IBM 5100基于16位元的中央处理器模块PALM (Put All Logic in Microcode)。IBM 5100 维护资料手册把PALM模块称作控制器。PALM可以直接访问64KiB存储空间。部分IBM 5100配置拥有的ROS(ROM)或RAM存储空间超过了64 KiB,所以使用了一个简单的存储切换系统。实际上APL和BASIC直译程式被分开存储在PALM作为外部设备的ROS语言地址空间。其价格从$11,000 (16k)到$20,000 (64k)不等。
「The IBM 5100 and the Research Device Coupler — A personal laboratory automation system" read: "A small laboratory automation system has been developed by using the IBM 5100 Portable Computer in conjunction with the Research Device Coupler. This compact system provides a dedicated, high-level-language computer and a versatile data acquisition and control interface for experiments in which data rates do not exceed 9600 baud. Two experiments exemplify the use of the system. The Research Device Coupler described in this paper is a prototype of the IBM 7406 Device Coupler.」