Google Sheets Link
Previous, TPG 9 link
TPG 10 is in progress and I’ll be doing youtube slop vlogs during this time too!
This will cover most IBM’s Luggable, Portable, Convertible & laptops they had released in America and European markets.
I will omit some Japanese models, specifically 5523, as they are a precursor to the 200, 300 and 500 Series machines, so that family tree will stay intact. Sorry this is just how I do because of OCD and a bit of the ’tism.
Price research done from April 23rd to 28th, 2025
1984 & 1987-89 USA Luggables
| IBM Portable PC (CRT) | MTM | -xxx | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| 5155 Model 68 | 5155? | 68? | 15 | 227 | 375 | 680 | 1115 |
| PC Convertibles | 12 | 180 | 300 | 436 | 650 | ||
| 5140 Model 1 | 5140 | -002 | 10 | 180 | 300 | 450 | 650 |
| 5140 Model 2 | 5140 | -022 | ? | – | – | – | – |
| 5140 Model 3 | 5140 | -003 | 2 | – | 545 | 595 | – |
- 5155 – $85 for a PSU… most of thees wil l be for parts.
- Scoop up the BIN listings, there are a few below mid price, but otherwwise they will just be auctions and don’t overpay to win a bidding war… even the high price unit has a display issue at times.
- Less of these sold since my guide last year
- PC Convertible all – Most likely will get one for parts, ones that turn on seem to go for high.
- Model 2 – Clicked on 3 listings, no seller has info stating they are Model 1 or 2, so I’m just going ot assume most are Model Ones.
- Model one has a mono panel, Model 2 is a SuperTwist panel.
- Model 3 – These two boot up and have a working backlit LCD.
- Model 2 – Clicked on 3 listings, no seller has info stating they are Model 1 or 2, so I’m just going ot assume most are Model Ones.
- Looking at the previous price guide that I did in June 24 2024
- Prices kinda went down.
- Some of the low prices are lower now, mid with the 5155 as well
- EX+ is still about the same prices
- High price went up by like 40-80 but honestly
1987-89? PS/55 Portable
| PS/55 M Portables | MTM | -xxx | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| PS/55 Any | 0 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 5535 Any | |||||||
| PS/55 5535-M08 | 5535 | -M08 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 5535-M18 | 5535 | -M18 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 5535-M19 | 5535 | -M19 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 5535-MR8 | 5535 | -MR8 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 5535-MS8 | 5535 | -MS8 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 5535-MS9 | 5535 | -MS9 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
- PS/55 Any – Someone from japan is selling various expansion cards (parts condition) for this thing… They got quite a few interesting computers and Japan electronics for sale.
- 5535 Any – Nothing per usual 🙁
PS/55 Desktop Clamshell
This thing is elusive, all I know is its just a big ass all in one PC, a luggable. It is in laptop form factor, but it does not have a battery as far as I can tell.
| Model | MTM | -xxx | Released | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| 5535-YAC | 5535 | -YAC | 1993 05 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 5535-ZTD | 5535 | -ZTD | 1994 07 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 5535-ZMM | 5535 | -ZMM | 1995 08 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 5535-ZEE | 5535 | -ZEE | 1997 06 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 5535-ZTE | 5535 | -ZTE | 1998 03 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 5535-ZPP | 5535 | -ZPP | 1999 08 ? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
PC Portable – plasma electroluminescent screen panel
| Model | MTM | -xxx | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| PS/2 P70 386 | 8573 | -061 -121 -031 | 20 | 145 | 265 | 340 | 460 |
| PS/55 5545-T | 5545 | -T?? | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/2 P75 486 | 8573 | -161 -401 | 4 | 240 | 325 | 342 | – |
- P70 386
- $30 to $150 in shipping…
- 5545-T (386)
- Nothing available on ebay or JP Yahoo Auctions
- idk the last 3 suffix for the machines other than it starts with -T
- P75 486
- seller adickson (30K) had 3 of them for sale (with different serials & had a item number for each!). Two were 1 bids, and a BIN, last seller (jcsjcs) was BIN and was high. wow! Hinges still sell lol.
- Arguably these were a great price vs the P70.
| AT DOS/V Clamshell | MTM | -xxx | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| PS/55 5535-S | 5535-S | -Sxx -S04 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| IBM USA’s “First Laptop” | |||||||
| PS/2 L40sx | 8543 | -044 -A44 | 4 | 67 | 159 | 180 | 194 |
- 5535-S
- Couldnt find anything on yahoo jp auctions :/
- L40sx
- High is the only Auction listing, low price had a cracked LCD
- got into a exploratory hole from sellers other items and discovered the Cobalt Qube 2700.
| Model | MTM | -xxx | Sold | Low | Mid | High | EX+ |
| PS/2 Note Any | 8 | 80 | 140 | 274 | 300 | ||
| PS/2 Note N51 SX | 8551 | ??? | 2 | – | – | 265 | 300 |
| PS/2 Note N51 SLC | 8551 | ??? | 1 | – | – | 270 | – |
| PS/55 note N51 SX | 8551 | -Sxx -033 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/55 note N51 SLC | 8551 | -Sxx -025 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/2 Note CL57 SX | 8554 | -045 -033 | 1 | – | – | 289 | – |
| PS/55 N57sx | 5527 | -U08 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| PS/2 Note N33 | 8533 | -E14 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
- PS/2 Note Any
- EX+ is a TP 700…. a few desktops & P70’s mixed in. Also there are CPU upgrade cards for about $80, though i think it has a slot for a math co-processor (or thats the CPU…).
- N51 SX
- Seems like the left hinge either breaks or the plastic breaks around it. Mid turns on to a blank screen (CGA works), and high price screen turns on. Both BIN
- N51SX SLC
- Untested, rough, BIN, damaged hinge bezel (prob the hinge fucked)
- PS/55 N51SX
- Nothing…
- CL57 SX
- AVAIL LISTINGS ARE OVERPRICED!!!! EX+ is supposedly tested and working but doesn’t show a picture of it on, do esn’t list the specs…. so scammer. Mid and high are untested.
- PS/55 N57 SX
- Nothing, Other units.
- PS/2 Note N33
- Seller linked, provided excellent & detailed photos of this rare model! The MTM is actually on the rear ports behind the door cover! I actually came across this accidentally for looking up the Japan PS/55 version of this machine!
what would I collect from here?
Considering my collection… P75 would be one that I would get, P70 if I cant find one, IDK 386 and 486 performance differences. Seriously the electroluminescent panel is fucking cool as fuck! it was only a short window that laptops or Portables were made with these. I believe the Honda S2000 had one of these panels for their instrument cluster, its fucking badass!
Yeah I’ll skip the L40SX, sorry I don’t like that thing. Instead I would get a GridPad Compass instead, they are way more cooler, and come in black!
Next would be a CL57 SX because its the first color screen IBM laptop, a precursor and fucking insane behemouth considering how small the ThinkPad 700C is.
Of course I would like to get a PS/55 machine, but not necessarily these.
Fascinating look at the evolution of IBM luggable and laptop prices! It’s impressive to see how technology and affordability have progressed over time, shaping the devices we rely on today. Thanks for sharing this insightful perspective.