Definition: System/360

IBM's first family of computer systems. Introduced in 1964, System/360 was the first computer series ever offered to the public. Prior to System/360, only single computers were introduced at one time.

Although considerable enhancements have been made, much of the 360 architecture is still carried over in current-day IBM mainframes. Since its inception, trillions of dollars worth of information systems have been developed for this platform. See z/OS.

The 360, which took four years to develop and cost IBM $5 billion (more than $50B today) was a risky undertaking. Thomas Watson, Jr. literally "bet his company" on the project. The 360 has been ranked as one of the major business accomplishments in American history alongside Ford's Model T and Boeing's 707. See early computers, System/370, System/390 and IBM mainframes.

System/360

The System/360 was a bold move for IBM, because it was the first time in history a family of computers was developed and introduced. (Image courtesy of The Computer History Museum.)