2. The IBM PCjr: A Glorious Failure Mrs. Noel IST 110 11/6/02 A Presentation by Matthew Kapun

3. In 1984, after the business success of the PC, IBM decided to build a new platform that would be more useful in the home environment. Thus was born – the IBM PCjr. In 1984, after the business success of the PC, IBM decided to build a new platform that would be more useful in the home environment. Thus was born – the IBM PCjr. IBM tried to enter this home market through the following means:  Use of cartridges to store data (no more delicate floppies)  A wireless keyboard so the user is not inhibited by wires  Better sound and graphics capabilities

4.  The PCjr was compatible with the software that was available for the PC.  The audio and graphics were superior to that found on a PC. Audio from PC (click here): Audio from PCjr (click here):  Because of the use of cartridges, the programs contained on the cartridges can start without the use of entering commands.  Because of the style of the keyboard, touch-typing was impossible.  The cartridges were only able to hold only 64K of information.  The system did not use the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus for expansion. It used proprietary “sidecar” cartridges for expansion.  The base unit only shipped with 128K of RAM. Since the video used 16K of the system RAM and DOS using 24K, the only RAM available for programs was 88K.

5. PC graphics (320 x 200 x 4) PCjr graphics (320 x 200 x 16) The capability of the graphics subsystem was far superior to that found on the IBM PC. While the PC used standard CGA graphics that can only support 320 x 200 x 4 (horizontal res. x vertical res. x colors), the PCjr can support a mode of 320 x 200 x 16. The difference is clearly seen by the screenshots below.

6. The PCjr has a legacy that lives on through today. Even though it boasted some superior features over its predecessor, and even spawning a clone of itself, the Tandy 1000, it is still seen as a glorious failure. The PCjr’s faults far outweighed its advantages. This curiosity of the evolutionary chain of PCs is a lasting testament to what can happen to a technology when it is strays from non- proprietary design and the technology of its forebears. The PCjr has a legacy that lives on through today. Even though it boasted some superior features over its predecessor, and even spawning a clone of itself, the Tandy 1000, it is still seen as a glorious failure. The PCjr’s faults far outweighed its advantages. This curiosity of the evolutionary chain of PCs is a lasting testament to what can happen to a technology when it is strays from non- proprietary design and the technology of its forebears.

7. Information was obtained through the following web sites: The Computer Closet: http://www.geocities.com/~compcloset/IBMPCjr.htm http://www.geocities.com/~compcloset/IBMPCjr.htm The Oldskool Shrine: http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/ http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/ The Oldskook Carny: http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/carny/ http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/carny/ Atari Magazine: http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n3/74_IBM_PCjr.php http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n3/74_IBM_PCjr.php Pictures were obtained through the following web sites: The Oldskool Shrine: http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/ http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/ PCjr Pictures: http://mail.magnaspeed.net/~mbbrutman/PCjr/pcjr_pictures.html http://mail.magnaspeed.net/~mbbrutman/PCjr/pcjr_pictures.html Obsolete Computer Museum: http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/ibmpcjr/ http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/ibmpcjr/ Audio was obtained through the follwing web site: The Oldskool Shrine: http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/ http://www.oldskool.org/shrines/pcjr_tandy/