of handling/lifting based on bottom form treatment
  • Reduced static loading in arms and shoulders due to keyboard palm rest

For its usability features and appearance, the IBM 5120 was recognized with two major industrial design awards and described with terms such as ″clean, well thought out″; ″subtle detailing shows great care in execution″; and ″looks like quality″.[3][4]

IBM did not offer a LAN or hard disk drive for these systems. However, in 1981 Hal Prewitt, founder of Core International, Inc invented and marketed the world's first and only hard disk subsystems and "CoreNet", a LAN used to share programs and data for the IBM 5110 and 5120 systems.[5][6] In 1984, Core introduced PC51, software that allowed 5100 Series computer programs written in BASIC to run unmodified on the IBM PC and compatibles under PC DOS and share programs and data on CoreNet, the LAN for all these models.

Trivia

Although self-proclaimed time traveller John Titor claims he needs an IBM 5100 in order to overcome a Unix bug occurring in 2038, he actually took this model, the IBM 5120, with him, to the future (or so he says).[7]

References
  1. IBM 5120 Computing System IBM Archives. Retrieved 10-19-2011.
  2. IBM 5120 Computing System Archived 2010-11-20 at the Wayback Machine Old-Computers.com Museum
  3. ″Annual Design Review″. I.D. Magazine, Product Design Award: IBM 5120 Computing System, Tom Hardy: Industrial Designer, 1981.
  4. “Industrial Design Excellence – Gold IDEA”. Industrial Designers Society of America, Product Design Award: IBM 5120 Computing System, Tom Hardy: Industrial Designer, 1980.
  5. "Save IBM 5110/20 from junk yards of the world" (PDF). Core. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  6. "1982 CORE Newsletter" (PDF). Core. Retrieved 18 Nov 2016.
  7. "A website on John Titor". 2006.
Preceded by
IBM 5110		 IBM Personal Computers Succeeded by
IBM Datamaster
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