- The Mac tried to bridge the gap between 20 generations of PCs, but instead achieved almost complete obscurity
- Only 11 units of OS/2 in Mach 20 reached customers
- Eight users who bought OS/2 for Mach 20 quickly returned it out of frustration.
In the history of Microsoft’s success, from Windows to the extensive Office software suite, there is one almost forgotten mistake that is a lesson of the technological times.
“Microsoft’s best-selling product of all time” isn’t an obscure game or an unused app, but rather a specialized version of an operating system designed for hardware owned by a very small number of people.
Advertised as “OS/2 for the Mac 20”, it sold only eleven copies, eight of which were returned.
Mach 20 rear view
In the mid-to-late 1980s, PC hardware evolved rapidly, with faster processors and richer graphics changing what computers could do for business users.
For businesses still adapting to the digital age, replacing entire systems was expensive, and Microsoft’s Mac 10 and later Mac 20 expansion cards were conceived as a solution to this problem.
They promise to breathe new life into older computers by adding faster processors and extra memory through a plug-in upgrade rather than a complete replacement.
The Mach 20, with its 80286 processor and expandable memory options, seemed like an attractive compromise between price and performance.
Despitethis promise, it is limited by the old bus architecture and expensive to implement.
At that time, the market was already moving towards new machines that did not require such a solution.
Companies that previously hesitated to invest in new computers were more inclined to purchase new equipment rather than go for complex upgrades.
Microsoft’s decision to release a special version of OS/2 for the Mac 20 made the problem worse.
OS/2 itself, co-developed with IBM, was intended to replace DOS and compete with Windows as the future of computing.
The Mach 20 version requires specialized hardware to operate, reducing its potential user base to a handful of enthusiasts.
As expected, sales were disappointing. Only a handful of units reached consumers, making it one of the more obscure releases in Microsoft’s long catalog.
The Mach 20 and its OS/2 variant are gone, but its story is still relevant because its failure shows how even a technology giant can misjudge the balance between innovation and practicality.
Via Tom Equipment
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