Five years ago: IBM plans first USB PC for October

USB, a common PC-to-peripheral interface, is widely tipped to become the standard for interconnecting peripheral devices to PCs devices but has suffered from sluggish support from both software and peripheral manufacturers. The PC365, a one or two CPU 200MHz Pentium Pro box, will also sport innovative features such as infra-red, and Wake-On-LAN, a feature that allows network managers to remotely power-up and manage clients.

The system will also feature dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) up to 512Mb, choice of S3 Trio 64V+ or Matrox Millennium graphics and choice of PD CD-ROM/rewriteable magneto-optical drive or standard CD-ROM drive. The format is all-new, offering five slots and five drive bays.

PCDN COMMENT:

The USB hype is gaining momentum, and for once it should be justified. The amazing thing is that we have been stuck with such an unwieldy, slow peripheral interface all these years while Mac users have had the USB-like Apple Desktop Bus. Peripherals won't ship until later this year but keyboard and monitor USB hubs should be ubiquitous very soon.