IBM PS/2 25th Anniversary
July 10th, 2012 by Benj Edwards
25 years ago, IBM introduced the Personal System/2 (PS/2), a computer series that brought VGA, PS/2 ports, 3.5″ floppy drives, and more to the world of PC compatibles.
In honor of this anniversary, I wrote an article about the first set of PS/2 computers (released April 1987) for PCWorld.com.
One of my first PCs was an IBM PS/2 Model 25 — the famous all-in-one IBM PC that found its way into many homes and schools due to its relatively low price. The Model 25 is not mentioned in the article, however, because it was not a member of the original April 1987 lineup (I believe it launched later that year).
I hope you enjoy the piece.
July 11th, 2012 at 4:20 am
Great article 🙂 The first computer I ever used was my parents’ PS/2 model 70 (I think – Google Images seem to suggest at least Model 50 or later).
I loved OS/2, though I was only 5 at the time! I also played my first ever game on it – the original Silpheed for IBM compatibles, followed by Dune 2, Obitus, and, rather randomly, the Tom & Jerry platformer.
That computer started off my career in fact. The combination of the bloops and bleeps from those old games and of course the games themselves culminated in me studying digital music and computer animation, and I now work in audio for one of the big three games console makers!
The loss of IBM to the mainstream world is a great shame in my opinion – I wonder how different the industry would be if they were still there; a better choice than both Windows PC and Mac at the time, if you ask me.
July 11th, 2012 at 5:02 am
Ah, the Model 25… I wouldn’t doubt that it is the first IBM-compatible system many children born in the early-mid 80s used. I know it was the first one I used.
July 11th, 2012 at 9:32 am
Don’t forget the IBM ED (Extended Density) 3.5″ 2.88 MB diskette drive. I don’t remember this drive (or floppies capable of being formatted for ED) taking off in the marketplace.
July 12th, 2012 at 4:41 am
thank you for the article!! i enjoy reading it
July 14th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
My first IBM PC was an IBM PS/2 Model 30 286 10 Mhz as shown in this web page’s image. This was after I used my Apple //c (was going to get a Mac too!). I remember using DOS 4 (ugh), Windows 3.x, Stacker without its hardware card addon, 30 MB HDD, taking to a local store for a RAM upgrade, using Prodigy and BBSes, 2400 internal Zoom modem, 8-bit Creative Labs’ Sound Blaster ISA, using an IBM ProPrinter X24e (loud dot matrix through a parallel cable), etc.
My father/da/pa borrowed a portable IBM PS/2 P70 (386 and MCA [ugh!]) from work.
July 14th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Jordan: I did not take off, but I remember MS or someone making compression for to become 2.88 MB.