Computers: Tackling IBM

Four years ago, Minneapolis-based Control Data Corp. brought out its model 6600 computer, the largest machine of its type in the world. Pride soon turned to problems as debugging took longer than expected, and the company began losing money. To make matters worse, Thomas Watson's IBM an nounced that it would bring out its own supercomputer, the 360/91. As a result, many potential purchasers held off buying the multimillion-dollar 6600 machine, and Control Data lost as many as 50 sales. When IBM was slow in producing the 360/91, and then turned out only...

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