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The IBM P70 is a PS/2 Microchannel portable, often called \"luggable\", 386 computer. It had no batteries, which required you to lug a power cord along with it wherever you went. It was a fairly sophisticated machine, having more in common with a high-end server than with other luggables of it\'s day. It came in 386DX-16 and -20 MHz speeds, with 30 MB, 60 MB, or 120 MB DBA ESDI hard disk options. The display is a gas-plasma type, which means basically that it is an incredibly complex neon lamp. This makes it one of the few modern computers that can be said to actually contain a vacuum tube! The display/controller combination supports standard VGA resolution at 640x480 pixels (16 gray levels), and includes a 15-pin connector on the rear panel for an external VGA color monitor (16 colors supported). CGA and EGA resolutions are also supported. A maximum of 8 MB of RAM is supported on the system planar, with an additional 8 MB on a memory expansion card in one of the two microchannel slots. One 16-bit and one 32-bit Microchannel expansion slots are provided, along with a socket for a 387DX math coprocessor. Other features include a PS/2 mouse port, serial port, parallel port, internal 1.44 MB floppy disk drive, and an external floppy disk drive port. All of this snaps together in a neat little package about the size of your average briefcase - a lot of technology in a small area in it\'s day!
The P70 came in two planar versions: the older 38F4688/65X1564, used primarily in the 20 MHz -061 machines (but also seen in some -121 20 MHz boxen), and the 38F6973/56F9085 used in 16 MHz and 20 MHz -121 models. The 38F4688/65X1564 planars have the 386DX socket immediatly to the right of the 387DX coprocesssor socket, and two BIOS ROMs near the upper edge of the board. The 38F6973/56F9085 has the 386DX socket above and to the left of the 387DX socket. Another distinguishing feature of the newer models is the inclusion of video output filtering on the video card instead of on a \'daughter card\' fitted in series with the video output cable. The newer planar seems slightly faster on some benchmarks, but the difference is hardly noteworthy.
This vintage computer is in a very nice and working condition. The floppy disc module comes out fine, only a small defect: the end stop of the floppy disc unit is missing.That part of the housing (inside) is a small plastic stop, that tends to break. This can be repaired easily and does not affect operating the computer. It comes with the original IBM Hartmann bagand the original IBM EU power cord. This computerwas owned by its first owner, using it for his work (at home) fortwo years. After that the computer was stored, as the owner could not depart from it, because it was his very first computer.
P70 Model Number Breakdown
8573-03130 MB Hard Disk, 16 MHz planar8573-06160 MB Hard Disk, 20 MHz planar8573-121
120 MB Hard Disk, 20 MHz planar
