| In August: |
the IBM Personal Computer — a different type computer with a whole new image
and ready to make computing a democratic process,
along with DOS 1.0, a breakthrough in operating
systems. |
| |
| In July-September: |
PC enhancements — main
memory and diskette capacity is doubled; DOS 1.1
is shipped. |
| |
| In January: |
the IBM PC is announced worldwide.
|
| In March: |
the Personal Computer XT — nine times
the memory capacity and room to grow — is announced.
DOS 2.0 is announced to support XT hard file and
hierarchical directories.
|
| In August: |
the Entry Systems Division (ESD) is formed to be responsible for worldwide development and product management, and U.S. manufacture of IBM's general purpose, low-cost personal-use computer systems. Philip D. Estridge named president of ESD.
|
| In October: |
3270 PC, PC/XT 370 — introduces a
windowing technique to retrieve information from
several sources and work with it.
|
| In November: |
PCjr — the first IBM computer designed
and priced specifically for the home, weighing in
at less than nine pounds. |
| |
| In February: |
Portable Personal Computer — a 30-pounder
that can travel where the work is — and DOS 2.1.
|
| In July: |
PCjr enhancements — a new keyboard
and expanded memory.
|
| In August: |
Personal Computer AT — a new enormously
powerful, multitask, multi-user computer — and DOS
3.0 to support the AT. Also, PC Network, which makes
it possible for up to 1,000 PCs to be linked in
a professionally-designed and installed broadband
network. DOS 3.1 will support the PC Network. |
| |
| In January: |
IBM announces that the PC/XT will be built by the company in Guadalajara, Mexico.
|
| In April: |
the PC Convertible — a small, powerful,
easy-to-carry personal computer system. DOS 3.2
to support the convertible's 3.5-inch drive.
|
| In September: |
Personal Computer XT Model 286, along with other enhancements. |
| |
| In April: |
the IBM Personal System/2 family of products. Includes: Model 30, in two desktop configurations using Intel's 8086 processor; Model 50, a desktop workstation; Model 60, with a floor-standing processor (both Models 50 and 60 use Intel's 80286 processor); and Model 80, a powerful floor-standing system in three configurations using Intel's 80386 processor. Micro Channel architecture is introduced in high-end models. And, to tap the greater power, two new strategic operating systems: DOS 3.3 and Operating System/2. OS/2 is the first offering of IBM Systems Application Architecture (SAA), a common framework for developing and using the same application programs on all IBM systems.
|
| In August: |
PS/2 Model 25, an affordable model for business and education users.
|
| In November: |
OS/2 Standard edition 1.0 and OS/2 Extended Edition 1.0. |
| |
| In January: |
Screen Reader is announced, the first release of the IBM Independence Series of products designed for computer users with special needs.
|
| In June: |
PS/2 family expanded to include
seven new desktop machines — the PS/2 Model 70; the
PS/2 Model 50Z; and the PS/2 Model 25 LS in various
configurations.
|
| Also in June: |
IBM announces that PS/2 manufacturing operations will move to Research Triangle Park, N.C. ESD Boca Raton laboratory becomes responsible for all U.S. hardware development for PS/2 products.
|
| In July: |
a new, easier-to-use version of
the Disk Operating System — DOS 4.0.
|
| In September: |
the Model 30 286 — twice as fast and
offering customers 25 times more memory capacity
than the original Model 30.
|
| In October: |
first shipment of Operating System/2 Standard Edition Version 1.1, which features an easy-to-use graphical interface called Presentation Manager.
|
| In November: |
SpeechViewer, second product in the IBM Independence Series. |
| |
| In April: |
at COMDEX in Chicago, IBM demonstrates a PS/2 Model 70 A-21 using Intel's new i486 microprocessor.
|
| In May: |
more PS/2 family members — the PS/2
Model 55 SX and the PS/2 Model P70 386. Both models
support OS/2 and DOS Versions 3.3 and 4.0.
|
| Also in May: |
new versions of OS/2 — OS/2 Standard
Extended Editions Version 1.2 — which have significantly
new functions, including many that reflect IBM's
continued commitment to SAA.
|
| In September: |
two new high-performance PS/2 Model
70s — the 386-A61 and the 386-061 and the PS/2 Model
30 286-E31, with a 30 MB fixed disk and using the
Intel 80286 microprocessor.
|
| In October: |
shipment of the 486/25 Power Platform
a — full quarter ahead of schedule — making IBM the
first company in the world to ship the industry's
most powerful microcomputer processor.
|
| In November: |
OS/2 LAN Server Version 1.2, which provides more capacity and function, increased file server performance and expanded communication support.
|
| |
PS/2 Wizard Adapter.
|
| In December: |
Phone Communicator, a member of the Independence Series, for hearing- or speech-impaired users.
|
| Also in December: |
PS/2 Model 70 486, the most powerful member of the PS/2 family. |
| |
| In March: |
several new models of the PS/2, busmaster adapters and peripherals. Includes: four new configurations of the PS/2 Model 80; two new configurations of the PS/2 Model 65 SX; the PS/2 Model 70 386-031; the PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter; the PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter with Cache; the PS/2 320 MB SCSI Fixed Disk Drive; the PS/2 60 MB or 120 MB SCSI Fixed Disk Drives and the PS/2 CD-ROM Drive.
|
| In April: |
OS/2 Standard Edition 1.2 translated and made available worldwide.
|
| In May: |
new, enhanced Model 25 286, available in two models, the 006 and 036.
|
| In October: |
the first medialess PS/2, the Model 55 LS (LAN Station), ideally suited for use as a local area network workstation.
|
| Also in October: |
two new PS/2 family members — the
Model 95 XP 486 and the Model 90 XP 486 — unleash
the power of the Intel i486 processor and feature
a unique design that allows them to be upgraded
for future technologies. Also announced: PS/2 Model
80-A16, -161, -081; PS/2 Model 65 SX-321; PS/2 486/33
Processor Complex Upgrade Option; PS/2 2.3 GB SCSI
Tape Drive; PS/2 External Storage Enclosure for
SCSI Devices; PS/2 XGA Display Adapter/A; PS/2 memory
Module Kit; PS/2 256 KB Cache Option; PS/2 5.25-inch
Slim High Diskette Drive. Also introduced: the OS/2
Standard Edition Version 1.3, a smaller, faster
version of OS/2 and new releases of OS/2 Extended
Edition and OS/2 LAN Server.
|
| In November: |
PS/2 Model P75 486, extending the high function and performance of the Intel i486 microprocessor to portable systems, giving customers a high-end desktop computer to go.
|
| In December: |
new in the Independence Series — THINKable
— a multimedia software program for the PS/2 that
can help therapists treat those suffering from injury
or disability. |
| |
| In March: |
PS/2 L40 SX, a lightweight, durable battery-operated 386SX computer that gives customers desktop function anywhere it's needed.
|
| In April: |
OS/2 2.0 — a 32-bit, advanced function
operating system positioned as the platform of choice
for the industry.
|
| Also in April: |
the first computers with Intel's newest 486 SX microprocessors are shipped. PS/2 Model 90 XP 486 SX and Model 95 XP 486 SX offering advanced storage capabilities and enhanced graphics at an entry-level price.
|
| In May: |
VoiceType, another edition to the Independence Series, makes operating a computer as easy as speaking.
|
| In June: |
the midrange PS/2 product line is strengthened with announcement of Model 35 SX and LS, Model 40 SX and Model 57 SX. In addition, DOS 5.0, an improved entry-level operating system that requires less memory than earlier versions while delivering more features and functions, is introduced.
|
| In June: |
PS/2 486/50 Processor Upgrade Option
for Models 90 and 95 XP 486 systems — the industry's
first use of the i486 50MHz technology.
|
| In just that initial ten-year period — the first decade following the launch of the IBM
PC — IBM had steadily introduced personal computers
that increased processing speed tenfold over the
original PC, increased the instruction execution
rate (MIPS) a hundred fold, grew system memory a
thousand times (from 16KB to 16MB) and beefed up
system storage by a factor of 10,000, from 160 KB
to 1.6 GB. And that was just the beginning of many
more achievements — such as the ThinkPad — yet to come. |
