In one of the most important micro launches of the year, IBM unveiled a portable version of its massive success story, the PC. Steve Birchall sent this exclusive review from Boston and also considers the Portable PC's position in the market

Imagine a compact, lightweight portable version of the IBM PC, which you can take almost anywhere. It runs nearly all software from other members of the PC family. It comes with a 9" amber monitor, one disk drive (with space for an optional second drive), 256K of RAM (expandable to 512K), and a colour graphics adaptor card. An optional modem lets you talk to your main PC system back at the office or lab.

This is the new Portable Personal Computer announced by IBM last month. Neatly packaged in a rugged carrying case, the system weights just 30lb, measuers 20 x 17 x 8 inches, and in the basic configuration sells for $2,795.

To make the four member PC family more useful, IBM also announced the Cluster system, which permits a user to interconnect as many as 64 machines in a simple network. The main 75 ohm coaxial cable can be up to 3,280 feet long, and individual drop cables can be up to 16 feet.

This type of cable is less expensive than those normally used in a network. For a typical small Cluster of five computers, the system cost is about $2,530 on top of the individual computers.

The Portable PC looks similar to the workalikes made by companies such as Kaypro and Compaq. The detachable keyboard is identical to the standard PC keyboard, and connects to the main unit with a coiled cord stored in a recessed opening in the keyboard module.

When folded into place for transit, the keyboard covers and protects the front panel, where the monitor and disk drive are. A thoughtful feature is the shielded disk storage just above the top disk drive. At the other end of the main unit, a carrying handle folds up from the back panel.

The outer skin is a rugged, impact resistant plastic material, which surrounds the rigid metal chassis. To protect it from scuffs and scratches, IBM provide a soft nylon carrying bag in 'Big Blue' with an IBM logo on a little designer tag. The bag is well made and has a padded carrying strap.

Weight distribution seems well thought out. The machine balances fairly evenly in all dimensions - an important feature when carrying it around. Thirty pounds is not uncomfortable, particularly when the components are nicely balanced, but the unit should weigh less. Perhaps they decided to trade off a few extra pounds for the advantages of a more rugged unit.

The Portable PC is the kind of computer you can imagine a geologist taking to a remote location to search for oil. An accountant might take one along when calling on a client, thus gaining access to the mainframe database while working at the client's offices. A busy executive might take one home for an evening or a weekend of report writing. A student might use one late at night to access the library.

The new world of possibilities offered by IBM's Portable PC is fascinating, but it does have limitations. Bear in mind that its size and weight keep it out of the notebook or lap computer category. Its power consumption requires a mains connection rather than battery operation. You won't see students with Portable PCs taking notes in a lecture hall or businessmen using them to juggle accounts on the commuter trains. This compute is simply a transportable version of the PC and will compete with such machines as the Kaypro and Osborne.

The standard configuration has a single slimline (half-height) disk (second drive optional), and 256K RAM (upgradeable to 512K with the memory expansion card).

In a certain sense, this is a boring new product. IBM wisely decided to introduce nothing more than portability. Because of that restraint, the Portable PC is the perfect addition to their PC range. Functionally, the Portable PC is identical to the standard model in nearly every respect. It can exchange data freely by means of disk, modem or Cluster connection with other models (with only a few minor system-specific exceptions).

The new slimline disk drives occupy half the height of the older drivers. They use 5.25" double-sided, double-density diskettes and, with DOS 2.1, can store up to 360K per disk. These are the same drives IBM introduced on the PCjr, and are 41.66mm high, 146mm wide, and 208mm deep. The optional second drive can be installed by the user, adding about 2.5 pounds to the overall weight.

Inside, the Portable PC has seven slots (three hold full-size cards, and four are for short cards). Of these seven slots, two long ones are occupied by the disk drive controller and the monitor display cards. The Cluster Adaptor card, if usd, occupies the remaining full-size slot. All IBM special purpose cards (such as the modem or the various printer controllers) are interchangeable from model to model.

The Intel 8087 math co-processor is also available on the Portable for those needing high speed number crunching capability.

The universal power supply operates on 115 or 230V (selectable by setting a rear panel switch) at either 50 or 60Hz. A variety of power cords is available to accommodate different types of mains connections.

The chassis is divided into two halves, separated on top by a rigid metal divider. On the left is the monitor tube, with a shield, and the power supply; on the right, the main circuit board (identical to the PC XT motherboard), which occupies the entire bottom of the chassis. Attached to it are the receptors for the seven circuit cards.

Near the front is the disk drive and its shielding. The bottom being one piece gives added rigidity to the structure. Significantly, the Portable PC comes with a twelve month guarantee: IBM knows it will suffer many hard knocks in use.

All members of IBM's PC family (the PC, PC XT, PCjr and the Portable PC) use the Intel 8088 chip and the same Operating System, so software generally works on all systems.

However, since each member of the PC family has certain unique capabilities, there are exceptions.

• The small number of PC programs which rely specifically on the monochrome display will not run on the Portable.
• PCjr software which exploits its enhanced colour graphics must be modified to run on the other systems. IBM has a set of guidelines available.
• Software for the PC XT which requires the hard disk and extra memory will not work on the other systems.

It's that compatibility that is important to the user of this family, both in terms of data and software. Also, special purpose cards such as the IBM modem or the various printer controllers work in every model interchangeably. If a card becomes defective you can borrow one from another machine for a quick emergency fix. In a small office, school, or research facility a Cluster of PCs permits people to send messages and data to each other freely. When an executive is finished with a financial analysis it can be sent to a secretary to format it and print it out. Or it might go straight to a colleague for comment. Add a few Portables to the mix and instant input of data from remote locations is possible.

Unfortunately, while IBM have made all the PCs compatible with each other, they have not made them compatible with other IBM product lines. When Douglas LeGrande (Vice President of Operations for the Entry Level Systems Division) presented the Portable PC to the Boston Computer Society last week, it was asked if the PC Cluster could exchange data with the Display Writer. The answer was no. Also, the Cluster can not communicate with the outside world through a modem. However, you can connect the 3270-PC to a Cluster to gain access to mainframes. They have not had time to test the ZX/370 for this capability.

On the back, recessed under a hinged flip-down cover, are a connector for the printer and another for an external monitor. Blank panels for each of the other slots permit you to attach appropriate connectors for other peripherals. Another connector accommodoates the mains cord. Nearby is a switch for 230 or 115V operation, and the system on/off switch. The sides are free of connectors or controls.

The amber monitor is easy to read and displays 25 lines of 80 characters. For colour displays you may also connect an external colour monitor, which runs simultaneously with the internal monitor. At last week's Boston Computer Society meeting LeGrande emphasised IBM's growing belief in the importance of colour displays. The new PCjr has enchanced colour graphics capabilities which the other members of the family don't have. The Portable PC is the first model to include the relatively expensive colour/graphics adaptor card as standard equipment. Most of the IBM accessories work on the Portable, including the new colour printer. It looks very much like an updated version of the popular IDS Prism printer. This dot matrix printer uses a ribbon with four colour strips (red, blue, green and black) and shifts the ribbon up and down as necessary. Currently being shipped to IBM dealers, the printer sells for $1,995.

One persistent problem with computers is glare and reflections on the screen. This is not a trivial problem because such things lead to headaches and eyestrain. IBM obviously tried to take care of the problem by using the amber screen, and by recessing it so the top and side of the cabinet project over and alongside the screen, shading it from ambient light. Also, the screen has an anti-glare filter on its surface.

IBM has succeeded admirably in producing a portable version of the PC. Maintaining software compatibility among all members of the PC family is an important factor which will make the entire PC range (standard PC, PC/XT, PCr, Portable PC, and the maingrame-to-PC gateways such as the 3270-PC and XT/370) more attractive to potential users. Because of this, the PC range has acquired a degree of maturity. It now makes sense as a set of related tools.

The Cluster system takes this one step further and integrates all the models at a relatively low cost into a simple network. Now the advantages of a small network are available to PC users who don't have a minicomputer to act as a network controller.

Schools and small businesses should find this network well suited to their applications, and the Portable PC adds an extra measure of flexibility to such an installation.

IBM did not intend, with this round of new product announcements, to answer the challenge of the Apple Macintosh. Neither did it intend to stave off the impending influx of Japanese lap computers. Certainly it has competing machines under development, and will announce them soon. In the meantime, IBM has encouraged third party software developments such as VisiCorp's Vision and Microsoft's windows and mouse. These will run on the Portable until IBM's answer to the Macintosh appears.

It is difficult at this stage to know when, or even if, the portable will be making an appearance in the UK. Experience tells us that its arrival may be at least some months away: as usual IBM refuses to "speculate" on its own plans.

As has become usual with IBM micro releases, IBM UK has no immediate plans to release the portable version of the IBM PC in this country, nor does it speculate on its future plans. In the US, however, the impact of the machine will be fairly immediate. It's not so much that the Portable PC represents the latest and greatest in computer technology, it's simply that it represents the first step in which has long been feared as IBM's ultimate objective - to muscle in on the huge ancillary market created by its initial strategy.

IBM's PC surprised the industry by offering a reasonably open system. Not only did the PC use an operating system from another company (Microsoft), but the machine itself incorporated an Apple-style bus system which enables other companies to configure cards for features like serial communications, extra memory and so on.

As a newcomer to the personal computer market, IBM obviously felt its best course of action was to cash in on some of the expertise already available in other companies.

Apple's introduction of the Lisa and Macintosh was the opening round of the impending battle between Apple and IBM. When AT&T unleashes its home computer this spring, even the apparently impregnable IBM may suffer some battle scars. Lurking in the background are the Japanese manufacturers, who are already promoting software compatibility with their MSX standard. Though IBM and AT&T are formidable competitors, we must remember that the Japanese were able to bring the American automobile industry to its knees.

A clear indication of how the forces are beginning to line up is the difference between two recent mettings of the Boston Computer Society. At the January meeting, Apple's Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh with an expensive, well-executed multi-media presentation. The BCS had to rent a larger hall for the occasion, and still over 2,000 people were turned away. Those lucky enough to get in were wildly enthusiastic about the power of the Macintosh and its elegantly simple user interface. Cheers and applause interrupted the show frequently. Apple has a computer that people can learn to use in 20 minutes. Macintosh cuts through all the ted tape of tedious menu choices or complex command strings. Point at what you want, push a button, and watch while the computer carries out all those boring instruction sequences.

A month later, when Douglas LeGrande from IBM introduced the new Portable PC, PCjr, and Cluster network system to the BCS the presentation was surprisingly plain vanilla; he gave a simple, low-key speech with not a computer on display - not even a picture of one. The computers were all waiting downstairs for hands-on demonstrations.

What IBM wanted to suggest was an easy-going style. But the meeting had all the excitement of a banker's convention: no cheers or applause interrupted this speech. The crowd number was normal for a BCS meeting - but fewer people were in attendance than had been turned away from the Apple meeting. At the hands-on demos, the participants evinced the quiet, serious intensity of businessmen evaluating a new piece of equipment.

Clearly, Apple has gained powerful customer loyalty, and has developed an exciting new product. IBM, on the other hand, has acquired experience dealing with the consumer market only during the past two and a half years. It is still exploring this strange new world and only beginning to understand how to work successfully in it. The new product presentation was adapted from IBM's approaches to the business market. Since IBM has the money and personnel to make any kind of presentation they want, we can conclude they simply do not understand what they need to do if they want to compete in that arena. That may change, but will the change come soon enough?

AT&T will soon introduce a new home computer. Like IBM, it has no problems with manufacturing or technological innovation. Unlike IBM, it has a significant amount of experience in selling technology to home users. "Human engineering" has always been one of its fortes, and the AT&T home computer may be one of the easiest to use so far. AT&T may also have a significant edge over IBM as, in the US, they have a more familiar brand name.

The Japanese are playing a different game, and have quite a few tricks up their sleeves. Obviously, they can make consumer electronics gear more cheaply than anybody else. But their real strategy involves standards and compatibility. Most of the Japanese manufacturers have agreed on the MSX operating system. (See PCN Pro-File issue 52)

Another variable in the analysis is the growth of automated manufacturing in the consumer electronics industries. In the near future, Japanese manufacturer may notbe able to make things more cheaply than anyone else. Automatied factories operate at essentially the same cost anywhere so the area of competition will move to innovative new products.

A small, flexible company able to read the consumer's mind and supply them with the gadgets they need and want at the right time may devastate the slow-moving, half-blind industrial dinosaurs.

Apple is doing exactly the right thing considering the current state of personal computers. IBM is still testing the water, wondering how to appeal to this strange (to them) new market. The fun is just beginning, and we home users will benefit from a tremendous outpouring of creative energy in new consumer electronics products.