Research Machines Nimbus PC-286

The slimline Nimbus PC-286 replaced RM’s large AX chassis with a compact modular desktop aimed at classroom and office networks. Its 10 MHz 80286 processor and Micro Channel expansion followed contemporary business-PC practice.

VGA Plus graphics, hard-disk choices and support for MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2 and Unix made the PC-286 a flexible managed workstation. It formed the lower-cost half of the 1989 slimline Nimbus generation.

Notable Features

• Compact slimline enclosure with three Micro Channel expansion slots.
• VGA Plus graphics supported mainstream software and RM network environments.
• Hard-disk choices ranged from 40MB to 120MB.

Historical Significance

• Represented RM’s adoption of Micro Channel architecture for its late-1980s education PCs.
• Shared its enclosure and peripherals with the faster slimline PC-386.

Collector’s Notes

• Micro Channel expansion cards are less interchangeable than ISA hardware.
• Drive capacity, memory and network adapters varied by school contract and configuration.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Research Machines Nimbus PC-286
Manufacturer	Research Machines
Launched	Saturday, April 1, 1989
Discontinued	Early 1990s
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel 80286 at 10 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	MS-DOS; Microsoft Windows 2; OS/2; Unix options
I/O	Three Micro Channel slots, serial, parallel and network options
Keyboard	Separate enhanced keyboard
Storage	3.5-inch floppy drive; 40MB, 60MB or 120MB hard disk options
Sound	PC-compatible programmable sound
Graphics	VGA Plus graphics
Display	VGA monitor
ROM	PC-compatible BIOS
RAM	1MB standard; expandable to 16MB
CPU Speed	10 MHz