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An IBM compatible computer is a personal computer designed to be hardware and software compatible with the original IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) from 1981. This compatibility meant they could run the same software, like MS-DOS, and use similar components like x86-compatible CPUs. The term became common when companies began making "PC clones," which led to increased competition, lower prices, and a wider market for personal computers. Today, the term is largely historical, as almost all non-Apple computers are now IBM compatible, but it is still used to describe the lineage of the modern PC.

Key aspects of IBM compatibility

Software compatibility: These computers could run the same programs as the IBM PC, most importantly software designed for MS-DOS and later Microsoft Windows.

Hardware compatibility: They used similar internal architecture and components, particularly an x86-based central processing unit from manufacturers like Intel or AMD.

Historical context: The term was crucial in the 1980s when IBM's open licensing of its PC-DOS operating system allowed other companies to create competing machines.

Market impact: The proliferation of IBM compatibles drove down costs and made personal computing accessible to a much larger audience, eventually surpassing the sales of IBM's own computers.

Modern usage: While the original IBM PC is obsolete and IBM sold its PC division, the term "IBM compatible" is still relevant for the vast majority of PCs being manufactured today, which are all based on the original standards. The term is often replaced by "PC-compatible" or the more modern "Wintel" (for Windows and Intel).