The Model 30 was a piece of JUNK. IBM was supposed to move the entire lineup from the Model 50 on up to use wide channel Micro Channel Architecture (MCA). The Model 30 used an old CPU and was obsolete (640x480 VGA notwithstanding) and still cost a LOT more than better competition from Compaq, PC’s Limited, Gateway, Everex and many others.
I worked on a lot of Model 50s and Model 80s (boat anchors). The MCA configuration boot diskettes kept me busy as an IT serviceman for some time.
If IBM hadn’t demanded such a high fee to use micro channel it wouldn’t have bombed. But they were trying to get the market back unde4 their control and reverse the clone market that came about because for one brief, shining moment IBM didn’t act like IBM due to the efforts of the PC design team.
Their micro channel strategy wasn’t as dopey as “hey, let’s trust Gates’ promise to not make another windowing system and also to handle marketing the OS/2 development tools” but it wasn’t far off.
Thanks. We should wait for a newer model.