IBM PS/2 Model 25
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | IBM PC/XT, IBM PC/AT (for expansion card compatibility) |
| Founded | August 4, 1987 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Personal computers (Model 25, 25 286, 25 SX) |
| Parent | IBM |
The Personal System/2 Model 25 along with its variants, the 25 286 and 25 SX, served as IBM's budget-friendly options within the Personal System/2 (PS/2) lineup. Similar to the Model 30, the Model 25 utilizes an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, allowing it to support expansion cards originally designed for earlier IBM PCs like the PC/XT and PC/AT. This contrasts with the higher-end PS/2 models that incorporate Micro Channel technology. Distinctive among PS/2 computers, the Model 25 series adopts an all-in-one configuration, combining the CRT display and system board within a single chassis. IBM positioned this model primarily for home offices and students.
Development and release
Launched on August 4, 1987, the Model 25 was the fifth release in the PS/2 range. It featured an Intel 8086 processor clocked at 8 MHz, effectively doubling the speed compared to the original IBM Personal Computer. A specialized version aimed at college students, named Collegiate, came equipped with two 720 KB floppy drives, up to 640 KB of RAM, and bundled software such as Windows 1.04 alongside the official PS/2 Mouse.
In 1990, IBM enhanced this series by introducing the Model 25 286, which incorporated a 10 MHz Intel 80286 CPU. By late 1991, IBM’s Boca Raton team under José García unveiled the Model 25 SX featuring a 20 MHz Intel 80386SX. This iteration was designed for K–12 educational environments and offered improved graphics supporting up to 256 colors, as well as built-in connectivity options for overhead projectors and networking. Pricing for these models ranged between $1,249 and $1,899. The Model 25 family was marketed exclusively within the United States.
The initial Model 25 lacked built-in hard disk drives and did not officially support them; however, third-party hard drive solutions appeared by late 1987. Later models—the 25 286 and 25 SX—provided optional hard disk drive upgrades.
Reception
At the time of release, many reviewers drew parallels between the Model 25 and Apple's original Macintosh. Stephen Satchell from InfoWorld initially labeled it a "deformed Macintosh," though he subsequently recognized its resemblance to other PS/2 systems.
David E. Sanger of The New York Times regarded the Model 25 as possibly IBM’s most appealing computer for light everyday tasks, describing it as "relatively inexpensive for an IBM," despite being somewhat "overpriced." Both Sanger and Gus Venditto from PC Magazine pointed out the absence of an integrated hard disk drive as a drawback. Venditto emphasized that aftermarket hard drives were physically too large to fit into available floppy drive bays and noted that no official hard disk solution had been announced. He also mentioned that one ISA slot was partially blocked by the CRT monitor, restricting expansion capabilities. Nevertheless, Venditto commended the robust chassis design and considered the Model 25 a "well-crafted, fast computer suitable for environments where space is limited."
Submodels
| Model | IBM P/N | Processor | Clock speed (MHz) |
Bus | No. of slots |
No. of drive bays |
FDD | HDD | Stock RAM |
Maximum RAM |
Video adapter | Monitor | Form factor | Date introduced | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 8525-001 | Intel 8086 | 8 (0 w) | ISA, 8-bit | 2 | 2 | one 720 KB | none | 512 KB | 640 KB | MCGA | 12-in. monochrome | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting | Space Saving Keyboard |
| 25 | 8525-004 | Intel 8086 | 8 (0 w) | ISA, 8-bit | 2 | 2 | one 720 KB | none | 512 KB | 640 KB | MCGA | 12-in. color | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting | Space Saving Keyboard |
| 25 Collegiate | 8525-C02 | Intel 8086 | 8 (0 w) | ISA, 8-bit | 2 | 2 | two 720 KB | none | 640 KB | 640 KB | MCGA | 12-in. monochrome | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting | Space Saving Keyboard |
| 25 LS | 8525-L01 | Intel 8086 | 8 (0 w) | ISA, 8-bit | 2 | 2 | one 720 KB | none | 512 KB | 640 KB | MCGA | 12-in. monochrome | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting | Token Ring network support |
| 25 286 | 8525-006 | Intel 80286 | 10 (1 w ) | ISA,16-bit | 2 | 2 | one1.44 MB | none | 1 MB | 4 MB | VGA | 12-in.color | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting | Space Saving Keyboard |
| 25 SX | 8525-K00 | i386SX | 20 | ISA,16-bit | 3 | 2 | one1.44 MB | none | 1 MB | 16 MB | VGA | 12-in.color | All-in-one | Template:Date table sorting |