IBM Aptiva is a line of

personal computer A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...

s that was produced by

IBM International Business Machines Corporation (using the trademark IBM), nicknamed Big Blue, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational technology company headquartered in Armonk, New York, and present in over 175 countries. It is ...

. It was designed primarily for home use and offered a range of models with varying specifications and features. It was introduced in September 1994 as the replacement for the IBM PS/1. The first Aptiva models were based on the

Intel 80486 The Intel 486, officially named i486 and also known as 80486, is a microprocessor introduced in 1989. It is a higher-performance follow-up to the i386, Intel 386. It represents the fourth generation of binary compatible CPUs following the Inte ...

CPU. Later models used the

Pentium Pentium is a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel from 1993 to 2023. The Pentium (original), original Pentium was Intel's fifth generation processor, succeeding the i486; Pentium was Intel's flagship proce ...

and AMD CPUs. All systems were developed in-house except for the later E series which was developed by Acer. Aptiva computers were typically sold as a bundle which included monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse. First-generation models came with IBM PC DOS 6.3 and Windows 3.1. Pentium-generation Aptivas came with

Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft and the first of its Windows 9x family of operating systems, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally to retail on August 24, 1995. Windows 95 merged ...

and OS/2 'select-a-system' (PC DOS 7/Windows 3.1 and

OS/2 Warp OS/2 is a proprietary computer operating system for x86 and PowerPC based personal computers. It was created and initially developed jointly by IBM and Microsoft, under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci, intended as a replac ...

) on selected models. Most Aptiva models included a modem and a standby/hibernation feature called "Rapid Resume". Sound and modem functionality was provided on M, A, C and S models by an IBM Mwave adapter. The Mwave adaptor had multiple compatibility and performance issues and was eventually replaced by standard modems and sound cards. IBM settled a lawsuit for Mwave owners by refunding Aptiva Mwave owners a small monetary fee so that those owners could purchase industry standard devices. The last Aptiva system was withdrawn from sale in May 2001 without a direct replacement when IBM decided to exit the home market. Customers were directed to the IBM NetVista, which was more targeted to business desktops.

Market history

Among other things, IBM's development and marketing of

Lotus SmartSuite SmartSuite is a discontinued office suite from Lotus Software. The company made versions of its office suite for IBM OS/2 and Microsoft Windows. Status SmartSuite is no longer supported or maintained. SmartSuite used to be in maintenance mode, ...

and

OS/2 OS/2 is a Proprietary software, proprietary computer operating system for x86 and PowerPC based personal computers. It was created and initially developed jointly by IBM and Microsoft, under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci, ...

placed it in direct competition with

Microsoft Office Microsoft Office, MS Office, or simply Office, is an office suite and family of client software, server software, and services developed by Microsoft. The first version of the Office suite, announced by Bill Gates on August 1, 1988, at CO ...

and

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

, respectively. As a result, Microsoft "punished the IBM PC Company with higher prices, a late license for

, and the withholding of technical and marketing support." IBM was not granted OEM rights for Windows 95 until 15 minutes prior to the release of Windows 95, on August 24, 1995. Because of this uncertainty, IBM machines were sold without Windows 95, while

Compaq Compaq Computer Corporation was an American information technology, information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced some of the first IBM PC compati ...

, HP, and other companies sold machines with Windows 95 from day one. The Aptiva never managed to recapture IBM's early 1980s PC dominance from

Dell Dell Inc. is an American technology company that develops, sells, repairs, and supports personal computers (PCs), Server (computing), servers, data storage devices, network switches, software, computer peripherals including printers and webcam ...

, or HP. IBM's PC Group had higher costs than its competitors which made it impossible to match them on prices. Throughout the 1990s, IBM lost the most market share in PCs during that decade compared to its rivals, and only the ThinkPad laptop remained a stronghold. Most desktop and laptop sales were with longstanding corporate customers that already used IBM mainframe computers. Despite IBM's continued decline in hardware, that was more than offset by the company shifting focus to the more lucrative e-business (integrated e-commerce and Internet technology solutions).

Models

The series to which a Pentium-based Aptiva belongs is encoded in the first letter of the three-character model number (so a 2168-M40 is an M Series). The word in quotes relates to the internal development name for the computer. * A Series Followed the M series Aptiva. Also used Mwave adaptor and Windows 95. * C Series "Courageous" There were two model types and followed A series Aptiva. * E Series "Entry" Low-end models developed by Acer alongside the ThinkPad i Series. * L Series * M Series "Magic" First Aptiva series preloaded with Windows 95. Also used Mwave adaptor * S Series "Stealth" This model appeared during the C series introduction and used Mwave also. Aptiva machine types: * 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139 * 2140, 2142, 2144 * 2151-89E, 2151-90E, 2153, 2156, 2158, 2159 * 2161, 2162, 2163, 2164, 2168, * 2170 (AMD K6-2), 2171, 2172, 2173, 2174, 2176, 2178 * 2193, 2194, 2196, 2197, 2198 * 2255 * 2270, 2274 * 6832 * 6864 The first generation of Aptivas used the 2144 desktop and 2168

tower A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...

unit form factors. The 2159 "stealth" series was a unique all black design that had the monitor resting on a metal stand with a 'console' located underneath which contained the floppy and CD drive. The console connected to the main unit via a 6-foot cable. Later in the production life, all Aptivas used tower unit form factors. Originally the 2144 and 2168 machine types referred to the amount of open slots and drive bays. Later machine type numbers did not have the same nomenclature.

User groups

Various Aptiva user and fan groups emerged. One of the most notable and tenured was run by Don Schneider, "DON5408's Unofficial Aptiva Support Site", now available o
aptivasupport.com
The site had much information on topics such as how to open the computer case,Aptiva Case Cover Removal
/ref> drivers and upgrade tips. The site included a user chat group on Friday nights for users to help each other with PC issues. The site was removed when AOL discontinued its web hosting services, but some pages still remain on ptd.net. The site ran from 4/4/1997 to 10/31/2008, bringing in just under a million views on the home page.

Timeline

References

External links