My grandpa had one of these! I fondly remember playing the included copy of Mechwarrior 2 for hours. Sadly I think it went off to the electronics recycler years ago.
Love that all black pre-lenovo IBM look. Had a teacher in high school who had an Aptiva as their work PC. We installed all kinds of games on that thing for him. Also ive used that same media player suit but im pretty sure it was a Compaq machine thou.
I remember this being on display on the floor of my local RadioShack, and i loved the whole "pod" design and look of the Aptiva systems in general, especially the S models.
I'm 100% sure this was my first PC! got it after I graduated in 1997, my parents knew I always wanted one so this was the one I picked out. I remember the one part with the 'click to hide' portion under the monitor that hid the CD drive, so I assure folks that feature worked on the stock unit.
I had one of these when little too, it was bundled with Hyperman and also included the Jungle Book point and click adventure game based on the live action movie from back then. I would love to get one again and mod it to have a modern motherboard, and passthrough of the media enclosure that has the floppy, power button and cd-rom in it :)
I still have mine and I'm slowly but surely restoring it. I did remove the MWave sound card, though. As good as it sounded, it was just a huge pain to deal with in some situations. The updated drivers did help, if you can manage to track them down, but overall the MWave is just a big ole' PITA. If you use the MIDI features, the joystick port doesn't work. Also, sound does seem to eat up a lot of CPU time when using the stock drivers, and the updated drivers, though they do improve things, don't fully remedy the situation. One thing you can do that will pep-up the system a small amount is upgrade the L2 cache. There is this really unusual memory module on the motherboard, which if I remember correctly is something like 128k. You can replace it with a 256k version and it will actually improve system performance. Also, if you can track down the appropriate memory modules, maxing the thing out is a huge help. I think by default it only had something like 8 megabytes. It does have a single USB port, but unless you're running Windows 98 or ME it's pretty much useless. Overall, though, I always found my Aptiva S7H serviceable. I even have the matching Flatbed scanner with it and the media-bay looks pretty slick when sitting under the monitor if the monitor is on the stand. My eventual goal is to set up a DOS gaming environment on an IDE2SD adapter and install a bunch of 1994-1998 era games. I would say of my many vintage machines it's probably one of the few PCs I have that I consider a nice part of my collection.
holy memory unlock. i still have all these games somewhere. i also remember playing lego island on it. my mom's work bought her this when she was a supervisor. I was like 4-5.
The style just follows the IBM mini-server look they were introducing at the time. I see it and think AS/400. Seeing your Aptiva booting as new, I want to round up an install of OS/2 Warp 4 and watch it show all the true IBM aging glory it was sporting as the latest/greatest in 1996. On a side note, the voice of the prompts sounds like Amanda Bearse but I highly doubt that is really who it was.
If I recall, IBM home computers were developing a bad rep at the time. I don’t recall selling these at Staples back then unless someone came in asking for one directly. I loved the look of these, but we were selling equally powerful systems by Compaq and HP for a bit less.
Other than just plain costing more than other clones, the only *real* problem I remember with the Aptiva line was the rather terrible MWave Audio cards. They had a lot of issues, both electrical and auditory, plus they were quite proprietary at the time. Although, I think later other companies used them, and then soundblaster and the like caught up to the DSP units on the MWave. I recall that being a big marketing point was the power of having co-processors for audio and handling modem, etc in software. Much like the Apple GeoPort modems.
I am pretty sure my Packard Bell was just a few inches taller (maybe less than an inch with the drive bays exposed) and it had all the same specs as what you mentioned. It sat horizontal under the monitor but I will agree this one looks a lot better in that black case!
I did have that system. Still have the mouse, keyboard, monitor and all the original software. I don't know what happened to the other parts, I moved around much. Good video, thank you
I would not sell, it's best of IBM, to me. Yes, my monitor has the stand. I fits via the bottom so the CD box slides underneath. I still think it's the coolest computer ever, for the late 1990's
Sadly the the monitor and stand was thrown out years ago. I was able to find the Install and recovery Cd, bundled CDs, manuals and IBM branded Joystick that came with the system.
I used to Drool over this computer at CompUsa as a kid. Unfortunately like many of us home user these machines were just pipe dreams. We did eventually buy a Pentium 133 NEC Ready. Honestly that NEC was one solid machine. It came with Windows 95, Upgraded to 98 for X-Mas. And even tested Win2k on it.
The Lost Mind if Dr Brain, a legendary game on a legendary system, love the Aptiva! I had a M series at the time, but since picked up the S series - awesome :)
I've a feeling IBM used that media bay on a few other Aptiva models. I seem to remember a friend of mine had an Aptiva that I think was a desktop model, and it had a pop up drive bay that I seem to remember being in a separate enclosure, I don't think the machine was working when I saw it, I don't think he received it new.
My grandpa had one of these! I fondly remember playing the included copy of Mechwarrior 2 for hours. Sadly I think it went off to the electronics recycler years ago.
I hate everyone that threw these away
This was one of my childhood household PCs. I have extremely fond memories of this
That puzzle game must have been one i´ve played growing up, it was super familiar.
And the computer is one hell of a trip for the 90´s in general :)
Love that all black pre-lenovo IBM look. Had a teacher in high school who had an Aptiva as their work PC. We installed all kinds of games on that thing for him.
Also ive used that same media player suit but im pretty sure it was a Compaq machine thou.
the moving icons was cool
I remember this being on display on the floor of my local RadioShack, and i loved the whole "pod" design and look of the Aptiva systems in general, especially the S models.
Wow. I hope someone sees this video and has parts to get this thing sorted!
Oh man that's so nostalgic for me. That was my first computer my dad bought it for me when I was 12.
I'm 100% sure this was my first PC! got it after I graduated in 1997, my parents knew I always wanted one so this was the one I picked out. I remember the one part with the 'click to hide' portion under the monitor that hid the CD drive, so I assure folks that feature worked on the stock unit.
I had one of these when little too, it was bundled with Hyperman and also included the Jungle Book point and click adventure game based on the live action movie from back then. I would love to get one again and mod it to have a modern motherboard, and passthrough of the media enclosure that has the floppy, power button and cd-rom in it :)
I really like that aptiva arron!! the software was great..
Thanks for your time :)
I still have mine and I'm slowly but surely restoring it. I did remove the MWave sound card, though. As good as it sounded, it was just a huge pain to deal with in some situations. The updated drivers did help, if you can manage to track them down, but overall the MWave is just a big ole' PITA. If you use the MIDI features, the joystick port doesn't work. Also, sound does seem to eat up a lot of CPU time when using the stock drivers, and the updated drivers, though they do improve things, don't fully remedy the situation. One thing you can do that will pep-up the system a small amount is upgrade the L2 cache. There is this really unusual memory module on the motherboard, which if I remember correctly is something like 128k. You can replace it with a 256k version and it will actually improve system performance. Also, if you can track down the appropriate memory modules, maxing the thing out is a huge help. I think by default it only had something like 8 megabytes. It does have a single USB port, but unless you're running Windows 98 or ME it's pretty much useless. Overall, though, I always found my Aptiva S7H serviceable. I even have the matching Flatbed scanner with it and the media-bay looks pretty slick when sitting under the monitor if the monitor is on the stand. My eventual goal is to set up a DOS gaming environment on an IDE2SD adapter and install a bunch of 1994-1998 era games. I would say of my many vintage machines it's probably one of the few PCs I have that I consider a nice part of my collection.
This was a great system. I had one and loved it.
Great video Aaron! That is definitely a cool and unique 90’s PC!
$3k in 97.....wow! Now I know why I'd never heard of it. Way out of my scope....lol
A late friend of mine bought a new Aptiva from Radio Shack for around 2 grand. It had the new 200mhz Pentium cpu. It was a sweet PC for it's time.
holy memory unlock. i still have all these games somewhere. i also remember playing lego island on it. my mom's work bought her this when she was a supervisor. I was like 4-5.
Beautiful DREAM PC
The style just follows the IBM mini-server look they were introducing at the time. I see it and think AS/400. Seeing your Aptiva booting as new, I want to round up an install of OS/2 Warp 4 and watch it show all the true IBM aging glory it was sporting as the latest/greatest in 1996. On a side note, the voice of the prompts sounds like Amanda Bearse but I highly doubt that is really who it was.
If I recall, IBM home computers were developing a bad rep at the time. I don’t recall selling these at Staples back then unless someone came in asking for one directly. I loved the look of these, but we were selling equally powerful systems by Compaq and HP for a bit less.
Other than just plain costing more than other clones, the only *real* problem I remember with the Aptiva line was the rather terrible MWave Audio cards. They had a lot of issues, both electrical and auditory, plus they were quite proprietary at the time.
Although, I think later other companies used them, and then soundblaster and the like caught up to the DSP units on the MWave. I recall that being a big marketing point was the power of having co-processors for audio and handling modem, etc in software. Much like the Apple GeoPort modems.
Long file names were present in 1984 on Mac. Medium length on apple ii and commodore 64.
I seriously miss the desktop (horizontal) case style of PCs.
It's quite depressing they fell out of favor. They sure saved space on your desk. :'(
I am pretty sure my Packard Bell was just a few inches taller (maybe less than an inch with the drive bays exposed) and it had all the same specs as what you mentioned. It sat horizontal under the monitor but I will agree this one looks a lot better in that black case!
I had a Aptiva-mine was a 2194 with a Pentium III 733MHz.
I had one extreamly similar to that. had a pentium 133 in it with a 4 gig hard drive and a 8x cdrom with 32 megs of ram
I did have that system. Still have the mouse, keyboard, monitor and all the original software. I don't know what happened to the other parts, I moved around much. Good video, thank you
Do you have the monitor with the stand & the wireless mouse & the software binder?
If so, I would love to buy it from you.
I would not sell, it's best of IBM, to me. Yes, my monitor has the stand. I fits via the bottom so the CD box slides underneath. I still think it's the coolest computer ever, for the late 1990's
Grew up with one of these. I may still have the monitor stand.
I’m sure I have a black cd-rom drive.
If you do have the monitor or the stand would you sell it?
Sadly the the monitor and stand was thrown out years ago. I was able to find the Install and recovery Cd, bundled CDs, manuals and IBM branded Joystick that came with the system.
@@AsmodeusDeviluke Do you know if you have the original wireless mouse?. The radio receiver & the mouse?
I used to Drool over this computer at CompUsa as a kid. Unfortunately like many of us home user these machines were just pipe dreams. We did eventually buy a Pentium 133 NEC Ready. Honestly that NEC was one solid machine. It came with Windows 95, Upgraded to 98 for X-Mas. And even tested Win2k on it.
Oh my... I had that exact AST Advantage Adventure 6066d. I'd love to find one again.
The Lost Mind if Dr Brain, a legendary game on a legendary system, love the Aptiva! I had a M series at the time, but since picked up the S series - awesome :)
My first PC was an IBM aptiva S90 loved the black sleek look, had a 200MMX processor from intel....printer and PC cost me $5,000.
I think the "beige box" came about from German DIN standards specifying, yes, even office furniture colors.
Or as we called them at IBM Repair, the "Crap-tiva" !
Didn’t that model come with the music video for Dance Into The Light by Phil Collins on it somewhere?
Do any other Family Guy fans recognize the computer voice as news anchor Dianne Simmons?
I'm looking to buy one of these in the UK so hard to find
i have a similar keyboard, black with blue IBM on it but the style is different, it's similar to one of the earliest model
I've a feeling IBM used that media bay on a few other Aptiva models. I seem to remember a friend of mine had an Aptiva that I think was a desktop model, and it had a pop up drive bay that I seem to remember being in a separate enclosure, I don't think the machine was working when I saw it, I don't think he received it new.
Aptiva Guide was narrated by none other than Family Guy’s Diane Simmons herself… LorI Alan! 😆
needs to be cleaned out of the dust build up inside the case
First?
Excellent, informative show !