At the time of his death, which his daughter confirmed to the New York Times was caused by a heart attack, Lowe was living in Lake Forest, Ill.
More than three decades ago, Lowe rocked the technology world when he and 12 engineers managed to turn Project Chess into the IBM Personal Computer 5150 in just 369 days.
The IBM PC debuted on Aug. 12, 1981 — almost exactly a year after the group was given the go-ahead — with a 4.77-MHz Intel 8088 processor, a "high-speed 16-bit microprocessor" and up to 64K storage. Initially, the standalone machine (no floppy disk or monitor) sold at various retailers for $1,565.
"When the IBM Personal Computer (IBM 5150) was introduced to the world … it was dramatically clear to most observers that IBM had done something very new and different," the manufacturer's website said. "Here you had a large company, steeped in tradition, that had been willing and able to set aside its 'business as usual' methods to produce in volume a highly competitive, tiny computer of top quality, intended for both consumers and businesses. And IBM was able to do all that and roll out its first PC in just one year."
IBM wasn't the first to market the personal computer; by 1980, the Apple II and other machines running the CP/M operating system were already popular. But Lowe's effort helped push IBM out of its corporate comfort zone.
And, it helped restructure the company's pricing scale. In fact, prior to the August 1981 debut of the 5150 PC, IBM computers often cost as much as $9 million, "and required an air-conditioned quarter-acre of space and 60 people to run and keep it loaded with instructions," the site said.
Lowe, fresh out of college, joined the company in 1962 as a product test engineer, and remained with IBM until 1988, when he took a job at Xerox with the aim of expanding the company beyond basic copy machines.
During his tenure, he was named director of development and manufacturing operations for the General Systems Division in Atlanta (1975), director of strategic development for GSD, and administrative assistant to the division's president (both 1977).
In the late '70s, Lowe took on the position of systems manager of entry-level systems for BSD in Florida, and later lab director for the site. In March 1981, he moved to Minnesota to serve as the vice president of the Information Systems Division and general manager of IBM's state facility.
But Lowe didn't stay put in any position for long. The next year, he became vice president of systems, and later of development, for the System Products Division back in New York, where he began his career. He was elected an IBM vice president in January 1986.
IBM did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Lowe's passing.
As the personal computer slowly falls by the wayside, replaced instead with smartphones, tablets, and soon, wearable tech, IBM has been feeling the effects. The company's U.S. workforce has been dwindling every year since about 2005; this summer, IBM laid off more than 1,600 U.S. workers. In 2011, however, the company celebrated 100 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment