Jan 15, 2024
The release of the IBM
System/360 represents a major milestone in the history of
computing. In 1964 IBM announced the 360 as the first family of
compatible computers. Users could choose a system that was just the
right size for their needs, mix and match peripherals, and have no
fear of future upgrades. If you started on a low-end 360 you could
move up to a top of the line model and keep all your software!
Something like this had never been done before.
Such a watershed moment resulted
in interesting cascading effects. In this episode we will look at
the 360 itself. In the coming weeks we will be examining how it
shaped and dominated the market, how it led to a federal antitrust
suit, and how a mysterious series of clone computers survived in
uncertain times.
Selected
Sources:
https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2012/11/102658255-05-01-acc.pdf
- Fred
Brooks Oral History
