Computers by IBM

International Business Machines Corporation — IBM — was already a giant in corporate computing when it entered the personal computer market in 1981 with the IBM 5150, better known simply as the IBM PC. Designed as an "open architecture" system using off-the-shelf parts and an operating system licensed from Microsoft, the IBM PC set the standard for personal computers and gave rise to an entire industry of IBM-compatible "clones." Its early success established IBM as a dominant force in both business and home computing.

However, IBM’s cautious and corporate culture sometimes struggled to keep pace with the fast-moving personal computer market. Though products like the PS/2 and OS/2 attempted to recapture market control, they faced fierce competition from faster, cheaper clones. By the mid-1990s, IBM shifted focus back toward enterprise solutions and consulting, leaving the consumer PC arena to others. Despite these changes, IBM’s legacy in shaping the computing landscape remains profound and lasting.