IBM PS/2 Model 25 LS

IBM Personal System/2 Model 25

Company type	Product line
Industry	Computer hardware
Founded	August 4, 1987 (1987-08-04)
Founder	International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
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, serve as IBM's budget-friendly selections within the Personal System/2 lineup. Similar to the Model 30, the Model 25 employs an Industry Standard Architecture bus, allowing compatibility with expansion cards designed for earlier IBM PCs (PC/XT and PC/AT). However, it does not support the Micro Channel bus used in higher-tier PS/2 models. A distinctive characteristic of the Model 25 series is its all-in-one configuration, which merges the cathode-ray tube (CRT) display and system motherboard into a single unit. These systems were primarily aimed at home office professionals and students.

Development and release

Introduced on August 4, 1987, the Model 25 was the fifth addition to the PS/2 family. It runs on an Intel 8086 processor clocked at 8 MHz, approximately double the speed of IBM's original PC. The Collegiate edition was designed for university students, equipped with two 720 KB floppy disk drives, a maximum of 640 KB RAM, and bundled with an official PS/2 Mouse, Windows 1.04, plus four blank floppy disks.

In 1990, IBM enhanced this lineup by launching the Model 25 286, which featured an Intel 80286 processor operating at 10 MHz. By late 1991, development at IBM’s Boca Raton plant under José García produced the Model 25 SX, powered by an Intel 80386SX running at 20 MHz. This version was exclusively available to K–12 educational institutions and supported improved graphics capabilities (up to 256 colors) as well as connectivity options for overhead projectors and network integration. The initial pricing ranged from $1,249 to $1,899. The Model 25 series was distributed solely within the United States market.

The initial Model 25 did not come with or officially accommodate hard disk drives; however, third-party hard drive solutions became available by late 1987. Subsequent models like the 25 286 and 25 SX offered optional hard disk configurations.

Reception

Several critics drew parallels between the Model 25 and Apple’s original Macintosh. Stephen Satchell from InfoWorld initially described it as a "deformed Macintosh," though he later acknowledged its resemblance to other PS/2 models.

David E. Sanger of The New York Times regarded it as potentially "the most attractive computer" IBM had created for casual users, commenting that while it was somewhat "overpriced," it remained "relatively inexpensive for an IBM." Both Sanger and Gus Venditto of PC Magazine expressed disappointment over the lack of a built-in hard drive. Venditto noted that aftermarket hard drives were too large to fit into the floppy drive bays and that IBM had not announced any official hard drive options. He also mentioned that the CRT monitor partially blocked access to the top ISA slot, restricting expansion card installation. Despite these drawbacks, he praised the robust case design and described it as a "well-crafted, fast computer suitable for environments where space is limited."

Submodels

IBM PS/2 Model 25 variants

Model	IBM P/N	CPU	Frequency (MHz)	Bus type	Slot count	Drive bays	FDD	HDD	Default RAM	Maximum RAM	Graphics adapter	Display	Design form	Launch date	Remarks
25	8525-001	Intel 8086	8 (0 w)	ISA, 8-bit	2	2	single 720 KB	none	512 KB	640 KB	MCGA	12-inch monochrome	Integrated all-in-one	Template:Date table sorting	Space Saving Keyboard included
25	8525-004	Intel 8086	8 (0 w)	ISA, 8-bit	2	2	single 720 KB	none	512 KB	640 KB	MCGA	12-inch color display	Integrated all-in-one	Template:Date table sorting	Space Saving Keyboard included
25 Collegiate	8525-C02	Intel 8086	8 (0 w)	ISA, 8-bit	2	2	dual 720 KB drives	none	640 KB	640 KB	MCGA	12-inch monochrome screen	Integrated all-in-one design	Template:Date table sorting	Equipped with Space Saving Keyboard
25 LS	8525-L01	Intel 8086	8 (0 w )	ISA, 8-bit	2	2	single 720 KB	none	512 KB	640 KB	MCGA	12-inch monochrome	Integrated all-in-one	Template:Date table sorting	Includes Token Ring support
25 286	8525-006	Intel 80286	10 (1 w )	ISA, 16-bit	2	2	single 1.44 MB	none	1 MB	4 MB	VGA	12-inch color display	Integrated all-in-one unit	Template:Date table sorting	Features Space Saving Keyboard
25 SX	8525-K00	i386SX	20	ISA, 16-bit	3	2	single 1.44 MB	none	1 MB	16 MB	VGA	12-inch color screen	Integrated all-in-one chassis	Template:Date table sorting