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IBM Personal System 2 (6/9/1987)

A first look at the new IBM PS2 computer and its design and interface innovations.

Guests: Tony Harris, Digital Research; David Bunnell, PCW Communications; John Dvorak, PC Magazine; Ron Kaufmann, RX Computers; George Morrow, Nestar; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group; Gary Kildall, Digital Research

Products/Demos: DOS 3.3, Gem Desktop Publisher, IBM PS2 Model 50, GEM Draw Plus, FLEX-OS


This movie is part of the collection: Computer Chronicles

Keywords: Episode year: 1987

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Reviewer: mario_greece - - May 23, 2006
Subject: one of the best CCs ever !!
Well, I wa in the states when this episode was on and there was a tremendous hiss in the techno-freako community about it!
At last I have the chance to download & watch it after 20 years!

Reviewer: MetalMike - - February 28, 2006
Subject: Side-splitting!
This has got to be the absolute best Computer Chronicles IÂve ever seen. I came here to write pretty much exactly what the first reviewer wrote, but I guess my reiteration will simply be further evidence that you absolutely need to download the episode; even the thumbnails give way to DvorakÂs side-splitting rampage.

If there is one thing that can be said about the computer chronicles, itÂs that they never played favourites. Such examples are shown in spades with guests like John Dvorak, who harboured nothing but contempt for the PS/2 and wasnÂt afraid to be as vocally derisive as one can be on a network television show. His dismantling of the IBM system was absolutely hilarious. Even after he was no longer focal he continued to rip at the guts of the computer  eventually taking centre stage with the innards in his hands.

Early close-mindedness on public access to large computer networks (the internet!?!) comes up throughout early editions of the Computer Chronicles  this episode is no different, although the WarGames reference seems a little uneducated and paranoid.

Reviewer: apl175 - - May 22, 2003
Subject: Watch Dvorak
Worth the overnite download just to see Dvorak make caustic comments on the new PS/2 line - then Stewart asks him to take one apart, and he literally rips a Model 50 to shreds. Even after the camera goes to another guest, we still see him prying parts off in the background.
There's also a hillarious bit on a guy from United Airlines which bought 40,000 Model 50 PS/2s in 1987, he makes reference to the movie "War Games" and how their airline reservation system will never be available to the public.
A teriffic bit of nostalgia!