CPU: Intel 8088, 4.77 MHz Memory: 512 KBytes Operating system: MS - DOS Monitor: IBM 5151, 11"
Graphics: resolution from 320 x 200
(only for games) to 1280 x 512; Max.
4096 colours; output signal is compatible
with the TV signal
The IBM 5150 is the first IBM compatible Personal Computer (PC). It set the standards for all later IBM computers and today's computers are theoretically backwards compatible. This PC was bought in 1985 for about 10,000 DM by the Institute of Finance and Banking of Augsburg University. It was the institute's first computer. Initially it had two 5 1/4” disk drives but no hard disk. The operating system MS-DOS was automatically loaded into the central memory from disk drive A when it was switched on. In October 1987 Prof. Stehle became chairman of the above mentioned institute.
At this time one hard disk was installed and the operating memory expanded. Around 1990 one 5 1/4" FDD was replaced with a 3 1/2" FDD. Around that time the staff of the institute started to refer to it as "Altes Schätzchen". We thank Prof. Richard Stehle.
Initially this PC was used by research assistants of the institute. This means that four people had to share one computer. Only around 1991 every research assistant got his own PC. In the eighties the secretary used an electrical typewriter with a text memory. In 1993 this PC was discarded from the university and sold to Prof. Stehle for 50 marks. Exhibit on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5pWTW2F1PY
