When IBM introduced the historical computer 5150, better known by its official designation IBM Personal Computer, the computing market changed forever. But the IBM PC was no lucky break. Behind its development there was a prepared team, and projects like the System/23 Datamaster. Originally intended for small businesses, this system unofficially became one of the cornerstones of the IBM PC.
In 2019, 38 years had passed since the launch of the IBM PC. It was on August 12, 1981, a fundamental date in the history of computing. Barely two months after its launch, its success was almost absolute, and the specialized media simply called it PC. As the months passed, "IBM PC compatible" became a dream and nightmare for the rest of the manufacturers. Some managed to present interesting alternatives, while others bit the dust without mitigation.
The IBM PC confirmed the dominance of the big blue during the 1980s, established several standards (still obeyed today), and stimulated the development of clones that in turn became "first computers" for millions of users. Many people believe that the IBM PC was "the" first desktop computer commercialized by the company, but it was not. In fact, if we explore IBM's history, we will find a couple of models between the IBM 5100 "portable" of 24 kilograms, and the IBM PC. The closest one was announced a month earlier, and it became known as the System/23 Datamaster.
System/23 Datamaster
IBM described the System/23 Datamaster as a further step in the miniaturization and cost reduction process of its computers. Obviously, we need to take both words with a grain of salt, since the system debuted at a price of $9,830 (printer included), and it was a 43-kilogram tank on the desk. Its RAM memory was 64 kilobytes, and it had two 8-inch drives.
Its operating system was an integrated version of BASIC, and it offered both text and data processing, two very attractive features for the small businesses of the time. Another notable aspect of the System/23 Datamaster was its ease of installation. Basically, everything came down to taking it out of the box and connecting its power cable, and with any doubt, its user manual was clearer than the average design in those years.
The relationship between the System/23 Datamaster and the IBM PC was sealed through its processor, the relatively unknown Intel 8085, a simplified and at the same time compatible version of the Intel 8080. The accumulated experience of the engineers in the development of the System/23 Datamaster led them to be reassigned almost immediately to the IBM PC project, and it is said that the choice of the Intel 8088 was based on the extensive knowledge acquired about the Intel 8085. The IBM PC may occupy a privileged place in history, but the System/23 Datamaster helped it get there.
IBM
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