IBM Offers New Personal Computers
Boca Raton, Fla. -- April 2, 1986 -- PRN -- IBM said today it boosted by more than 30 percent the processor speed of its powerful Personal Computer AT and doubled the storage capacity of its popular Personal Computer XT.
IBM also announced new models of its 3270 PC line that feature similar increases in function and performance.
The systems are available with a new, 101-key keyboard, the IBM Enhanced Personal Computer Keyboard. This advanced keyboard is designed for increased productivity: the typing area, calculator-style keypad, and cursor and screen control keys are separate for ease of use. The function keys are located across the top of the keyboard for quick, simplified handling of a broad range of applications, including communication with larger computers.
IBM Personal Computer AT
The new AT model announced today features an 8-megahertz microprocessor, one-third faster than previous AT microprocessors. The new AT also comes with a 1.2-megabyte diskette drive, a 30MB fixed disk drive, a serial/parallel adapter card, and 512 kilobytes of user memory, expandable to 10.5MB with new memory expansion options. Those options include:
The new AT also is compatible with the IBM personal computer 3-1/2-inch external diskette drive. The IBM unit price for the new AT model is $5,295.
A new model of the IBM Personal Computer AT/370, offering similar features and functions, also has been announced at an IBM unit price of $8,985.
IBM Personal Computer XT
The three new IBM Personal Computer XT models announced today come with 256KB or 512KB of user memory and one or two half-high, 5-1/4-inch 360KB diskette drives. The new XTs also are available with 20MB of fixed disk drive storage -- twice the storage available on earlier XTs.
Through the use of new memory options, up to 640KB of user memory may be installed onto the system planar board in the new XTs, a feature that preserves valuable expansion slots for other uses.
The IBM unit price for the Personal Computer XT with 256KB of user memory and a single, half-high 360KB diskette drive is $2,145, and $2,295 for the double, half-high diskette version. The XT with 512KB of user memory and a single, half-high 360KB diskette drive and a 20MB fixed disk drive is $2,895.
In addition, a new, half-high, 3 1/2-inch, 720KB internal diskette drive may be installed in the new Personal Computer XTs as an optional second diskette drive. As with the new AT model, users also may choose the IBM Personal Computer 3-1/2-inch external diskette drive.
Other new options announced for the XT include:
IBM 3270 Personal Computer
IBM also increased the storage and capability of its family of IBM 3270 personal computers with the introduction of new versions of the IBM 3270 PC and IBM 3270 PC AT.
The new versions of the IBM 3270 PC include single or double half-high, 5-1/4-inch, 360KB diskette drives, 512KB of user memory plugged onto the system board, 20MB of fixed disk drive storage and a choice of keyboards.
New IBM 3270 PC options announced today include:
The new IBM 3270 Personal Computer ATs offer 8MHz of processing speed, 640KB of user memory plugged onto the system board, plus up to two 30MB fixed disk drives.
New options include:
Expanded Memory Adapter
The new expanded memory adapter, available for most models of them 3270 PC and all models of the 3270 PC AT, provides up to 2MB of user memory operating within the DOS 640KB limitation.
The adapter is a single, full-length card containing 1MB of user memory and a standard parallel printer port. The expanded memory adapter will enable users to use multiple, concurrent DOS applications -- one up to 512KB and the others up to 384KB, while operating under Version 3.0 of the control program. The memory may be allocated to handle up to six DOS sessions when the control program system diskette is initially configured. The optional expanded memory 1MB module kit provides a maximum 1MB of additional user memory.
Availability
The new IBM Personal Computer AT and XT models are available for ordering immediately at authorized IBM personal computer dealers, IBM product centers, and through IBM branch sales offices. The new IBM Personal Computer AT/370 is available for ordering immediately through IBM branch sales offices and IBM Value Added dealers. The new IBM 3270 PC models are scheduled to be available later in the second quarter of this year through IBM branch sales offices, while the IBM 3270 PC AT models and memory expansion options are slated for availability in the third quarter.
CONTACT -- Don Kennedy of IBM, 305-982-3474
COPYRIGHT 1986 PR Newswire Association, Inc.