OS/2 Compatible computers

When you buy a Blonde Guy computer, you benefit from years of experience using a wide variety of computers. With each computer, you get:

The unique OS/2 environment
Commonly used programs installed and ready to use
The option of adding features of particular use to OS/2 users
Technical support from Blonde Guy and Arca Noae
Excellent OS/2 compatibility
The latest fixes and enhancements from Arca Noae and others
A detailed web page describing precisely how the computer is configured to run ArcaOS
A Recovery DVD (or USB stick for computers that lack a DVD drive) that can recreate the factory installation. Customers who prefer customer partitioning can use the recovery DVD to partition and restore the Factory build to partitions of their choice.

Laptops

Blonde Guy laptop computers provide a portable OS/2 environment. A good travel computer provides all the capabilities of the office machine at a remote location, and it can join diverse networks with adequate security.

Blonde Guy uses Lenovo Thinkpads, which are good quality laptops, with excellent documentation.

The smallest laptop will let you work comfortably in a small space. A larger one will provide you with a larger screen and keyboard.

Thinkpad T550

The Lenovo Thinkpad T550 is a large laptop that is a good value. It has a powerful CPU and graphics. The VGA adapter accepts an external monitor. Its 15.4 inch screen has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080. ArcaOS provides audio, Ethernet and USB support. Dual boot with ArcaOS 5.1 or Windows 10. Lenovo Dock included.

Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: Thinkpad T550
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-5300U CPU @ 2.30GHz
Screen: 15.6 inch Color LCD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB SATA SSD
Weight: 4.93 pounds
WiFi: Travel Router
Hostname: Carbon
Status: In stock

Thinkpad T550

Thinkpad T490

This IBM Thinkpad model is a portable computer, with powerful CPU and graphics. The built-in screen has a screen resolution of 1366 x 768, also known as HD, and The IPS technology provides a display that is bright and clear. The computer can boot Windows 11 or ArcaOS 5.1.

Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: Thinkpad T490
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8265U CPU @ 1.60GHz 4 cores
Screen: 14.0 inch Color LCD, 1366 x 768 pixels
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 256 GB M.2 PCIe Gen3 x 4 NVMe SSD
Weight: 3.22 lbs
WiFi: Travel Router
Hostname: Nitrogen
Status: In stock

Thinkpad T490

Desktops

Blonde Guy desktop computers provide an OS/2 environment in your office. Blonde Guy uses good quality, well documented Lenovo ThinkCentre computers.

Blonde Guy desktop computers can be equipped with parallel ports and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, which are not commonly found on modern computers.

Desktop computers come in three sizes.

The mini-tower desktop has space for three hard drives and normal profile add-in cards.
The small-form factor desktop has space for two hard drives and low profile add-in cards.
The tiny form factor uses laptop technology to make the smallest desktop possible, with one hard drive and no expansion cards or optical drive.

ThinkCentre M920 Tower

The Lenovo M920 tower computer is compatible with ArcaOS. Built-in video, sound, network, USB, serial port all function under ArcaOS 5.1. The computer features M.2 NVMe drive support on the motherboard, tool-free installation of SATA hard drives and an assortment of PCIe slots.

I added the Icy Dock 2 to my M920 Tower system. The custom front panel bezels to make it look like a professionally built computer are expensive and have long lead times. I also added a number of SATA cables to make the dock function. And it does function well. With no drives plugged in, it is a powerful ArcaOS computer, but with a drive plugged into drive bay 1, it can boot Windows, Linux and possibly other operating systems that I have not yet tried.

Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: ThinkCentre M920 Tower
RAM: 16 GB
Hard drive: 2000 GB NVMe SSD
Hostname: Aluminum
Status: build to order

ThinkCentre M920 Tower

ThinkCentre M920q

This Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q computer is compatible with ArcaOS. It features an 8th generation Intel core-i5 processor, 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB NVMe solid state drive. The Intel UHD Graphics 630 on the motherboard produces the fastest graphics I have yet measured on an OS/2 machine.

This computer can run one NVMe drive and one SATA drive. The NVMe drive is roughly 2.5 times faster than the SATA solid state drive. Built-in video, sound, network, USB 3.0 and serial port all function under ArcaOS 5.1.

Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: ThinkCentre M920q tiny
RAM: 8 GB
Hard drive: 256 GB NVMe SSD
Hostname: Lithium
Status: build to order

ThinkCentre M920q

ThinkCentre M93p

This Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Small-Form-Factor computer is compatible with ArcaOS. Built-in video, sound, network, USB, serial port all function under ArcaOS 5.1. The computer features tool-free installation of SATA hard drives and an assortment of PCI and PCIe slots.

This computer is configured with software intended for OS/2 in industrial applications.

Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: ThinkCentre M93p SFF
RAM: 8 GB
Hard drive: 256 GB NVMe SSD
Hostname: Phosphorus
Status: build to order

ThinkCentre M93p

OS/2 compatible computer accessories

The parts on this page can be ordered separately from Blonde Guy computers. They are offered to save OS/2 users time getting the right parts for their platform.

ArcaOS Virtual Machine

Blonde Guy sells a virtual ArcaOS appliance configured to run under Virtual Box. The applications that Blonde Guy usually installs on an ArcaOS preloaded computer are installed in the virtual machine. If you have decided to go virtual for ArcaOS, this is a way to get there quickly.

Archive of sold machines

Here is a list of past Blonde Guy computers, allowing existing customers to view the web page for their computers.

List of commercial machines

Here is a list of commerical computers by model that Blonde Guy has sold over the years that may be useful for people who want to install OS/2 successfully.