NEW YORK -- International Business Machines Corp.'s Thursday officially unveiled several desktop machines to expand its Personal System-2 family, including its fastest personal computing system to date.
The announcement came as no surprise to most industry watchers.
'Today, with the fastest personal computing system ever announced by IBM, as well as with other new PS-2 models and enhancements, we continue to broaden the scope of business solutions available to customers at every price point,' said George Conrades, senior vice president of IBM's Personal Systems group.
IBM's fastest personal computing system is part of the new Personal System-2 Model 70 386 series, available in three configurations.
The most powerful model uses a 25 megahertz Intel microprocessor and can access disk memory as much as one-and-a-half times faster than the Model 80 386, currently IBM's quickest machine.
Unlike the older system, which stands on the floor, the new computer is a desktop machine.
Prices for the computer range from $5,995 to $11,295, depending on the version.
In addition to its most powerful personal computer, IBM announced a faster version of its Model 50 desktop computer, which handles mid-range function.
The new machine, known as the Personal System-2 Model 50 Z, offers faster access to memory than the current model. It will provide up to 35 percent better performance than the older version, IBM said.
The product is available with two different memory capacities and prices range from $3,995 to $4,595.
Customers who own the older version will be able to upgrade their machines.
In addition to these products, the Armonk, N.Y.-based computer giant unveiled a product which boosts the capacity of its smaller Model 25 personal computer, designed for home use by students, teachers and business professionals.
'IBM announcements these days are usually so well anticipated that there are no real surprises,' said David Wu, an analyst with S.G. Warburg & Co.
Wu said the introduction of the Model 70 for business users would support IBM presence in this market.
Jay Stevens, an analyst with Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., said the new products met with industry expectations.
'All of this except for the pricing was well known,' Stevens said.
Stevens said the introduction of the Model 70, which brings the capabilities of the Intel 80386 microprocessor to the desktop, helped fill out the IBM personal computing line.
In addition to its new desktop computers, IBM rolled out a number of software products and enhancements to complement its Personal System-2 series, including a series of programs for desktop publishing.
IBM also lowered the prices on a number of existing computer models.
All products, with the exception of one Model 70 machine, have already been shipped. IBM said the 25 megahertz version of the Model 70 will be shipped by September.
