Despite the excruciating embarrassment of PCjr, which left a small army of orphans when IBM smothered the home computer after 18 months of dull sales, the company is determined to get the home computer market right, and according to the Wall Street Journal will have another go at the market this summer. The machines are expected to come with 640Kb 80286 CPU, 30Mb disk, 3.5 floppy and a mouse, and to combine ease of use with MS-DOS, with pricing in the $1,000 to $2,000 bracket – and will be offered through mass-market outlets such as R H Macy & Co and Sears Roebuck & Co. No word on whether IBM will make them but it is likely that manufacture will be subcontracted, possibly to existing partner Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. IBM declined comment on the report but workstations chief James Cannavino has been expounding his dream of a computer in every kitchen.
