IBM’s New PC Line Is User-Friendly

It appears that IBM, with the introduction of its new PS/Value Point line of personal computers, is finally back in the business of selling what its customers want most--peace of mind.

These new computers are so traditional, so PC-compatible that they look as though they were designed and built by a high-quality clone maker, not IBM. And they are priced as low or lower than the clones, ranging from $1,299 to $2,499, depending on configuration, for a system complete with hard disk and color monitor. They are manufactured by the newly organized IBM Personal Computing Co.

Back in the days when only large corporations had computers and they were mainframes, the conventional wisdom among computer systems managers was that you could never go wrong buying IBM.

It was that same sentiment that launched the personal computer revolution in the early 1980s.

There were many fine personal computers before the IBM PC was launched. But seeing IBM’s logo on the box is what gave business buyers confidence that personal computing was real computing.

In 1987, however, IBM made a move that confounded and eventually drove away some buyers. Unwilling to compete with clone makers on price, IBM chose instead to introduce the PS/2 line of computers with internal designs that prevented the exchanging of parts--such as disk drives or video cards--with earlier PC/XT and AT models.

Some models in the PS/2 line did offer a few technological advantages. But for most desktop installations, IBM PS/2 models were merely more expensive to buy, modify and maintain than competing PC/AT models.

With the new PS/Value Point computers, IBM has produced modern-day versions of the PC/AT.

Of course, they continue to sell the PS/2 series as well as a generally lower-powered family of PS/1 computers aimed at consumers.

IBM has designed the PS/Value Point computers in a different manner than its previous PC models, said Theo H. Long Jr., the senior engineer who led the design team.

In the past, IBM set the specifications for every computer part that it planned to buy from other manufacturers, often paying high prices as a result, Long said.

For the PS/Value Point line, it asked suppliers to submit specifications and prices for their standard components. IBM then tested the parts to see if they met quality standards and bought parts from companies offering the best prices, Long said.

The major component manufactured by IBM itself is the motherboard “substrate,” the thin, six-layered sandwich of green plastic and dull metal that creates the electronic circuits and houses the microprocessor, memory and other computer chips. Most of the chips were bought from outside vendors.

All models of the PS/Value Point line share the same chassis and external case, which is a big advantage to large buyers. Parts can be easily swapped from one machine to another to change power configurations.

Each has five open expansion slots for modems, network cards, CD-ROM interface cards, sound boards and other accessories. They each have five drive bays--two inside for hard drives and three opening onto the face of the computer for floppy drives, CD-ROM and tape backup.

Every model has the same 145-watt power supply, which Long said is adequate to supply any combination of drives and accessory cards that can be installed in the machines.

There are three motherboards, one for IBM’s 386SLC microprocessor, one for Intel’s 486 SX microprocessor and one for Intel’s 486 DX and 486 DX2 microprocessors. Operating speeds range from 25 to 66 megahertz, depending on microprocessor and configuration.

The standardization inherent in these designs means it will be easy to maintain a group of PS/Value Point computers with a small supply of spare parts.

But for the first year, IBM will supply on-site service plus 24-hour telephone support and a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

The machines are available from dealers or can be ordered directly from IBM at (800) 426-2968.

Every computer manufacturer offers competing models.

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