At $3,995 Ibm's Ps/2 Tears Up Rival Notebooks
The Sun Herald
Saturday October 12, 1991
IBM Australia has shattered pricing in the hot-selling notebook computer market with the launch of this new PS/2 Notebook model.
Powered by a 386SX processor, the PS/2 has similar specifications to the Toshiba T2200SX, the Sharp 6641 and the Epson NB3, reviewed here last week.
But where those models sell for a recommended $8,997, $8,945 and $6,500 respectively, the new IBM notebook is just $3,995.
Standard features include 2Mb of random access memory (RAM), a 1.44Mb floppy disk drive and a 40Mb hard disk for files and programs.
It's all fitted into a casing the size of an A4 sheet of paper and a weight of 2.5kg, including battery.
At 12mHz, the IBM's processor runs slower than the 16-mHz and 20-mHz versions used on the rival 386SX notebooks.
Launch of the PS/2 Notebook leaves IBM in a quandary over what to do with its predecessor, the 3.5kg LS40 SX laptop model, currently priced at $9,300.
A hefty price cut seems inevitable.
Emphasising its new swing to retail outlets, IBM will market the PS/2 Notebook through Harvey Norman and Century 21 Telecommunications stores, as well as traditional IBM dealers.
© 1991 The Sun Herald