4 ms·

PS/2 series closeness, was not a problem. Real problem where other vendors, which offered new hardware (with for example, new CPUs), before IBM. First case wa

by simne 4y ago

PS/2 series closeness, was not a problem. Real problem where other vendors, which offered new hardware (with for example, new CPUs), before IBM. First case was Compaq-386, which considered by wide public as brand, and appear on market, before 386 machine from IBM. As I know, Compaq-386, was not much commercial success, but it shown people, they could buy excellent hardware from other brands, not only from IBM. And after this happen, it made PS/2 series not so interest, as before.

indymike 4y ago
The issue with PS/2 was the new MicroChannel bus that was incompatible with existing expansion cards (except for the 30/286 which had a couple of old-style AT bus connectors). This was a real problem for people that had devices that required an expansion cards (tape drives, network adapters, memory expansion, DTP display adapters, multi serial port cards) - you couldn't just move up to IBM. As a result the clone manufacturers came out with EISA - a card format that had all the benefits of MicroChannel, but was compatible (with a really over-engineered connector) with older AT bus cards. I believe ALR and Compaq were among the first with EISA. Incidentally, Compaq really put it to IBM with their lunch box style portable 386 and 486 models.
- rstupek 4y ago
  I worked at Compaq just after the 486 model and those things were nice for their time
  - simne 4y ago
    Yeah, I seen Compaqs of near times. Have some quirks, but overall impression good.
- simne 4y ago
  Unfortunately, practical EISA was too expensive, to compete with MCA. MCA was completely defeated only when happen PCI. Because of this, some time exists Vesa, and some other exotics.
  - indymike 4y ago
    I remember buying a bunch of ALR EISA 386 boxes that were about the 10% less than an IBM equivalent (Model 70/80). The big difference was that we could re-use some of the cards in our existing machines, and back then that was $1500-$2k in saving per machine. You are very right that PCI killed MCA.

by simne 4y ago

indymike 4y ago

The issue with PS/2 was the new MicroChannel bus that was incompatible with existing expansion cards (except for the 30/286 which had a couple of old-style AT bus connectors). This was a real problem for people that had devices that required an expansion cards (tape drives, network adapters, memory expansion, DTP display adapters, multi serial port cards) - you couldn't just move up to IBM. As a result the clone manufacturers came out with EISA - a card format that had all the benefits of MicroChannel, but was compatible (with a really over-engineered connector) with older AT bus cards. I believe ALR and Compaq were among the first with EISA. Incidentally, Compaq really put it to IBM with their lunch box style portable 386 and 486 models.

rstupek 4y ago
I worked at Compaq just after the 486 model and those things were nice for their time
- simne 4y ago
  Yeah, I seen Compaqs of near times. Have some quirks, but overall impression good.
simne 4y ago
Unfortunately, practical EISA was too expensive, to compete with MCA. MCA was completely defeated only when happen PCI. Because of this, some time exists Vesa, and some other exotics.
- indymike 4y ago
  I remember buying a bunch of ALR EISA 386 boxes that were about the 10% less than an IBM equivalent (Model 70/80). The big difference was that we could re-use some of the cards in our existing machines, and back then that was $1500-$2k in saving per machine. You are very right that PCI killed MCA.