Why IBM GAVE UP on Making PCs

IBM invented the PC. Why did they stop making them?

[davidfrischknecht]

Actually, the IBM PC was developed from the beginning with the idea of using off-the-shelf components. When it was being developed in the late 70s, the big-wigs at IBM didn't think it would be all that successful, so they gave the approval to use off-the-shelf components.

[TechBytesRN]

I worked at a credit union for IBM employees and got to see some of this gear first hand because it was being developed across the street from where I worked. Fond memories.

[Alexaender]

Am I the only one who is freaked out by Riley WITHOUT A MUSTACHE

[SkumbagZeto]

Fun Fact (as an IBMer): IBM official work laptops to this day (that they give to their employees on onboarding) are still Thinkpads (this year it's the T490), unless they need Macs to do their work (like in my case).

[gaspersrsen]

The white background burns my eyes. Please make a dark mode feature-

[valrabellkeys]

Here before the typo in the title gets fixed.

[petervenkman]

I will be honest this is not the best researched bit that you guys have done.
1) Radio Shack had their own computers to sell both PC Clones, and various TRS-80 branded machines.
2) IBM was in a rush to get into the Personal Computer market and broadly used off the shelf components, the only thing really unique about the IBM was the bios... and you missed out the whole story on how it was reverse engineered by Compaq... which allowed them and for other manufacturers to make clones easily.
3) You glossed over the entire Microsoft's licensing deal for PC-Dos that allowed for MS-Dos to be put on these clones.
4) When IBM finally tried to bring architecture back under control with the PS/2 MCA architecture, it was basically too late, the clone was well established and so trying to assert their typical top down authority wouldn't work... but this is the point, with the PC they hadn't been doing that up until the PS/2 which is exactly how clones became so big (along with the bios/ms-dos thing).

So all in all you pretty much missed the important aspects of the story.

[harshbarj]

IBM actually started making PCs with standard hardware. The whole point at the start was making a computer that the average consumer could buy and by using off the shelf parts IBM was able to keep prices down. Only part that was "Proprietary" was the bios. Later in an attempt to shut out the clone makers, IBM tried to lock down the PC with Proprietary hardware. Namely the MCA bus. It was well ahead of it's time, but the licencing and lack of backwards compatibility killed it. Now yes, prior to the PC, IBM did make computers that used fully Proprietary hardware. But in business you don't have to worry about cost as it's written off as an operating expense.

[FlyboyHelosim]

I remember seeing the IBM Aptiva Stealth in PC World when I was a teenager. It was, and probably still is, the most badass-looking PC to this day. All black, with that retractable optical disc drive and Bose speakers. Awesome.

[MrYTGuy]

All the comments are all going to be GAVE ON lol

[goodiesguy]

1:13, the original IBM PC, the 5150 was released in 1981, not 1980.

[Dialysisforever]

I had an IBM desktop. It had a heavy metal frame keyboard. I bought it used in 1988. I believe it had a 20meg hard drive. I still have a couple of the floppy disks. I like that little red think pad mouse thingy. In my opinion, much better than the mouse pad. Thanks for the video.

[slayerofyounglings]

My father worked as a process engineer for the manufacturing of Seagate hard drives in the 80's and 90's.

[DaHaiZhu]

1:38 - You seem to imply that IBM initially made their own OS and Microprocessor for their PC line. That was never the case. It was always Intel based processor and originally MS-DOS, while they did have limited success with OS/2, their initial OS was MS-DOS from Microsoft. It was, in fact, what gave Microsoft its start.

[hydroviperking]

Bruh no glasses Riley looks like a mouse trying to find his way home back from the cheese factory

[josjong]

1:38 "They started to include components from other companies like [...] Intel and Microsoft (MS-DOS)." I don't get this. IBM PC were never delivered without those.

[TonkarzOfSolSystem]

1:21 That's not really true. They used off-the-shelf (i.e. already existing) components in the first PC. Their original contribution was a) putting them together and b) the BIOS.
And PC clones or "IBM compatibles" starting showing up almost immediately, with at least 60 rumored or announced only 12 months after IBM released it's PC.

[Petar_GT]

Everyone talking about the typo in the title but no one gonna talk about that man that sounds like Riley (Riley has glasses so it ain't him)

[D-Man_Jam]

riley without a moustache and glasses looks like buzz lightyear

[dumpsterdawg]

LTT next Hiring Again, Again, position open for Quality Control Supervisor
Qualifications in link