The IBM Personal PC Went Down Kicking And Screaming
The public history of the PC began in August 1981, when IBM first announced "The IBM Personal Computer." . This was The original PC. The time period for the development of this landmark, legacy product was approximately a year. It must be remembered that IBM was a centralized committee paper top down organization at the time. Everything went by snail mail and paper, communication was slow and lines of communication as well as the necessary and essential corporate approval up the command chain was to say the least primitively slow by today's standards. Hence this short one year time frame for the development of the PC is rather remarkable - even the more so because without realizing it we are left with the basics and the standards to this day of the original IBM PC.
At the time that the PC was being planned, all personal computers belonged to a now obsolete category called 8 bit computers. According to one legend the IBM PC almost became such an 8 bit machine. This would of more than severely limited and reduced the capabilities compared to what could have been to become and well as made the growth of the original PC into its family more than difficult and stilted.
IBM was planning to make the PC an 8 bit computer as that was the clear and dominant standard at the time. However one of the industry "experts "that IBM consulted in the planning of the PC was Mr. Bill Gates himself. Gates understood that although the 8 bit computing was the power machine of its time that the days of the 8 bit computer were more than numbered, For the IBM PC to be really successful convincingly detailed to the IBM contacts this new computer had to "lead the way" into the much more powerful realm of 16 bit computing. Gates knew this and successfully talked IBM into changing its plans.
IBM corporate structure and dominance in the computer industry of the time must be understood and put into its relevance. IBM at the time was the dominant computer company of the day. Most computing was done on large mainframe computers. This was a very lucrative position for IBM which was the dynamo and model of the corporate structure with its cadre of blue suited employees , graphs and charts at meetings , technical prowess with leading edge technology and scull sales and tech support and very importantly vital corporate financing of these mainframe computers for business , industry , government and large educational facilities. This was a smoothly running money machine for IBM. IBM had no interest in having their bread and butter market change - even if they were to be the decision makers and the leaders.
IBM it seemed was being embarrassed by a little company operating on nothing more than a shoestring and basically back yard garages. Apple's little "microcomputers" were making steady and visible headway into IBM turf, Even the threats of IBM sales staff to IT department heads and staff that "If I ever find an Apple Microcomputer here you are cut off !" did not stem the tide. It seemed that department head managers were getting around such mean edicts and threats by ordering Apple computers by submitting departmental planning budgets and ordering the distinctive and essential IBM Selectric ball typewriters for their departments. The cost of these units was approximately $ 3000. Interestingly enough this was the approximate cost of that Apple computer that was being denied to their department. Hence in an irony IBM's pricing structure (as well as Apple's) led to the competitive forces that hastened the entry of the hallmark computer product of our time the IBM PC.
Related Tags: computers, microsoft, vintage, apple, pc, gates, dos, computing, ibm.computer, jbs, mcrosoft
Max Rubin. vintagecomputermanuals@yahoo.com. http://www.adgerlinux.com, http://www.sellyourmanitobacottage.com, http://www.vintagecomputermanuals.com Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Fix Printer, Keyboard, Speaker and Monitor Cables With Funky Organizers
There are different types of cables that are used when you have a desktop computer at home. Most of - The Growing Trend of Asterisk Phone Systems
Truly, businesses are doing everything they can in the economy and competitive world of today to rem - The Future of Business Intelligence: Innovations in Location Intelligence
In the coming years, many business analysts are predicting that Business Intelligence (BI) will play - Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition and What Happened to the Unlock Codes
Adobe has long been known as a star in the digital image editing world and the Adobe Photoshop Album - Choosing the Best Computer For Graphic Design
In the 1980s, desktop publishing came out and graphic designers began to utilize computers for all k - Versatility of Pocket HD Camcorders
In the era of the do-everything handheld gadget, high def camcorders family seems almost passee. The - Contemporary Office Furniture
When considering Contemporary Office Furniture there are a few things that you really should conside - Professional Web Design, Professional Web Designer
There is a lot to consider if you are looking for a Professional Web Design. So let's get to it. Fir - Cell Phone Protection and Safety For Kids
If your like the millions of parents giving your children a cell phone for safety when their away fr - Looking For That Smart Pc Workstation And Desk
Do you need a work area at home. Maybe it is just for doing bills. It may be for a community work ar
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Voip Residential Comparison Guide: Evaluating Packet8, Lingo, And Vonage
Voice over internet protocol [internet telephony] is a rapidly growing technological alternative to - What's The Difference In The Ionic Breeze Quadra?
The Ionic Breeze Quadra is the newer line of ionic breeze units offered by The Sharper Image. These - Selling World of Warcraft Accounts
Everybody knows that WoW is one of the most exciting MMORPGs ever created. This makes selling WoW ac - Film Cameras
Film cameras are simple cameras, which could be used by all easily. People prefer to use film camera - Salesboom SLA-MS Competition
Oh, the irony. Online CRM Services shy away from offering customers a Service Level Agreement. Why t - How To Improve Your Computer Speed Almost Instantly
Probably your computer, even though you bought it last year its no longer that much fast. Like any o - The Mosquito Ringtone - The Tone Adults Can't Hear
Without a doubt, the mosquito ringtone is one of the most popular ringtones ever. Good luck trying - Auto Navigation Systems And Gps Technology While Traveling
If you have managed to do any research on auto navigation systems I'm sure you've come across countl - Do Cheap iPods Really Exist?
If you know anything about music trends, you know that iPods are the hottest portable music device t - Online Mobile Phone Offers: Take 10 Minutes To Save £360 On Your Next Mobile Phone Contract
Cash Is Falling Out Of Your Pocket If you live in the UK, you're probably paying line rental on a m