IBM PS/2 CL57 SX

IBM Type 8554

The IBM PS/2 CL57 SX was a large and heavy laptop computer that was announced in March 1992 and released shortly after. It was IBM's first laptop with an Active Matrix Color display, although contrary to what some sources say, it was not the first laptop with such a display. That honor (I think) goes to the Toshiba T3200SXC, released around the middle of 1991.

The CL57 SX predated the first ThinkPad laptops by a few months, and one source states that they used a 386 processor in the CL57 SX rather than a 486 in order to not harm the sales of their other computers.

Being part of the PS/2 family, the CL57 SX used the proprietary Microchannel Architecture, and uses ESDI hard disks.

I believe that this one did not sell very well, largely due to its high price of $5,995, which wasn't unfair, but it still would have reduced the number of units sold. RAM upgrades were absolutely overpriced, with an 8MB card costing an additional $825. RAM prices fell as 3rd-party cards became available.

This model was sold in Japan as the PS/55 N27sx.

Specifications

Spec	Details
CPU	CPU Type: Unknown Intel 386SX @20MHz - 387 Coprocessor Support
Chipset	Unknown
RAM	Type: IC DRAM (Parity) Standard: 1MB Maximum: 16MB
Storage	2.5" ESDI Requires Adapter: Unknown Standard: 80MB
Display Options	10.4" Active Matrix Color LCD @640x480
Graphics Chipset	Unknown VRAM: 256KB
Audio	PC Speaker
Main Battery	2x NiMH Batteries
CMOS Battery	Unknown
Power Supply	Proprietary 4-pin
Media Drives	3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive
PC Cards	None
Networking	Modem (Optional)
Other I/O	- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 1x PS/2 - 1x Microchannel Expansion Bus Port
BIOS	IBM
Pointing Device	Trackball