New IBMs

Press, 7 April 1987, Page 32

New IBMs

IBM has announced a plain line of new microcomputers that falls short of the advances expected to head off the clones. The new machines are smaller and faster, and include the company’s first machine based on the Intel 80386 chip. They will run PC-DOS, and also an operating system being created by IBM and Microsoft to be released early next year. The new range may give the clone makers more competition in price, but IBM has done nothing to head them off in technology. However, it has announced it is seeking a wide range of patents on its new hardware and will enforce them with all its power. The architecture of the microcomputers is open, and it may be that IBM plans to lock up its technology with the new operating system, OS/2, for there has been no suggestion yet that it will be made available to other computer makers. OS/2 will allow programs of up to 16Mb and will allow, through Microsoft Windows, the running of more than one program at once. The system will be available in the first quarter of 1988 The new microcomputers range from an 8086-chip-based clone killer, which will sell in America for SUSI69S to a SUSI 1,000 80386-based machine. IBM has adopted 3.5 in floppy disk drives as its standard. Other significant features include new graphics and, for the more powerful machines, file interchangeability with IBM minicomputers and mainframes.

After the announcement of the new line, the price of IBM share eased slightly, while those of two competitors, Apple and Compaq, firmed. The name of the new microcomputer range is IBM Personal System/2. Three of the four new computers have Micro Channel architecture, allowing faster movement of data within the machine. The bottom of the new line, the Model 30, runs twice as fast as the presnt PC XT, and two mid-range machines, the Model 50 and Model 60, run much faster than the original IBM 80286 machine, the AT. However, clones with the speed of the new machines have been available in New Zealand for some time. The Model 30 comes with a music synthesiser. The Model 50 and Model 60 will compete with the new range of Apple Macintosh machines, according to American commentators.

The top-of-the-line Model 80 will be tough competition for Digital’s MicroVAX.

The prices of the micros are more competitive than IBM’s old range, but there is room for further price falls if the corporation’s claims about its new manufacturing capabilities are any guide. A large proportion of the manufacturing of the range will be in the United States.

The machines are more compact then earlier IBMs and in the top of the range are floor units rather than simple desktop machines.

IBM has announced its entry to desktop publishing with the announcement of a complete system, to be released in the third quarter. This will centre on IBM’s new laser printer, the Personal Page Printer, a 300 dots-per-inch machine based on the Post Script language and selling for about the price of a Hewlett Packard Laserjet 11. IBM is thus taking the same course- as Apple, and Hewlett Packard stands lonely with

Its new. DDL systems, ebouttobe A number of other new printers have been announced by IBM. These Include an American retail price of SUSS4#. Others in the range Include two 24pin dot-matrix printers and the Quietwriter 11, rated at 275 cps in draft mode and to retail In America for 3U51699. IBM has also released a range of new monitors and enhancements for its network products. Model 30 This comes in two configurations: with two 720 Kb 3.5 in diskette drives, or with one 720 Kb drive and a 20Mb hard disk. Standard features for the Model 30 include an 8086 microprocessor running at BMHz, 640 K of RAM (random access memory), 64Kb of ROM (read-only memory), serial and parallel ports, three slots for expansion cards, 16-bit memory data path, 70-watt power supply, and a battery clock. The unit measures 15.6 in by 16in by 4in. An optional 8087 maths co-processor runs at BMHz. The Model 30 has a colour graphics subsystem supporting 300 by 200 by 256 colour graphics or 640 by 480 by two. Model 50 This features an 80286 microprocessor running at 10MHz, 1 Mb of RAM with expansion up to 7Mb, a 1.44 Mb 3.5 in diskette drive, a 20Mb hard disk, three slots for expansion boards, a 94-watt power supply, and a battery clock. Graphics supported include colour of 640 by 480 by 16 or 320 by 200 by 256 and 720 by 400 by 16 "colour text” mode. Model 60 This is an 80286 machine running at 10MHz available with a hard disk of either 44Mb or 70Mb. It has a 1.44 Mb 3.5 in diskette drive with a second drive optional. A second hard disk can be fixed. Memory is IMb of RAM and 128 Kb of ROM. There are seven expansion slots. Maximum RAM is 15Mb. Power supply is 207 watts, and a battery clock is standard. The measurements are 19in by 6.5 in by 23.5 in, and the machine weighs 521 b. Model 80 This is the top-of-the-line micro model, with a 16MHz 80386 microprocessor. There will be a choice of 44Mb, 70Mb, and 115 Mb hard disks. Three versions are available. The 80-041 will run at 16MHz and will have IMB of RAM. The 80-071 will also run at 16MHz, and will have 2Mb of RAM. The 8580-11 will run at 20MHz, and will have 2Mb of RAM. The machines come with a range of hard disks: 44Mb, 70Mb, and 115 Mb. Features common to the Model 80s will include 128 K of ROM, 32/16 bit data path, serial, parallel and “pointing device” ports, seven expansion slots (four 16 bit, three 32 bit), a maximum RAM of 16Mb, a 225-watt power supply, and a 1.44 Mb 3.5 in floppy disk drive, with a second one optional. The graphics will include colour of either 640 by 480 by 16 or 320 by 200 by 256 and 720 by 400 by 16 “colour text mode.”

The dimensions are 19in by 6.5 in by 23.5 in.