The Portable was basically a PC/XT motherboard, transplanted into a Compaq-style luggable case. The system featured 256 kilobytes of memory (expandable to 640KB), an added CGA card and composite monitor, and 2 half-height 5.25" floppy disk drives. Unlike Compaq's design, which used a very sharp double-scanning monitor and special CGA-compatible display card, IBM used a stock CGA board and a composite monitor, which was not as sharp.