Arizona Technology Council Announces Keynote Breakfast Featuring Bill Lowe, Father of the PC.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Learn how the Father of the PC convinced IBM to take a chance on personal computing projects

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 the Arizona Technology Council will host a Keynote Breakfast featuring Bill Lowe, former director of development and manufacturing operations for IBM at the Phoenix Civic Plaza (Yuma Rooms), from 7:30 to 9 a.m. This event will give computer consumers the inside scoop on personal computing.

"The Keynote Breakfast will be an eye-opening event on how taking a chance really pays off," said Todd Bankofier, president and CEO for the Arizona Technology Council. "IBM is a powerhouse in personal computing and this event will showcase the man that started it all."

Lowe, a Tucson resident, is known as "the father of the IBM PC." In that role, he also led the industry in manufacturing computers with off-the-shelf parts, a move that benefited consumers by lowering the cost of computer purchases and repairs, but at the same time made it easy for IBM's competitors to make PC clones.

He went to work for IBM in 1962 as a product test engineer in Endicott, N.Y. In 1975, he became director of development and manufacturing operations for IBM's GSD (General Systems Division) in Atlanta.

It was in his role as systems manager of entry-level systems for GSD in Boca Raton, Fla., that Lowe had the greatest influence. In 1980, IBM was ready to enter the personal computing market dominated by Apple, Commodore, and Atari, and set a one-year deadline. Lowe convinced the company that in order to meet the deadline it would have to depart from its customary style of building business machines with proprietary parts.

Lowe appointed senior program manager Don Estridge to run the Boca Raton project, which insiders called Project Chess, referring to the product as Acorn. The team's approach of using open architecture not only ensured the PC was delivered on schedule but also changed the manufacturing practices of the industry. And buying off-the-shelf parts was a decision that helped to make giants of Intel and Microsoft and other providers of computer components and software.

Lowe also influenced the company's decision to sell its products through retail stores instead of through its own sales force. This was another first in computing history.

Lowe was made a vice president in 1986. He is currently involved with a software company in Chicago, which is focused on developing alternative input sources for computing other than the keyboard.

For more information or to register online, visit the Arizona Technology Council's Web site at www.aztechcouncil.org and click on Council Events. Individual cost is $40 for council members and $55 for nonmembers, or purchase a table for your company for $360 for council members or $500 for nonmembers.

About the Arizona Technology Council

Since its inception in 2002, the Arizona Technology Council has stood as the largest association of technology companies in Arizona, whose shared vision is for the state to be recognized as a top-tier center for technology-based businesses. The council works to carry out this vision by driving partnerships, policies and programs that advance the business climate for Arizona's technology community and by representing, supporting and advocating for member companies through initiatives, advocacy, networking and effective communications. The Arizona Technology Council represents 30,000-plus employees at more than 400 of the leading technology companies across Arizona. Represented industries include advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, e-learning, environmental technology, software, Internet applications, semiconductors and telecommunications. For more information, visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.