The IBM System/370 Model 148 (and the Model 138[1]) were both announced June 30, 1976[2]
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.jpg) IBM System/370 Model 148 | |
| Manufacturer | International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) |
|---|---|
| Product family | System/370 |
| Release date | June 30, 1976 |
| Discontinued | November 1, 1983 |
| Memory | One or two megabytes of high-density integrated monolithic processor storage |
Not only were they both more powerful and better in price/performance than the IBM System/370 Model 145 with a 3145-3 CPU and the IBM System/370 Model 135 with a 3135-3 CPU, respectively, but lower in price.[3][4]
The 148 and 138,[5] both of which were withdrawn November 1, 1983, were marketed as followups for those wishing to upgrade, respectively, their 370/145 and 370/135 systems.
Expanded capabilities
editThe 148 had four times the reloadable control storage of the 145,[6] enabling or enhancing features such as:
- APL Assist[7]
- Extended Control Program Support - going beyond the language-specific APL Assist, this had wider scope, reducing CPU cycles needed to run the operating system.[8]
The 3148 (and the 3138) had a built in service processor, aka known as an IOC, this service processor could directly attach a 3203 printer. The IOC also drives an IBM 3277 display console, whereas the older 3145 used an IBM 3215 typewriter console.
A new model of the IBM 3203 printer family, the Model 4, was announced. Rated at 1200 lines/minute (LPM), it was intended to provide already-available 1200 LPM printing, but in a more compact form.
Field upgrades
editSometimes known as in-the-field upgrades,[9] this is a capability that even recently was not universal.[10]
IBM could upgrade a 370/145 that had been field-upgraded to a 145-2, resulting in a 145-3. This was a major accomplishment, compared to what is known as a "forklift upgrade" out with the old, in with the new, often consuming valuable time.[11] [12]
Marketing considerations
editAn industry research firm said "may be described as early 380s programmed to act like 370s"[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "System/370 Model 138". IBM Archives. IBM. 23 January 2003. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005.
- ^ "System/370 Model 148". IBM Archives. IBM. 23 January 2003. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005.
- ^ a b "IBM 370/138, 148 Really 'Early 380s'? Users May Have Jump on Upgrades". Computerworld. July 5, 1976. p. 2.
- ^ $350,000 for a 138 having 500K of memory, vs. $721,500 for a 135-3 with 500K - less than half the price!
- ^ described as "medium-powered System/370 computers" "I.B.M. Cutting Prices 20% on 2 Computers". The New York Times. March 2, 1978.
- ^ 128K vs. 32K
- ^ a microcode-based feature that allowe for faster execution than a software-only approach.
- ^ up to 20% for OS/VS1, up to 55% for VM/CMS.
- ^ "Is it possible to upgrade a bCX1-R to a bCX1-CR in the field? (upgrade router to controller / router)" - http://buildingskb.schneider-electric.com/view.php?AID=7836
- ^ "I am in the early stages of designing the TMS320F28377S into a new product and I would like to build in the field upgrade capability..." - https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000/f/171/t/477654?Firmware-upgrade-in-the-filed-TMS320F2837xS-Delfino-Microcontrollers
- ^ "How to overcome the infamous forklift upgrade challenge | Computerworld". www.computerworld.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-19.
- ^ "Definition of forklift upgrade".