PC- Based IBM- Compatible Mainframes (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Since the rise of the personal computer in the 1980s, IBM and other vendors have created PC-based IBM-compatible mainframes which are compatible with the larger IBM mainframe computers. They are also referred to as plug-compatible mainframes, a term used for the original System/360 and 370 compatible clones, although "plug-compatible" is not often strictly accurate since frequently such systems do not support direct attachment of mainframe peripherals. For a period of time PC-based mainframe-compatible systems had a lower price and did not require as much electricity or floor space. However, they sacrificed performance and were not as dependable as mainframe-class hardware. These products have been popular with mainframe developers, in education and training settings, for very small companies with non-critical processing, and in certain disaster relief roles (such as field insurance adjustment systems for hurricane relief).