- The Mach 20 attempted to bridge generations of PCs – but instead achieved almost total obscurity
- Only 11 units of OS/2 for Mach 20 ever reached customers
- Eight users who bought OS/2 for the Mach 20 quickly returned it, disappointed
In the story of Microsoft’s successes, from Windows to its expansive suite of office software, lies an almost forgotten misstep that stands as a lesson in technological timing.
The “worst-selling Microsoft product of all time” is not an obscure game or unused application, but rather a specialized version of an operating system designed for hardware that few people owned.
Known as “OS/2 for Mach 20”, it sold only eleven copies, eight of which were reportedly returned.
The vision behind Mach 20
In the mid-to-late 1980s, PC hardware evolved rapidly, with faster processors and richer graphics reshaping what computers could do for business users.
For companies still adapting to the digital era, replacing entire systems was expensive, and Microsoft’s Mach 10 and later Mach 20 expansion cards were envisioned as solutions to this problem.
They promised to breathe new life into older PCs by adding faster processors and extra memory through a plug-in upgrade rather than a full replacement.
The Mach 20, with its 80286 CPU and expandable memory options, seemed like an attractive compromise between cost and performance.
Despite this promise, it remained limited by legacy bus architecture and expensive to implement.
At that time, the market was already moving towards newer machines that did not require such a solution.
Companies once hesitant to invest in new computers were more likely to buy fresh hardware than gamble on complex retrofits.
Microsoft’s decision to release a dedicated version of OS/2 for Mach 20 exacerbated the problem.
OS/2 itself, co-developed with IBM, was intended to replace DOS and rival Windows as the future of computing.
However, the Mach 20 edition required specific hardware to run, reducing its potential user base to a handful of enthusiasts.
Predictably, sales were dismal. Only a few units ever made it to customers, making it one of the most obscure releases in Microsoft’s long catalog.
The Mach 20 and its OS/2 variant faded into obscurity, but its story remains relevant—as its failure shows how even a technology giant can misjudge the balance between innovation and practicality.
Via Tom’s hardware
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