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PC Open Architecture Developers' Group

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The PC Open Architechture Developpers' Group or "OADG" is a cosortium of the major Japanese personal computer manufacturers, sponsored by IBM, that successfully guided during the 1990s Japan's personal computer world to change to the IBM PC architecture.

General

Before the advent of IBM PC in 1981 in U.S., there were many kinds of personal computers, such as Tandy RadioShack, Commodore etc., that were based on different kinds of computer architecture, and software programs were supplied for each kind of computer. In Japan, this similar situation continued well into the early 1990s, because each of Japan's major electronic manufacturers supplied its own unique personal computer, although NEC with its NEC 9801 seemed to be prevailing.

IBM itself was selling its unique IBM 5550 computer, because Japanese language capable computer needed more powerful engine, larger screen, etc., and its JX project, emphasizing compatibility with IBM PC and PCjr, did not go anywhere. The whole situation was felt by many as hindering a healthy growth of computer business, particularly by domestic and overseas software vendors who had to develop, test, sell and support different software programs on the many kinds of personal computers.

In this background enters IBM DOS/V, developped by IBM in Japan, and licensed to other Japanese PC manufacturers. To promote the IBM PC architecture on which DOS/V worked, IBM sponsored a consortium called the PC Open Architecture Developpers' Group (usually called "OADG' in Japan) in 1991, and made public its internal architecture and interfaces.

At the height of their activities, the consortium included as its members the major Japanese PC manufactures, such as Toshiba and Hitachi, and the overseas manufacturers, such as Acer of Taiwan and Dell of U.S. Together they not only tried to keep a unified architecture, but also compiled a list of DOS/V-compatible application software programs and participated in the major computer shows.

By the time Misrosoft Windows 95 arrived in 1995, the IBM PC architecture was already a predominant force in Japan's computer scene, using IBM or Microsoft DOS/V. The consortium also supported OS/2, but its effort on this front was not successful.

Members

As of 2003:

See also

＊* PC Open Architecture Developpers' Group (official web)

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