IBM OS/6
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Word processing, Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | IBM Mag Card Selectric models |
| Founded | January 1977 |
| Successor | IBM Displaywriter |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
| Products | Word processing system, including console with keyboard, 9-inch CRT display, daisy wheel and inkjet printers, floppy disk storage, magnetic stripe cards |
OS/6 (also known as Office System/6 or System 6) represents an independent word processor created by IBM's Office Products Division (OPD), with its release dating back to January 1977. It was subsequently succeeded by the IBM Displaywriter in 1980.
Overview
This system includes a console equipped with a keyboard, a 9-inch CRT character-based display, and supports either a daisy wheel or the IBM 46/40 inkjet printer, later renamed the IBM 6640. Document storage is handled through 8-inch floppy diskettes and magnetic stripe cards compatible with IBM’s previous Mag Card Selectric models. The display operates using a pre-WYSIWYG approach, presenting special symbols for editing purposes, while navigation is managed via arrow keys.
Designed primarily for centralized word processing departments within large enterprises prior to the personal computer era, OS/6 provided sophisticated functionalities such as mail merge, superior print quality with multiple formatting choices, and printers capable of handling envelopes or sheets from two drawers designated for letterhead and secondary sheets. Additionally, data transfer to IBM 5110 and 5120 machines was achievable using third-party software.
The OS/6 system runs on IBM’s proprietary 16-bit OPD Mini Processor, a single-chip microprocessor engineered by Richard Vrba. It features a 16-bit little-endian instruction set built upon an 8-bit internal structure and contains sixteen general-purpose registers implemented as a 32-byte memory window that functions as both a stack for operands and supports indirect memory addressing.
History
The development of OS/6 took place under IBM's "Rio" initiative at their Austin, Texas facility. Following the decision not to upgrade the video display for the Selectric Mag Card II, IBM announced in 1977 that users of the Mag Card II could enhance their systems with a communication option to interface with System 6.
Initially, in 1977, the System 6 series comprised models 6/430, 6/440, and 6/450; by the following year, models 6/442 and 6/452 were introduced. The system’s hardware consisted of a monitor, keyboard, magnetic card reader, both inkjet and daisy wheel printers, alongside a floppy disk drive.
In 1978, the product range was broadened with the IBM 6/420 Information Processor—a standalone CPU unit lacking magnetic card or printing capabilities.
The year 1979 saw IBM release the communication-capable laser printer and photocopier combination device known as the IBM 6670 Information Distributor. That same year also marked the debut of the unrelated IBM General Systems Division’s IBM 5520 systems, which shared some functional similarities.
Ultimately, OS/6 was phased out in favor of the IBM Displaywriter in 1980.