Underlining the Alice in Wonderland perversity of IBM’s decision to launch the Personal System/2 and phase out its predecessors a full year before there is any native software for the thing, the Cleveland, Ohio Tecmar Inc arm of Rexon Inc, which created the first enhancement board for the original IBM Personal Computer, has now introduced the first expansion board for the IBM Personal System/2 that is compatible with the new Lotus-Intel-Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification 4.0 standard. What’s crazy about that? Well the whole point of the PS/2 was to escape the 640Kb real memory limit of MS-DOS – but while anyone with a PS/2 has the liberator on his desk or floor, the key feature can’t be used until OS/2 comes along. Tecmar’s new MicroRAM board for the Micro Channel bus of the IBM PS/2 is available now in the US. Using the board, the PS/2 Models 50, 60 and 80 can run true multitasking environments, such as Desqview 2.01 and Windows 2.0, while continuing to operate under MS-DOS. MicroRAM also takes advantage of the new capabilities offered by the PS/2, including full compatibility with the programmable option select feature of the Micro Channel Architecture, support for enhanced dynamic memory reallocation of bad segments and full compatibility with IBM’s 80286 memory expansion option, assuring full compatibility with OS/2 multitasking. It comes in 512Kb, 1Mb, 2Mb and 8Mb versions, with or without serial ports. Prices range from $495 for 512Kb to $5,495 with 8Mb and two serial ports. Originally dubbed the MicroRAM/2, the thing has changed its name to protect IBM’s tender feelings, to prevent any problems with IBM’s trademark. We have a valuable association with IBM and we want to ensure that IBM is backing our efforts to enhance the capabilities of its products says Tecmar, whistling in the dark. We have been in close contact with IBM on this issue to guarantee that both sides are treated fairly.
