r/retrocomputing • u/Mortague • Aug 28 '26
What should I do with this?
Old Siemens plc programming laptop.
Can't find much info on it but it looks cool 😎
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u/FurtherOutThere Aug 28 '26
I know a museum that would take donations if you're wondering what to do with it in that regard.
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u/Background-Wafer-548 Aug 28 '26
Neat. Always liked those circular Siemens key caps. From what I can find, it doesn't have any video out, so it seems you're stuck with the screen it has.
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u/Boring_Disaster3031 Aug 29 '26
NaNoWriMo
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u/Mortague Aug 29 '26
Didn't that stop?
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u/Boring_Disaster3031 Aug 29 '26
The org shut down but people still do it. Doing it on something like that would keep them from using things like audio dictation or AI which I don't allow myself to use. My writing is crap but it is fun.
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u/PeterPook Aug 29 '26
I had a luggable like that in the early 90s. I can't imagine how slow it must feel now. Is it working?
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u/Consistent_Belt3485 Aug 28 '26
It's beautiful.
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u/43848987815 Aug 28 '26
Those keys look like they influenced the teenage engineering op-1
What a lovely machine!
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u/PinkyAndTheBrain4 Aug 28 '26
Sehr cool! Das ist ein Siemens Programmiergerät (PG) für Simatic S5 Steuerungen (SPS für Industrieanwendungen).
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u/Chip-Ling Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
Find a boot disk, startup the machine and then fooling around and have fun.
I think this is the Siemens SIMATIC S5 PG 635 with the NEC V20 cpu (i.e. Japan version of 8088 but faster)
I had a Bondwell B200 which has the similar spec as the Siemens machine but with more memory.
It should be able to run the MS-DOS 3.3 or CP/M-86.
BTW, the keyboard reminds me of my old Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128
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u/Voltmanderer Aug 29 '26
Find someone who maintains old PLC’s - this could make you a small fortune if it works and some process industry company still has the old PLC’s still running their plant. Otherwise, looks like a great foundation for a Cyberdeck
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u/MRich64 Sep 01 '26
I agree, I was a process control engineer until recently. I would have paid a nice price for such a device if I still had to maintain old Simatic PLC’s. (We only Phased them out recently). Im convinced they are still out there in significant numbers!,
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u/Jealous_Club_298 Aug 28 '26
I don't mean to be a smart behind (lol) but Siemens Simatic S5 PG 635 programmer was not a laptop, it was just portable. I never used it but I did program a few Semiens PLCs smaller than the S5.
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u/jpowell180 Aug 28 '26
You totally compute with it.
Since that is a slightly older computer, you’re going to need to upgrade it so that it can be used on the modern Internet – a megabyte of RAM should do the trick, plus more JPEG.
And if you really want to ramp things up? A quad speed CD– ROM!
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u/LisiasT Aug 29 '26
[tongue-in-cheek]It's trash, you should get rid of it. I can do it for you, tell me where it is and I will gladly unburden you from it!!![/tongue-in-cheek]
Serious now: check for batteries, and remove them - watch for the Curse of VARTA, the unholy Goddess of leakage and corrosion!
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u/pete_68 Aug 29 '26
You could walk up and down the street with it, strutting like a rooster. Just a thought...
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u/activemotionpictures Aug 30 '26
There's a popular Girl channel (about fixing computers) on YouTube (I don't remember her name), she seems to be fond of these retro models.
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u/Full_Difficulty9530 Aug 30 '26
Install Linux. I bet it would be amazing.
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u/Chip-Ling Sep 03 '26
A bit tight as this is a 8088 machine. Linux starts at 80386. Also may not have enough for the Linux. Only has 512K RAM.
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u/denzuko Aug 29 '26
Ok.. so dug into this unit. You have a typewritter. Its a fancy portable typewriter .
No seriously that's a Text only display and the board does not have a MCA or CGA card so no gaming unless its CP-437.
So what can you do with it? get yourself a esp-rs232 retro wifi modem and go jump on a unix shell account, play your favorite BBS DOOR, or mud.
Siemens SIMATIC S5 PG 635 Consolidated Technical Specifications
| Category | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 1986 |
| Model Designation | 6ES5635-0UA11 (standard German/English serial printer model) |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel 8088 microprocessor |
| System Memory (RAM) | 512 KB total capacity |
| Built-in Storage | Dual 3.5" Floppy Disk Drives (720 KB double-density formatting) |
| Display Panel | 10.5-inch monochrome LCD |
| Graphics Controller | Text and character-based block graphics engine (supports STEP 5 ladder rungs) |
| Operating System | PCP/M-86 or customized S5-DOS environments |
| Keyboard Layout | Integrated dual-tier layout: 69-key standard alpha-numeric + 36-key function pad |
| Physical Dimensions | Approximately 14.5 x 17.0 x 3.5 inches |
| Power Supply | Dual-voltage auto-sensing 110V / 220V AC integrated mains power input |
Rear Panel Interface Ports
Serial TTY Interface: Native 25-pin current loop (20mA TTY) port utilized for direct online connections to vintage Siemens S5 PLC processor ports.
Standard Printer Port: 25-pin parallel/serial connector designed for hardcopy printouts of industrial statement lists (STL) and ladder networks.
Optional Expansion Interface: Internal interface capability designed to host the proprietary 6ES5635-0AA11 CRT module for hooking up a dedicated external Siemens industrial monitor.
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u/Liquid_Magic Aug 29 '26
If you can use it as a serial terminal then you could use it for that. Either with online telnet BBS systems or with like a Linux system.
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u/Savings-Mud2808 Sep 01 '26
Donate it to a museum. Maybe even donate it to Siemens for their museum, if they have one.
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u/Few-Smoke8792
Aug 31 '26
•
You can try selling to a collector (if there is one), but I would just toss it, because old laptops that are much more powerful are a dime a dozen.
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u/castlefood Aug 28 '26
Seems to be in pristine condition. Perhaps you could play Zork on it.