Replying to a message of Scott McNay to Rich Veraa:
 SM>  *** Rich Veraa wrote in a message to Scott McNay:
 RV>> The PC was _supposed_  to use an 8086, and was originally
 RV>> designed on that basis.  But as IBM started gearing up for
 RV>> production, they discovered that reliable sources of
 RV>> 16-bit peripherals did not yet exist.
 SM> Since they were building a new computer, probably the ONLY
 SM> peripherals (cards) were the ones that THEY made.
Actually, IBM outsourced virtually all of its hardware components, initially 
to one outside contractor for each component.
They ran into problems when the AT was released, because the contractor for 
the hard drives couldn't deliver on time.. they ran a hurried contract 
through someone else, and then that contractor and IBM suffered because there 
were defects that could not be addressed in time for release. After that, IBM 
insisted on having two outside sources for any hardware item before they 
would release a new machine.
--- FleetStreet 1.21 NR
---------------