Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
IBM PC compatible
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== First-generation PC workalikes by IBM competitors == {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Computer name ! Manufacturer ! Date introduced ! CPU ! clock rate ! Max RAM ! Floppy disk capacity ! Notable features |- | [[Hyperion (computer)|Hyperion]] | Dynalogic | {{Date table sorting|1983|Jan}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 640 KB | 320 KB | Canadian, licensed<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amQldGdl9LkC&pg=RA1-PA58|title=Commodore Launches PC-Compatible Abroad|work=PC Magazine|date=June 12, 1984}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h9RnfyXzV6sC&pg=PA52|title=Commodore Adds Hyperion, Chips|author=Karen Cook|work=PC Magazine|date= April 17 – May 1, 1984}}</ref> but never sold{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} by [[Commodore International|Commodore]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14|title=Commodore pact sparks talk of IBM PC-compatible micro|author=Kathy Chin|work=InfoWorld|date=March 26, 1984}}</ref> |- | [[Olivetti M24]]/[[AT&T 6300]] / Logabax Persona 1600 | [[Olivetti]], marketed by [[AT&T]] | | {{Date table sorting|1983}} (AT&T 6300 June 1984) | 8086 | 8 MHz (later 10 MHz) | 640 KB | 360 KB (later 720 KB) | true IBM compatible;<ref name="CW1985">{{cite journal |title=AT&T having trouble in computer market |journal = Computerworld: The Newspaper for IT Leaders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKyJOEl_vlsC&pg=RA1-PA93 |date=13 May 1985 |publisher=Computerworld |pages=93, 100 |issn=0010-4841}}</ref><ref name="CW_1987_Joins">{{cite journal |title=AT&T joins PC compatible price cut parade |journal = Computerworld: The Newspaper for IT Leaders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pcVsK0mWULwC&pg=PA18 |date=27 April 1987 |publisher=Computerworld |page=18 |issn=0010-4841}}</ref> optional 640x400 color graphics |- | [[Zenith Z-100]] | [[Zenith Data Systems]] | {{Date table sorting|1982|June}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 768 KB | 360 KB | optional 8 color 640x255 graphics, external 8" floppy drives<ref name=hardware>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EDAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Zenith+Z-100+Original+Desktop+Computer&pg=PA35 Zenith challenges IBM's share of micro market], By Paul Freiberger, Page 35, [[InfoWorld]], 13 September 1982</ref> |- | [[HP-150]] | [[Hewlett-Packard]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Nov}} | 8088 | 8 MHz | 640 KB | 270 KB (later 710 KB) | primitive touchscreen<ref name="HPCompMusHP150">{{cite web |title=150 Touchscreen |url= http://hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=43 |department=Business Desktops/Calcs: 100 Series Selection |website=HP Computer Museum |access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref> |- | [[Compaq Portable]] | [[Compaq]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Jan}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 640 KB | 360 KB | sold as a true IBM compatible{{r|mace19840109_16}}<ref name="pc19840124"/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1982.htm |title = Chronology of Personal Computers (1982) |access-date = 2024-09-07 |author = Ken Polsson }}</ref><ref name="pollack19830327">{{Cite news |last=Pollack |first=Andrew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/27/business/big-ibm-has-done-it-again.html |title=Big I.B.M. Has Done It Again |date=1983-03-27 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2024-09-07 |page=Section 3, Page 1 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=limited }}</ref> |- | [[Compaq Deskpro]] | [[Compaq]] | {{Date table sorting|1984}} | 8086 | 8 MHz | 640 KB | 360 KB | sold as true IBM XT compatible<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Compaq Deskpro Model 1 - Computing History|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/7793/Compaq-Deskpro-Model-1/|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|accessdate=7 September 2024}}</ref> |- | [[MPC 1600]] | [[Columbia Data Products]] | {{Date table sorting|1982|June}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 640 KB | 360 KB | true IBM compatible, credited as first PC clone<ref name="sandler198306"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=14Kfbrc6cbAC&pg=PA451 Aboard the Columbia], By Bill Machrone, Page 451, Jun 1983, PC Mag</ref><ref name="byte198210">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1982-10/1982_10_BYTE_07-10_Computers_in_Business#page/n81/mode/2up | title=Check The Chart Before You Choose Your New 16-Bit Computer System. | work=BYTE | date=October 1982 | accessdate=7 September 2024 | author=Advertisement | pages=83}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/13/science/personal-computers-rivals-stay-one-step-ahead-of-ibm-portable.html|title=PERSONAL COMPUTERS; RIVALS STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF I.B.M. PORTABLE|work=The New York Times |date=March 13, 1984 |quote="Columbia Data Products (301-992- 3400) turns out another split-personality computer, appropriately named the Multi-Personal Computer. Using only the Intel 8088 microprocessor, it manifests its duality in an ability to run both I.B.M.-oriented software and software requiring an operating system called MP/M-86." |last1=Sandberg-Diment |first1=Erik }}</ref> |- | Eagle PC / 1600 series | [[Eagle Computer]] | {{Date table sorting|1982}} | 8086 | 4.77 MHz | 640 KB | 360 KB | 750×352 mono graphics, first 8086 CPU<ref>{{cite book|url=https://ia801207.us.archive.org/13/items/bitsavers_eagleCompu00Brochure_9975235/Eagle_1600_Brochure_text.pdf|author=[[Eagle Computer]]|title=Eagle 1600 Brochure|access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref> |- | [[Texas Instruments Professional Computer|TI Professional Computer]] | [[Texas Instruments]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Jan}} | 8088 | 5 MHz | 256 KB | 320 KB | 720x300 color graphics<ref name=TIPCbrochure>{{cite web |url=https://classic.technology/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/texasinstrumentsprofcomputer.pdf |title=Texas Instruments Professional Computer |publisher=[[Texas Instruments]] |via=Classic Computer Brochures |year=1983 |access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref><ref name=Byte1983> {{cite magazine |last=Haas |first=Mark |date=December 1983 |title=The Texas Instruments Professional Computer – Daring to be somewhat different |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-12/page/n287 |magazine=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]] |location=Peterborough NH |publisher=McGraw-Hill |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=286–324 |access-date=September 7, 2024 }} </ref><ref name=LowEndM>{{cite web |url=https://lowendmac.com/2015/texas-instruments-personal-computers/ |title=Texas Instruments' Personal Computers |first=Daniel |last=Knight |date=December 19, 2015 |work=LowEndMac |access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref> |- | [[DEC Rainbow]] | [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] | {{Date table sorting|1982}} | 8088 | 4.81 MHz | 768 KB | 400 KB | 132x24 text mode, 8088 and [[Z80]] CPUs<ref name="vintage-computer">{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Erik S. |title=DEC Rainbow 100 |work=The Vintage Computer |url=http://www.vintage-computer.com/decrainbow100.shtml |accessdate=7 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703113758/http://www.vintage-computer.com/decrainbow100.shtml |archive-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Old-Computers.com">{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Chris |title=Digital Rainbow 100 |work=Old-Computers.com |url=http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=284 |accessdate=7 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428184609/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=284 |archive-date=28 April 2023}}</ref> |- | Wang PC | [[Wang Laboratories]] | {{Date table sorting|1985|Aug}} | 8086 | 8 MHz | 512 KB | 360 KB | 800x300 mono graphics<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seasip.info/VintagePC/wangpc.html|title=Wang Professional Computer|website=Seasip.info/VintagePC|access-date=September 7, 2024|last=Elliot|first=John|date=January 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721000716/https://www.seasip.info/VintagePC/wangpc.html|archive-date=July 21, 2014}}</ref> |- | [[MBC-550]] | [[Sanyo]] | {{Date table sorting|1982}} | 8088 | 3.6 MHz | 256 KB | 360 KB (later 720 KB) | 640x200 8 color graphics (R, G, B bitplanes)<ref>{{cite book | date=November 1983 | url=https://archive.org/details/SanyoMBC550SeriesUsersGuideNovember1983 | title=MBC-550 Series User's Guide | publisher=Sanyo Electric | edition=Rev 1.0 | via=the Internet Archive}}</ref> |- | [[Apricot PC]] | [[Apricot Computers]] | {{Date table sorting|1983}} | 8086 | 4.77 MHz | 768 KB | 720 KB | 800x400 mono graphics, 132x50 text mode<ref name="ocapr">{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Chris |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=499 |title=Apricot PC |work=Old-Computers.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106095257/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=499| archive-date=November 6, 2023| access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref> |- | TS-1603 | [[TeleVideo]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Apr}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 256 KB | 737 KB | keyboard had palm rests, 16 function keys;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/4771/TeleVideo-TS-1603-Computer-System/|access-date=September 7, 2024|title=TeleVideo TS 1603 Computer System - Computer|website=computinghistory.org.uk|publisher=The Centre for Computing History}}</ref> built-in modem |- | Tava PC | [[Tava Corporation]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Oct}} | 8088 | 4.77 MHz | 640 KB | 360 KB | true IBM compatible, credited as first private-label clone sold by manufacturer's stores<ref name=OReilly1984>{{cite journal | last=O'Reilly | first=Richard | date=June 28, 1994 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121790691/frustrated-by-big-guys-disinterest/ | title=Frustrated by big guys' disinterest, Perry Lamba builds his own IBM PC act-alike | journal=Southtown Star | location=Tinley Park, Illinois | page=B-7 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=Levy>{{cite journal | last=Levy | first=Melissa | date=December 5, 1984 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/211008626/ | title=Little is beautiful for Micro Express | journal=Orange County Business Journal | publisher=American City Business Journals | volume=17 | issue=49 | page=1 | via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name=Rosch>{{cite journal | last=Rosch | first=W. L. | date=September 10, 1985 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A648748/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Tava's Megaplus and Sprite Machines: PC Lookalikes Are Good Buys as 2nd Computers | journal=PC Week | volume=2 | issue=36 | page=91 | publisher=Ziff-Davis | via=Gale}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Sheerin | first=M. | date=October 17, 1983 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A505744/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Compu Shack Affiliate Tava Corp. Offering PC-Compatible Micro | journal=Computer Retail News | publisher=UBM LLC | issue=30 | page=20 | via=Gale}}</ref> |- | [[Tandy 2000]] | [[Tandy Corporation]] | {{Date table sorting|1983|Sept}} | 80186 | 8 MHz | 768 KB | 720 KB | redefinable character set,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} optional 640x400 8-color<ref name="rsc17">{{cite web |title=1987 Radio Shack Tandy Computer Catalog RSC-17B |url=https://radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1987_rsc-17b.html |website=radioshackcatalogs dot com |publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack |pages=6,7,34 |year=1987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103215510/https://radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1987_rsc-17b.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> or mono graphics |} ==="Operationally Compatible"=== {{quote|The first thing to think about when considering an IBM-compatible computer is, "How compatible is it?"|''BYTE'', September 1983{{r|malloy198309}}}} In May 1983, Future Computing defined four levels of compatibility:<ref name="ward198311">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1983-11/1983_11_BYTE_08-11_Inside_the_IBM_PC#page/n249/mode/2up | title=Levels of PC Compatibility | work=BYTE | date=November 1983 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Ward, Ronnie | pages=248–249}}</ref> * ''Operationally Compatible''. Can run "the top selling" IBM PC software, use PC expansion boards, and read and write PC disks. Has "complementary features" like portability or lower price that distinguish computer from the PC, which is sold in the same store. Examples: (Best) Columbia Data Products, Compaq; (Better) Corona; (Good) Eagle. * ''Functionally Compatible''. Runs own version of popular PC software. Cannot use PC expansion boards but can read and write PC disks. Cannot become Operationally Compatible. Example: [[Texas Instruments Professional Computer and Professional Portable Computer|TI Professional]]. * ''Data Compatible''. May not run top PC software. Can read and/or write PC disks. Can become Functionally Compatible. Examples: NCR Decision Mate, [[Olivetti M20]], Wang PC, [[Zenith Z-100]]. * ''Incompatible''. Cannot read PC disks. Can become Data Compatible. Examples: [[Altos 586]], [[Rainbow 100|DEC Rainbow 100]], [[Grid Compass]], [[Victor 9000]]. [[File:Compaq mddos ver1-12.jpg|thumb|right|MS-DOS version 1.12 for Compaq Personal Computers]] During development, Compaq engineers found that ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]'' would not run because of what [[subLOGIC]]'s [[Bruce Artwick]] described as "a bug in one of Intel's chips", forcing them to make their new computer [[bug compatibility|bug compatible]] with the IBM PC.{{r|yakal198501}} At first, few clones other than Compaq's offered truly full compatibility.<ref name="alsop19940131">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AzsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT1 | title=A public Windows pane to make compatibility clearer | access-date=February 28, 2011 | author=Alsop, Stewart | date=January 31, 1994 | magazine=InfoWorld | pages=102}}</ref> [[Jerry Pournelle]] purchased an IBM PC in mid-1983, "[[Model F keyboard|rotten keyboard]] and all", because he had "four cubic feet of unevaluated software, much of which won't run on anything but an IBM PC. Although a lot of machines claim to be 100 percent IBM PC compatible, I've yet to have one arrive ... Alas, a lot of stuff doesn't run with Eagle, Z-100, [[Compupro]], or anything else we have around here".<ref name="pournelle198309">{{Cite magazine |last=Pournelle |first=Jerry |author-link=Jerry Pournelle |date=September 1983 |title=Eagles, Text Editors, New Compilers, and Much More |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-09 |magazine=BYTE |page=[https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-09/page/n322 307] |access-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref> Columbia Data Products's November 1983 sales brochure stated that during tests with retail-purchased computers in October 1983, its own and Compaq's products were compatible with all tested PC software, while Corona and Eagle's were less compatible.<ref name="cdp198311">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/1983-columbia-eval/mode/1up |title=IBM PC Compatibles Competitive Evaluation |year=1983 |publisher=Columbia Data Products |publication-date=November 1983 |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> [[Columbia University]] reported in January 1984 that [[Kermit (protocol)|Kermit]] ran without modification on Compaq and Columbia Data Products clones, but not on those from Eagle or Seequa. Other MS-DOS computers also required custom code.<ref name="dacruz19840123">{{Cite mailing list |last=da Cruz |first=Frank |title=IBM PC Kermit |mailing-list=Info-Kermit Digest |date=January 23, 1984 |url=https://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/e/mail.84a |access-date=2024-10-12 |publisher=Kermit Project, Columbia University}}</ref> By December 1983 Future Computing stated that companies like Compaq, Columbia Data Products, and Corona that emphasized IBM PC compatibility had been successful, while non-compatible computers had hurt the reputations of others like TI and DEC despite superior technology. At a San Francisco meeting it warned 200 attendees, from many American and foreign computer companies as well as IBM itself, to "Jump on the IBM PC-compatible bandwagon—quickly, and as compatibly as possible".<ref name="sandler198312">{{Cite magazine |last=Sandler |first=Corey |date=December 1983 |title=The Prognosticators Pronounce: Future Compilations On The PC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05wAGZQlo9QC&pg=PA248 |magazine=PC Magazine |pages=248–256 |access-date=2023-12-27}}</ref> Future Computing said in February 1984 that some computers were "press-release compatible", exaggerating their actual compatibility with the IBM PC.<ref name="salisbury19840209">{{Cite news |last=Salisbury |first=David F. |date=February 9, 1984 |title=Why the IBM PC spawned a mob of look-alikes |work=The Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0209/020908.html |access-date=October 7, 2020 |issn=0882-7729}}</ref> Many companies were reluctant to have their products' PC compatibility tested. When ''PC Magazine'' requested samples from computer manufacturers that claimed to produce compatibles for an April 1984 review, 14 of 31 declined.<ref name="krasnoff19840320">{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1tFFnOMCvv4C&pg=PA57 | title=No Matter Who's Invited, Some Will Turn Out To Be Incompatible | work=PC Magazine | date=March 20, 1984 | access-date=October 24, 2013 | author=Krasnoff, Barbara | pages=57}}</ref><ref name="krasnoff19840403">{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-gI2W-3JwkC&pg=PA110 | title=Putting PC Compatibles To the Test | work=PC Magazine | date=April 3, 1984 | access-date=October 24, 2013 | author=Krasnoff, Barbara | pages=110–144}}</ref> Corona specified that "Our systems run all software that conforms to IBM PC programming standards. And the most popular software does."<ref name="corona19840227">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gy4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41 | title=Pick Up Where IBM Leaves Off. | work=InfoWorld | date=February 27, 1984 | access-date=January 18, 2015 | pages=41 | type=advertisement}}</ref> When a ''[[BYTE]]'' journalist asked to test [[Peachtext]] at the Spring 1983 [[COMDEX]], Corona representatives "hemmed and hawed a bit, but they finally led me ... off in the corner where no one would see it should it fail". The magazine reported that "Their hesitancy was unnecessary. The disk booted up without a problem".<ref name="malloy198309">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1983-09/1983_09_BYTE_08-09_Portable_Computers_in_Depth#page/n235/mode/2up | title=The Corona Portable PC | work=BYTE | date=September 1983 | access-date=August 16, 2015 | author=Malloy, Rich | pages=226–228}}</ref> [[Zenith Data Systems]] was bolder, bragging that its Z-150 ran all applications people brought to test with at the 1984 [[West Coast Computer Faire]].{{r|pournelle198407}} ''[[Creative Computing]]'' in 1985 stated, "we reiterate our standard line regarding the IBM PC compatibles: try the package you want to use before you buy the computer."{{r|lockwood198509}} Companies modified their computers' BIOS to work with newly discovered incompatible applications,<ref name="pournelle198411">{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-11/1984_11_BYTE_09-12_New_Chips#page/n359/mode/2up | title=NCC Reflections | work=BYTE | date=November 1984 | access-date=October 23, 2013 | author=Pournelle, Jerry | pages=361}}</ref> and reviewers and users developed [[Stress testing (software)|stress tests]] to measure compatibility; by 1984 the ability to operate Lotus 1-2-3 and ''Flight Simulator'' became the standard,<ref name="mace19840109_16">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ey4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA79 | title=IBM PC clone makers shun total compatibility | work=InfoWorld | date=January 9–16, 1984 | access-date=February 4, 2015 | author=Mace, Scott | pages=79–81}}</ref><ref name="poor19841002">{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-tPdHcBE9wC&pg=PA206 | title=Zenith Strikes Twice | work=PC Magazine | date=October 2, 1984 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | author=Poor, Alfred | pages=206}}</ref>{{r|pournelle198411}}<ref name="callamaras198411">{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-11/1984_11_BYTE_09-12_New_Chips#page/n273/mode/2up | title=The Columbia Multipersonal Computer-VP | work=BYTE | date=November 1984 | access-date=October 23, 2013 | author=Callamaras, Peter V. | pages=276}}</ref><ref name="lockwood198509">{{cite news |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v11n9/50_Zenith_Z151_choice_of_U.php | title=Zenith Z-151; choice of U.S. Air Force and Navy | work=Creative Computing | date=September 1985 | access-date=February 26, 2013 | author=Lockwood, Russ | pages=50}}</ref><ref name="mace19860505">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qi8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22flight+simulator%22&pg=PA5 | title=Amiga, Atari Ready PC Emulators | access-date=February 28, 2011 |author1=Mace, Scott |author2=Karen Sorensen | date=May 5, 1986 | magazine=InfoWorld | pages=5}}</ref> with compatibles specifically designed to run them<ref name="pournelle198407">{{Cite magazine |last=Pournelle, Jerry |author-link=Jerry Pournelle |date=July 1984 |title=The West Coast Faire |url=http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-west-coast-faire/ |magazine=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]] |page=136 |access-date=November 8, 2011 |archive-date=May 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528184149/http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-west-coast-faire/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="yakal198501">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-01-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_19_1985_Jan#page/n33/mode/2up | title=Bruce Artwick / The Designer Behind Flight Simulator II | work=Compute!'s Gazette | date=January 1985 | access-date=July 6, 2014 | author=Yakal, Kathy | pages=32}}</ref> and prominently advertising their compatibility.<ref name="trivette198504">{{cite news |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue59/review_lotus_123.php |title=Lotus 1-2-3 For IBM PCjr |work=[[Compute!]] |date=April 1985 |access-date=2013-10-06 |author-last=Trivette |author-first=Donald B. |pages=63}}</ref> IBM believed that some companies such as Eagle, Corona, and Handwell infringed on its copyright, and after ''[[Apple Computer, Inc. v. Franklin Computer Corp.]]'' successfully forced the clone makers to stop using the BIOS. The [[Phoenix Technologies|Phoenix BIOS]] in 1984, however, and similar products such as [[American Megatrends|AMI BIOS]], permitted computer makers to legally build essentially 100%-compatible clones without having to reverse-engineer the PC BIOS themselves.<ref name="caruso19840227">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gy4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA15 | title=IBM wins disputes over PC copyrights | work=InfoWorld | date=February 27, 1984 | access-date=January 18, 2015 | author=Caruso, Denise | pages=15}}</ref><ref name="langdell19840710">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bwng8NJ5fesC&pg=PA56 | title=Phoenix Says Its BIOS May Foil IBM's Lawsuits | work=PC Magazine | date=July 10, 1984 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | author=Langdell, James | pages=56}}</ref><ref name="schmidt199407">{{cite news|url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F1994%2Fjuly94%2Fpcn0713%2Fpcn0713.asp |title=What Is The BIOS? |work=Computing Basics |date=July 1994 |author=Schmidt, Robert | access-date=September 19, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310002756/http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F1994%2Fjuly94%2Fpcn0713%2Fpcn0713.asp | archive-date=March 10, 2012}}</ref> A September 1985 ''[[InfoWorld]]'' chart listed seven compatibles with {{val|256|u=KB}} RAM, two disk drives, and monochrome monitors for {{US$|long=no|1495}} to {{US$|long=no|2320}}, while the equivalent IBM PC cost {{US$|long=no|2820}}.<ref name="iw19850930">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iS8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 | title=Competing on Price | work=InfoWorld | date=September 30, 1985 | access-date=February 20, 2015 | pages=1}}</ref> The Zenith Z-150{{r|poor19841002}} and inexpensive [[Leading Edge Model D]] are even compatible with IBM proprietary diagnostic software, unlike the Compaq Portable.<ref name="freeze19851216">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cC8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43 | title=Leading Edge: Superior Value in IBM-PC Clone Market Contest | work=InfoWorld | date=December 16, 1985 | access-date=July 22, 2014 | author=Freeze, Ken | pages=43}}</ref> By 1986 ''[[Compute!]]'' stated that "clones are generally reliable and about 99 percent compatible",<ref name="halfhill198612">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1986-12-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_079_1986_Dec#page/n33/mode/2up | title=The MS-DOS Invasion / IBM Compatibles Are Coming Home | work=Compute! | date=December 1986 | access-date=November 9, 2013 | author=Halfhill, Tom R. |page=32}}</ref> and a 1987 survey in the magazine of the clone industry did not mention software compatibility, stating that "PC by now has come to stand for a computer capable of running programs that are managed by MS-DOS".<ref name=ferrell198707>{{Cite magazine |last=Ferrell |first=Keith |date=July 1987 |title=IBM Compatibles: The Universe Expands |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue86/007_1_IBM_Compatibles.php |magazine=Compute! |page=14 |access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)