Today, a PC clone is a Windows computer that is not made by one of the major PC vendors such as HP, Dell or Lenovo. In the 1980s, a PC clone was a PC not made by IBM. After Compaq Computer achieved 100% compatibility with the IBM PC in 1983, Compaq and all the other PC clone companies running Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system caused the personal computer industry to become mainstream within a few years. See
white box,
PC compatible and
Compaq.