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During the 1980s the company was a supplier of microcomputers to the education sector, producing the 380Z , Link 480Z and Nimbus PC-186 models.
Research Machines systems are infamous for their inflexibility in operation, which many students and school staff find leads to a very unpleasant computing experience. For example, some of their software (now based upon Microsoft Windows) is often incorrectly set up or installed so that video monitors output at the insufficient 60Hz rate which can cause headaches and nausea when viewed for more than a very short time.
RM desktop software is so thinly veiled over the original Microsoft operating systems, that near all of the implementations can be removed by the installation of a simple registry key. Also, fundamental processes such as right-clicking is disabled to cover up the fact that many of the system changes implemented by the RM software can be reversed just by changing the options on the windows control panel.
Research Machines software operating system is an extension to the original Microsoft Windows software it is based upon, and it is dubious as to whether the pro of having a slightly more tailor made computer system for a school outweighs the cons of having to pay significantly more than an out of the box windows installation as is, or with other, free software, applied to it.