IBM 650

The IBM 650 was offered by IBM 1953-1962 as a mainframe. There were 2000 units produced, which makes the IBM 650 for the first mass-produced computer. The computer was one of the Dezimalrechnern.

In the computer of the decimal biquinärer was applied, id est the data and addresses are written in decimal. The computer was intended for scientific users, and existing users of tabulating machines. The IBM 650 was considered to be relatively easy to program.

It was developed at the IBM Laboratory in Endicott, while at the same time developed the IBM plant in Poughkeepsie, the 700 series. Originally you only saw a need for 50 computers of the series, which should make the industry familiar with the concept of modern computers by the Von Neumann architecture concept. Mid-1950s, IBM screwed the estimate to more than 700 high and 1956 there were already 300 installed computer, far more than the 700 series. By the time production ended in 1962 approximately 2,000 were installed. He was thus the most successful in his time electronic computer.

The development of the IBM 650 was directed by Frank E. Hamilton.

Hardware

The basic configuration of the computer consisted of:

• Console unit (IBM 650)
• Mains voltage unit (IBM 655)
• Card reader and puncher (IBM 533 or IBM 537)

The computer could automatically jump back in the program and run the program again, which meant a significant time savings over manual re-entry to check if a program error occurs.

He also had a magnetic drum memory, hence the official name of the IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Data Processing Machine.