IBM launches high-end Stealth home PCs

By Richard Morochove

First published September 26, 1996

The home computer market is now so large that computer makers are taking aiming at specific market segments. Today, IBM Canada plans to unveil a new high-end home PC line that should be available in stores immediately. I took an advance look at these new Steath (S-series) computers in the Aptiva line.

The Stealth Aptivas have that premium PC look with a split-system design in a stylish charcoal gray. There are three main elements to each computer: the minitower, monitor and a new media console. The media console is a slim box that contains the floppy diskette and 8X CD-ROM drives.

Separating these drives from the main box lets you place the minitower up to six feet away, out of sight under a desk or table. The media console sits on the monitor stand and you can rest the keyboard atop the console when not in use, to save space. A power button on the media console controls all components. The split design also provides more room for expansion in the minitower, with five open drive bays.

The Stealth series will be available only in Canada, U.S. and Japan this year. These new Aptivas do not replace the mid-range Courageous (C-series) Aptivas discussed in this column three months ago. Additional enhancements to the Courageous series such as the Intel video phone and Home Director appliance remote control system will be introduced next month.

There are four Stealth Aptiva models, based upon either a 166 Mhz or 200 Mhz Pentium processor. Each processor speed is available in both a base and a step-up model. The base models include a hefty 2.5 gigabyte hard drive and 16 megabytes of RAM. The step-up models feature an even larger 3.2 gigabyte hard drive, joystick and a cordless mouse. The Pentium 200 step-up model S78 includes 32 megabytes of RAM.

The cordless mouse uses radio control instead of the more common infrared remote control. That means this mouse not need to be in direct line of sight with the receiver box. If you buy two of these machines, how do you get the mice to talk to the right computers? The IBM rep laughed off this question, apparently on the assumption that no one would buy two of these high-end PCs.

I found the operations of the mouse surprisingly smooth for a wireless rodent. You can sit back at some distance from the computer and still control it quite comfortably.

As you would expect from a premium brand, the Stealth models include the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, which will be the new standard for hooking up peripherals. However, since supporting software and USB-compatible peripherals won’t be widely available until 1997, the computers continue to come with the standard parallel and serial ports.

The Stealth Aptivas come with either 15-inch or 17-inch monitors. Each multimedia monitor features an integrated microphone along with stereo speakers, one hung on either side. Canadian list price for the computers range from $4,999 to $5,999 with 15-inch monitor; $500 more for a 17-inch monitor.

You can select one of five additional options free with your Stealth purchase. They include: 180 hours of Internet access provided over 180 days (doubling the standard 180 provided); a sub-woofer speaker for enhanced bass response; an extended 3-year CPU warranty; VoiceType dictation software; a one-day in-class computer course. Courses are available on the Internet, Microsoft Works, Lotus SmartSuite and MS Windows 95.

All of these options sound attractive, particular the sub-woofer, which greatly enhances the audio. The sub-woofer can be purchased separately for about $140.

The S-series comes with the same large selection of bundled software featured in the C-series, including MS Windows 95, Lotus SmartSuite 96, Microsoft Works, Quicken, Netscape Navigator, Internet Connection Phone and many more.

Software enhancements include Kids Room, a computer interface for children, and an Update Connector that downloads fixes for the system from the Internet. For example, the data/fax modem, controlled by IBM’s Mwave digital signal processor, runs out of the box at 28.8Kbps. A free software enhancement that boosts speed to 33.6Kbps will be available October 1 on the Net.

IBM’s Stealth Aptivas should appeal to second-time computer buyers who are prepared to pay for the latest features in a stylish design. They’d fit right in with the decor in your den or a home office. CW