(PCM) A manufacturer of equipment that some other manufacturer' s system can identify and work with. The PCM' s devICE replaces the original manufacturer' s. Most PCMs competed with IBM. PCM devICEs normally offer a cost-performance benefit over the original devICE. For example, several PCM versions of the {Direct-Access Storage DevICE} {IBM 3350} offered twICE the storage and improved data access (dual port). Plug compatible devICEs include replacement CPUs, such as the Hitachi 7/90 series (which could be substituted for {IBM 3090} series processors), {I/O} subsystems, and {dumb terminals} like the {IBM 3270}. [Used outside mainframe market?] (2003-06-24)