I.B.M. Adds 10 Megabytes to New AT

Peripherals

I.B.M. Adds 10 Megabytes to New AT

By Peter H. Lewis
The New York Times

October 15, 1985

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES has rolled out a new model of its most powerful personal computer, the AT. The new version comes with a 30-megabyte hard disk, able to store 30 million characters of information, 10 million more than previous models. This means the new AT can store the equivalent of a few more James Michener novels than the 20-megabyte (20-MB) version. In addition, a second 30-MB hard disk can be installed in the new AT for users with truly Texas-sized storage needs.

The new AT, which will be arriving in I.B.M. product centers this month, also comes with 512 kilobytes of random access memory and a high-density (1.2-MB) floppy disk drive. It has a list price of $5,995, just $200 more than the older 20-MB model, which was bedeviled by cantankerous hard disks from the start.

A spokesman for I.B.M. said the company would continue to sell the 20-MB version of the AT. This suggests that I.B.M. will soon lower the price of the old model to establish a clear price difference.

Current AT owners who feel that their old 20-MB drives are now too puny will be able to replace them with a new 30-megabyte disk drive for $1,995.