# Event Details - **Event Name**: Hybrid: The Man Who Beat IBM: How Compaq Saved the PC - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 02:30 pm – Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: In 1981, IBM launched the PC. By making it an open standard, they changed computing forever.About this EventSpeakerGareth EdwardsSynopsis“It hit me at some point. We’re the only one that can do this. If we don’t, it won't happen.” – Rod Canion, CEO of Compaq.In 1981, IBM launched the PC. By making it an open standard, they changed computing forever. Six years later, they announced the release of the IBM PS/2. An attempt to take back full control of the market they had created. The plan should have succeeded. One Company stood in their way: Compaq.In this talk, we will cover the history of Compaq and how they rose to be IBM’s biggest competitor as a ‘clone’ manufacturer. We’ll then look at how Compaq CEO, Rod Canion stood firm against IBM’s secret offer to split the market with its major rival. Instead, he orchestrated the remarkable and successful plot to keep the PC an open platform forever.About the speakerGareth Edwards is a digital strategist, writer, and historian. He is an avid collector of old computers, rare books and interviews, and abandoned cats. Follow him on Mastodon and BlueSky.Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.BCS is a membership organisation. If you enjoy this event, please consider joining BCS. You’ll be very welcome. You’ll receive access to many exclusive career development tools, an introduction to a thriving professional community and also help us Make IT Good For Society. If you are attending in person, please familiarise yourself with the Visitor Instructions for the BCS London Office.Please note, if you have any accessibility needs, please let us know via groups@bcs.uk, and we’ll work with you to make suitable arrangements.For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event, please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters.This event is brought to you by: Computer Conservation Society - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/london/hybrid-the-man-who-beat-ibm-how-compaq-saved-the-pc/100001976142534517 - **Event Categories**: it, art, literary-art - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket URL**: https://consumer.pxf.io/c/1339408/3151484/39691?partnerpropertyid=1191892&MediaPartnerPropertyId=1191892&svlink=14105511&level=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Fhybrid-the-man-who-beat-ibm-how-compaq-saved-the-pc-registration-1976142534517 - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: London - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT - **lat**: 51.5168719 - **long**: -0.0877157 - **full address**: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, 25 Copthall Ave, London, United Kingdom ## Event Organizer details - **affiliate_id**: 10 - **organizer**: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT (https://allevents.in/org/bcs-the-chartered-institute-for-it/22518627) ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: banner - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/2b4222fd3c37106f115f766e297587d4bb4a6b99f140a61e94c27c72a77ee78f-rimg-w251-h201-dca49178-gmir.jpg?v=1766937232 - **Alt text**: thumbnail - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/55d0def3ef2eb9a733811687c46e9e92606c4d20325cd9c9f83d860d858ad0a3-rimg-w400-h400-dca59179-gmir.jpg?v=1766937232 ## FAQs - **Q**: When is the event happening? - **A:** Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 02:30 pm - **Q**: Where is the event happening? - **A:** BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, 25 Copthall Ave, London, United Kingdom - **Q**: What is the ticket price? - **A:** starting from 0 up to 0 GBP - **Q**: Who is organizing the event? - **A:** BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT - **Q**: What type of event is this? - **A:** it, art, literary-art - **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Hybrid: The Man Who Beat IBM: How Compaq Saved the PC ? - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Hybrid: The Man Who Beat IBM: How Compaq Saved the PC", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/2b4222fd3c37106f115f766e297587d4bb4a6b99f140a61e94c27c72a77ee78f-rimg-w251-h201-dca49178-gmir.jpg?v=1766937232", "startDate": "2026-02-19", "endDate": "2026-02-19", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/hybrid-the-man-who-beat-ibm-how-compaq-saved-the-pc/100001976142534517", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "25 Copthall Ave", "postalCode": "EC2R 7BP", "addressLocality": "London", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.5168719", "longitude": "-0.0877157" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "In 1981, IBM launched the PC. 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