IBM 5280
The IBM 5280 was described by IBM as a "Distributed Data System" in its 1980 announcement.[1] Its role was described as "a new low-cost product family to enter data into larger computers, communicate data and process data on the spot." By 1982 IBM conceded that these offerings had "stiff competition" (described by a securities analyst as "have not been doing all that well.")[2]
Offerings/capabilities
| Feature | IBM 5285 Programmable Data Station |
IBM 5286 Dual Programmable Data Station |
IBM 5288 Programmable Control Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor storage | 32K, 48K or 64K(*) | 32K, 48K or 64K | 32K to 160K |
| Integrated Diskette drives | One or two drives | Two drives | One to four drives |
| OnLine Data Storage | 0.25 to 2.4 megabytes | 0.5 to 2.4 megabytes | 0.25 to 4.8 megabytes |
| Display / Keyboard | 12-inch display (480, 960 or 1920 characters), |
split 12-inch display two 480 character screens, |
up to four operators |
(*) In December 1983 IBM increased the maximum internal storage of the 5285 to 96K that "can be configured into several partitions that operate independently."[3] This feature (described as "multiprogramming") already was available in the two higher models.
Printers
IBM 5256 (table-top) or IBM 5225 (floor-standing).
The 5225 had four models, (1, 2, 3, 4) and collectively they offered:
- print speeds of 280, 400, 490 or 560 lines per minute, respectively.
- 132 characters per line (10 pitch) or 198 (15 pitch)
- 6 or 8 lines per vertical inch
- 95 character set or multinational 184 character set
The 5225 was also offered for use with the IBM System/36.[4]
The 5256 was a dot-matrix printer[5] that could print at speeds of 40, 80 or 120 characters per second, depending on the model (1, 2, 3).[6]
Programming languages
DE/RPG or COBOL are the languages supported.[7]
Options
A magnetic stripe reader could be attached.
Applications
The 5280 attracted attention from software vendors.[8]
Clone
A clone of the 5280 was made in Eastern Europe.[9]
References
- ^ "Rochester chronology - 1980". IBM.com.
.. IBM 5280 distributed data system
- ^ Andrew Pollack (October 21, 1982). "I.B.M. CUTS COMPUTER PRICES". The New York Times.
- ^ "IBM 5285, 96K". Computerworld. December 5, 1983. p. 53.
- ^ "IBM Archives: IBM System/36".
- ^ "IBM 5256 Dot Matrix Printer".
- ^ "Twinax Driver II - Black Box" (PDF).
IBM 5256 M1, M2, M3
- ^ IBM document G580-0275-00
- ^ "5280 Business Applications". Computerworld. October 13, 1980. p. 55.
- ^ "Consul 2715".
.. clone of IBM 5280 System - an Consul 2715 czech computer, made in Zbrojovka Brno in 1989
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