(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)
