IBM PC

A PC made by IBM. IBM created the PC industry in 1981 when it introduced its first model with 16KB of RAM. However, it was way off in its estimates, projecting that 250,000 units would be sold in the first five years. In fact, about three million IBM PCs were sold in that period.

No More IBM PCs

In 2004, IBM exited the desktop and laptop arena when it sold its personal computer division to Lenovo, a major Chinese PC manufacturer. IBM is still a large vendor in the x86-based server market with its xSeries line, but although an IBM xSeries server is an IBM PC of sorts, it is not really considered a personal computer (a PC). The xSeries is a robust server product intended for the enterprise market (see xSeries).

Names and Numbers

IBM's first PCs had names such as PC, XT and AT, while its next-generation PS/2 line was given model numbers. For historical purposes, early IBM models are listed below. See PC, IBM-compatible PC, ThinkPad and Lenovo.

 FIRST GENERATION PC MODELS

             Year
 Model       Intro. CPU   Features
 PC          1981   8088, No. 1 (floppy only)
 XT          1983   8088, slow hard disk
 XT 286      1986    286, slow hard disk
 XT/370      1983   8088, 370 emulation
 AT          1984    286, medium-speed hard disk
 3270 PC     1983   8088, 3270 emulation
 PCjr        1983   8088, floppy-based home use
 PC Portable 1984   8088, floppy-based portable
 Convertible 1986   8088, microfloppy laptop

The IBM PC

This was the original IBM PC with two floppy disks. This machine spawned the largest market for computers in the world. (Image courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation. Unauthorized use not permitted.)

 SECOND GENERATION PS/2 MODELS
 PS/2 models use the Micro Channel bus architecture
 unless otherwise noted below.

          Year
 Model    Intro. CPU  Features
 25       1987   8086, PC bus (limited expansion)
 30       1987   8086, PC bus
 30-286   1988   286, ISA bus
 35 LS    1991   386SX, ISA bus, diskless
 35 SX    1991   386SX, ISA bus
 L40 SX   1991   386SX, ISA bus, laptop
 40 SX    1991   386SX, ISA bus
 N45 SL          386SL notebook
 50       1987   286
 50 Z     1988   286, faster 50
 N51 SX   1992   386SX, notebook
 N51 SLC  1992   386SLC, notebook
 55 SX    1989   386SX
 55 LS    1990   386SX, diskless
 56 SLC   1992   386SLC
 56 SX    1992   386SX, upgradable
 57 SLC   1992   386SLC
 57 SX    1991   386SX, 2.88MB floppy
 CL57 SX  1992   386SX, notebook, active matrix
 60       1987   286
 65       1990   386SX
 70       1988   386
 70 486   1989   486
 P70      1989   386 portable
 P75 486  1990   486 portable, 22 lbs.
 76       1994   486SX & DX, OS/2, SCSI
 76i      1994   486SX, OS/2, IDE drive
 77       1994   DX4, OS/2, SCSI, ECC memory
 77i      1994   DX4, OS/2, IDE drive, ECC memory
 80       1987   386, tower
 90       1990   486, XGA, SCSI, upgradable
 90       1992   486DX2/66
 95       1990   486, tower
 90 SX    1991   486SX
 95 SX    1991   486SX, tower

IBM PS/2

This Model 50 was a 286-based PS/2. The PS/2 introduced the Micro Channel bus, VGA graphics and the 3.5" floppy disk. (Image courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation. Unauthorized use not permitted.)

IBM ThinkPad

IBM's ThinkPad portables have been an outstanding success. ThinkPads introduced novel features such as the pointing stick and the Butterfly keyboard. This model 755CD was introduced in 1994. (Image courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation. Unauthorized use not permitted.)

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