[robomatik]

i highly doubt that estimate. many people in the early ‘80s bought pc’s just because they were less expensive (not necessarily better).

[Spktyr]

http://oldcomputers.net/ibm5150.html

http://www.landley.net/history/mirror/timelines/2241419.html

“2. IBM PC 5150 — The smartest move IBM made in developing its entry in the growing personal computer market in 1981 was using off-the-shelf parts that were interchangeable. That was also its undoing. The IBM PC became a standard not because of the IBM brand, but because the design was easily copied and sold for less. Its original price tag was $3,000 for a base model with a single 5 1/4-inch floppy drive and 64 kilobytes of memory, and its Intel 8088 chip chugged along at 4.77 MHz. Still, the design of most of today’s Windows-based PCs is little changed.”

http://blog.wired.com/wiredphotos6/2006/12/9_ibm_5150_pers.html

On Aug. 12, 1981, IBM launched the 5150 and changed home and office life forever. The system packed a 4.77-MHz Intel 8088 processor and up to 256 KB of memory, weighed 25 pounds with “diskette” drive, and sold for $3,000.

***

On top of that, my father still has the sales receipt for his original PC (long since consigned to the scrap heap). He paid a heck of a lot more than $3K for his - but the base price was listed there as, surprise, $3K.

Thank you for playing. You lose. Again.

Perhaps you should try recovering some of the bad sectors of your memory.

[Swordmaker]

i highly doubt that estimate. many people in the early ‘80s bought pc’s just because they were less expensive (not necessarily better).

That's not an estimate... it's accurate.

• May 27, 1982 - Wang Laboratories introduces the Wang Professional Computer. Models feature Intel 16-bit processors. Prices are expected to be US$2700-9000.

• June 15, 1982 - Digital Equipment announces the dual-processor Rainbow 100. It incorporates both Zilog Z80 and Intel 8088 microprocessors, allowing it to run CP/M as well as CP/M-86 or MS-DOS. It includes 64 kB RAM, expandable to 832 kB, monochrome or color monitor, 80x24 or 132x24 text, optional graphics (800x240 monochrome or 400x24 16-color), dual 5.25-inch disk drives holding 400 kB each. Prices start at US$3000.

• January 18, 1983 - Radio Shack unveils the TRS-80 Model 12 at the CP/M '83 Show. It features a Zilog Z80A processor, 80 kB RAM, 82-key keyboard, 1.25 MB floppy drive, and software compatibility with the TRS-80 Model II. Price is US$3200.

• January 18, 1983 - Franklin Computer shows an operating Franklin Ace 1200 Apple II compatible at the CP/M '83 Show. It features an 8-bit processor, 128 kB RAM, color display, upper/lower-case keyboard, 143 kB floppy drive, CP/M card, 80-column text card, for US$2200.

• January 20, 1983 - NCR introduces the Decision Mate V computer. It features Zilog Z80 processor, optional Intel 8088 processor, and monochrome or color display, for US$2650-3440.

• January 31, 1983 - Texas Instruments introduces the TI Professional Computer. It features an 8088 processor, 64 kB RAM, dual 320 kB floppy drives, 720x300 graphics with optional 8-color mode, and voice recognition, starting at US$2195.

• March 8, 1983 - IBM announces the IBM Personal Computer XT in New York City. It features a Intel 8088 processor, 10 MB hard drive, eight expansion slots, serial port, 128 kB RAM, 40 kB ROM, keyboard, one double-sided 360 kB floppy drive. Price is US$4995. "XT" stands for eXtended Technology.

• February 16, 1984: IBM introduces the IBM Portable Personal Computer. It features 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 processor, 256 kB RAM, 9-inch amber monitor, 80x25 text, CGA graphics, 360 kB 5.25-inch drive, DOS 2.1. Price is US$2795. It weighs 30 pounds.

• March 7, 1983 - IBM announces the IBM 5550 Multistation. It features an 8 MHz Intel 8086 microprocessor, 256 kB RAM (expandable to 512 kB), up to three 640 kB capacity floppy drives, display with 1024x768 graphics monochrome or 360x512 in four colors, for US$4200-10000 with screen, printer, and keyboard.

• January 3, 1984 - Docutel/Olivetti begins marketing the Olivetti PC, compatible with the IBM PC. The computers are made by Corona Data Systems. Price is US$2895 with one floppy drive, or US$3295 with dual floppy drives.

• January 24, 1984 - Apple Computer holds its annual stockholders meeting. The 1984 TV advertisement is shown, then Steve Jobs introduces the Apple Macintosh. It features a 7.83 MHz 32-bit Motorola 68000 CPU, built-in 9-inch monochrome screen, 512x342 graphics, 400 kB 3.5-inch Sony floppy disk drive, mouse, 128 kB RAM. Weight is 20 pounds; size is 9.7 by 10.9 inches on base and 13.5 inches high; price: US$1995-2495. Original code-name was McIntosh. The 216 kB System 1 operating system was derived from LisaDesk. MacWrite and MacPaint software are included free for a limited time.

• Later in 1984 - Eagle Computer introduces the Eagle Turbo XL. It features an 8 MHz 8086, 256 kB RAM, 10 MB hard drive, 360 kB 5.25-inch floppy drive, keyboard, five expansion slots, 12-inch green monochrome (720x352 resolution) or 13-inch color monitor (640x200 resolution). Price is US$4995.

• Later in 1985 - Kaypro releases the Kaypro 286i desktop personal computer. It features 6 MHz 80286 processor, 512 kB RAM, 84-key keyboard, two 1.2 MB floppy drives, 320x200 pixel 4-color video adapter, serial port, two parallel ports, eight expansion slots, MS-DOS. This is the first microcomputer compatible with the IBM PC-AT. Price is US$4500.

There are a lot more. I remember buying the first AT Clone for one of my clients from a hole-in-the-wall PC maker in San Francisco in September 1984 for a bargain price of $2795 ... the IBM-PC-AT, released in August 1984, was $4995.

Does this poke a large enough hole in your theory that people bought IBM clones instead of Macs because they were cheaper? Again, the Mac was competitive.