IBM 305 RAMAC
IBM 305 RAMAC system:
IBM 305 main system (Processing unit, magnetic process drum, magnetic core register, electronic logical and arithmetic circuits) | |
| Developer | IBM |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IBM |
| Release date | September 14, 1956 |
| Introductory price | US$3,200 (equivalent to $35,800 in 2024) per month |
| Discontinued | 1961 |
| Units sold | More than 1,000 |
| Storage | 3.75 megabytes |
| Successor | IBM 1401 |
| Website | www |
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The IBM 305 RAMAC was the first commercial computer that used a moving-head hard disk drive (magnetic disk storage) for secondary storage. The system was publicly announced on September 14, 1956, with test units already installed at the U.S. Navy and at private corporations. RAMAC stood for "Random Access Method of Accounting and Control", as its design was motivated by the need for real-time accounting in business.