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Content Copyright 2003, Jim Shorney, all rights reserved. Edited by Major Tom.
"Why do you use that proprietary, obsolete old junk?"
1. It's cheap. (Ed. used to be...)
In the rush to avoid the Y2K non-event, a
great many of these machines have been retired, mainly due to a lack of
understanding about what real Y2K compliance was. There is also a
perception (partly true) that they won't run a lot of the high-powered
networking and e-business applications that businesses think they need
these days.
2. It's robust. It is some of the best constructed PC equipment
ever made. I was once told that PS/2 machines were designed with
an intended service life of 10 years, with regular maintenance. That's
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the case of the server machines.
This is emphasized in this quote from Tony Ingenoso, who used to work for
IBM:
"Realistically, I see no reason why most PS/2 machines can't have operational
lifespans of almost indefinite duration (exceptions being M55/65 with that
wretched Dallas RTC abomination). They were built to last.
Individual components being assembled onto boards were tested prior to assembly
(rare in today's commodity boxes) and whole boards after assembly.
Parts at the low end of tolerance ranges were rejected even though they
would have resulted in a board that would have "worked" -- i.e. there *is* room
for component tolerance drifts over time and the machine will still function
OK."
3. Because these machines are considered 'obsolete', parts and
accessories can be found cheaply as well (Ed.
Not anymore...). EBay is a great source.
4. Engineering excellence. Technically knowledgeable people
who are familiar with the PS/2 line appreciate the well-thought elegance
of the Micro Channel design. Even today, it is considered by many
to be a technically superior bus design. Take a look at the article
'MCA: The Sacrificial Lion', from the IACT, located
HERE.
For a layman's explanation of why Micro Channel is superior, look
HERE.
5. They run well. Performance is very good with DOS, surprising
with OS/2 or Linux, and the higher end machines even run Windows NT 4.0
quite respectably when properly tuned. And we generally don't see
the hardware compatibility problems that exist to this day with other x86
architectures. Plug and play? Micro Channel defined the concept.
6. Very well-shielded. In my ham radio hobby, I typically
deal with weak to very weak radio signals in the 3.5 to 500 MHz spectrum.
I have never had any perceptible RFI in the ham shack from
a PS/2 machine, while some other computers will wipe out an FM radio at
100 yards before you even turn them on (OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but
you get the point)! They also seem completely immune to transmitted
energy in the 100 to 150 watt range; I have machines that are physically
connected to radios for various reasons, and have never had a crash that
can be attributed to a radio transmitter 'getting into' the computer.
PS/2 computers are arguably the best computer to have in the ham shack.
7. Distinctive. This ain't no bubble-packed, off-the-shelf
clone from Best Buy or Office Depot. This looks like
some serious hardware. Maybe using a $12,000 server machine to do
contest logging or capture data from spacecraft is a bit of overkill, but
it's a kick for the ole ego...
8. Friendship. The CSIPH newsgroup
is one of the finest group of folks I have ever run across; I have made
friends and acquaintances, and swapped hardware and stories, with people
all over the world, with all sorts of different 'day jobs' and life outlooks.
I was welcomed into the group as a 'newbie', and I feel that I have been
enriched by the experience.
All this from a stupid computer? It hardly seems possible.
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