Lack of space precluded more than a mention of the new IBM System/36 models yesterday, but IBM, which has announced all the new products in the UK as well as the US, bills the 36 enhancements as reflecting a strong, continuing IBM commitment to the System/36 and its customers. The new models of the low-end System/36 5364 are the 003, 004, 023 and 024, offering substantially more disk capacity. The 003 has 256Kb CPU and 65Mb disk for UKP5,969; the 004 has 256Kb and 130Mb disk for UKP8,182; the 023 has 1Mb CPU and 65Mb disk for UKP6,639; and the 024 1Mb and 130Mb disk for UKP8,852. The new drives offer double the data transfer rate, more bytes per cylinder, and faster access times; the current 5364 002, 021 and 022 will be withdrawn from marketing in May 1987 and current models can be upgraded. The System/36 Personal 5364 communications are now supported on the IBM 5162 XT when it is used as the directly-attached Personal, and is also supported by the Local Area Network Communications program. The new IBM System/36 5360 model D24 is a lower-cost, entry-level version of the high-performance model D, with two 200Mb files and all standard model D features, including main storage and control storage processors which use high-speed, denser technology; a maximum of 7Mb of main memory; and use of IBM’s new 1Mbit memory chips. The 5360 D24 will also be part of a new System/36 Total System Package model D2Y. Five preconfigured packages, three for the 5360 and two for the 5362, are now offered with the right to add selected processor features, licensed programs, displays and a printer. All Total System Packages now offer the new IBM 3197 displays as options, and three additional software options: MSRJE, 3270 Device Emulation and Tape Attachment Support. Cost savings are only about 5.5% on the parts ordered separately. The IBM 9332 Model 420 disk is now offered on the 5362 model C, which now has a maximum of 600Mb of external storage. Also now supported on System 36 are the 3191 and 3192 displays, emulation of the IBM 3196 and 3197 displays; and the IBM 4224 printer. Enhancements to PC Support/36 improve connectivity and resource-sharing of Personals and System/36s attached to the IBM Token-Ring. PC-DOS files stored on a System/36 can be shared by multiple Personal users, and PC Support/36 Organiser allows users to choose a text editor from DisplayWrite/3, DisplayWrite/4 and DisplayWrite/36. US prices are: 5364 003, $8,000; 5364 004, $10,395; 5364 023, $8,800; 5364 024; $11,195. The 5360 D24 is $52,000, the Total System Package D2Y is $53,700; the 5362 C02 is $21,625, and all are out now in the US. The 5209 3270-5250 Link Protocol Converter is $5,595 next month.
