Hammering yet another nail into the coffin of the office typewriter, IBM yesterday packaged up an 8086-based processor with its new letter quality printers and appropriate software to create the IBM Personal Typing System, and also offered IBM SolutionPac Personal Typing, which implements the Personal Typing System on the Personal System/2 Model 30. IBM says it its pitching the things at secretaries whose primary needs are for stand-alone typing and text editing, with occasional personal computing applications. There are four models of Personal Typing System, each with 8086 processor, keyboard, colour or mono display, impact or non-impact printer, and software that makes it possible to switch instantly between text editing and key-to-print typing so that the thing can be used as a correcting typewriter – yet its footprint is smaller than most typewriters. It has a full 640Kb, one 3.5 720Kb floppy with 20Mb Winchester or second floppy options, as well as optional three-slot expansion unit. The software – on one floppy – is similar to the DisplayWrite Assistant program, while typewriter function is similar to that of the Selectric System/2000 typewriter line; it uses a subset of PC-DOS. New Correcting versions of IBM’s 30 chps Wheelwriter and 40chps to 60chps non-impact Quietwriter are the printers offered. The systems are available immediately in the US, and the Model 1 with Quietwriter is $2,895; no prices were given for the other models. SolutionPac Personal Typ ing for the PS/2 Model 30 arrives late July and costs $1,575 with Correcting Wheelwriter, $1,975 if you want a Correcting Quietwriter.
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