Abstract :
The rise and fall of plug-compatible mainframes spanned more than 20 years. RCA, whose 1964 Spectra 70 system was compatible with the IBM System/360, chose another path altogether, so Amdahl in 1970 became the first true PCM manufacturer. Other companies notably Fujitsu and Hitachi-soon followed, seeking to compete with IBM in the mainframe arena. This article traces the history of PCMs, which includes an intriguing incident of industrial espionage.
Keywords :
DP industry; IBM compatible machines; IBM computers; history; mainframes; 1964 Spectra 70 system; IBM System/360; PCM manufacturer; RCA; plug-compatible mainframe; Computer architecture; Computer industry; Costs; History; Information processing; Manufacturing industries; Meeting planning; Phase change materials; Process planning; Societies;
