IBM System/370 Model 148
IBM System/370 Model 148
ManufacturerInternational Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
Product familySystem/370
Release dateJune 30, 1976 (1976-06-30)
DiscontinuedNovember 1, 1983
MemoryOne or two megabytes of high-density integrated monolithic processor storage
WebsiteOfficial website IBM Archives

The IBM System/370 Model 148 (and the Model 138[1]) were both announced June 30, 1976[2]

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, respecitfly, 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The 148 and 138,[5] both of which were withdrawn November 1, 1983, were marketed as followups for those wishing to upgrade, respectively, their 370/145 and 370/135 systems.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

The 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]

A new model of the IBM 3203 printer family, the Model 4, was announced. Rated at 1200 Lines/Minutes, it was intended to provide already-available 1200 LPM printing, but in a more compact form.

Field upgrades

Sometimes 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

An industry research firm said "may be described as early 380s programmed to act like 370s"[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "System/370 Model 138". IBM Archives. IBM. 23 January 2003.
  2. ↑ "System/370 Model 148". IBM Archives. IBM. 23 January 2003.
  3. 1 2 "IBM 370/138, 148 Really 'Early 380s'? Users May Have Jump on Upgrades". Computerworld. July 5, 1976. p. 2.
  4. ↑ $350,000 for a 138 having 500K of memory, vs. $721,500 for a 135-3 with 500K - less than half the price!
  5. ↑ described as "medium-powered System/370 computers" "I.B.M. Cutting Prices 20% on 2 Computers". The New York Times. March 2, 1978.
  6. ↑ 128K vs. 32K
  7. ↑ a Microcode-based feature that allowe for faster execution than a software-only approach.
  8. ↑ up to 20% for OS/VS1, up to 55% for VM/CMS.
  9. ↑ "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
  10. ↑ "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
  11. ↑ "How to overcome the infamous forklift upgrade challenge | Computerworld". www.computerworld.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-19.
  12. ↑ "Definition of forklift upgrade".
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