Intertec Data Systems: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Defunct American computer company}}

{{Redirect|Intertec|the defunct publishing company|IntertecPenton Publishing(company)}}

{{Distinguish|Intertek}}

{{Infobox company

| name=Intertec Data Systems Corporation

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| founded={{Start date and age|1973}} in [[Columbia, South Carolina]]

| defunct={{End date and age|1991}}

| fate=[[Chapter 7 bankruptcy]], [[Liquidation]]

| fate=Bankruptcy liquidation

| products={{ubl|Computer systems|Video terminals}}

}}

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==History==

[[File:Intertec Superbrain.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|An [[Intertec Superbrain]]]]

Intertec was founded in Columbia, South Carolina, by William Wells, a former [[IBM]] researcher, to manufacture and market low-cost [[Computer terminal|video terminal]]s.<ref name=Coyne>{{cite journal | last=Coyne | first=Tom | date=July 16, 1986 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121816056/computer-company-attempting-a-comeback/ | title=Computer company attempting a comeback | workjournal=The Times and Democrat | page=5B | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1979, the company introduced the [[Intertec Superbrain|Superbrain]], an [[All-in-one PC|all-in-one]] [[microcomputer]] based on the [[Zilog Z80]] microprocessor and running [[CP/M]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Longley | first=Dennis | author2=Michael Stain | date=1983 | url=https://wwwbooks.google.com/books/edition/Microcomputer_User_s_Handbook/?id=qZiwCwAAQBAJ | title=Microcomputer User's Handbook: The Complete and Up to Date Guide to Buying a Business Computer | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan | page=207 | isbn=9781349067374 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Hogan | first=Thom | date=April 27, 1981 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 | title=SuperBrain Chronicles | workjournal=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=3 | issue=8 | page=35 | via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1980, Intertec introduced the CompuStar, a [[multiuser]] microcomputer housed in a more standard [[Desktop computer|desktop]] form factor.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=August 11, 1980 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_GaHXKwFpMC&pg=PA57 | title=Multiuser System Accesses Shared Disk | workjournal=Computerworld | publisher=CW Communications | volume=XIV | issue=32 | page=57 | via=Google Books}}</ref>

Both computers sold steadily well in the first two years, with the company earning $3.7&nbsp;million on $17.2&nbsp;million in sales by 1981. That year, the company filed its [[initial public offering]]. However, the company found itself unable to compete with IBM's [[IBM Personal Computer|Personal Computer]] introduced in 1981, a system which saw quick widespread adoption.<ref name=Coyne /> In December 1983, they staged a comeback with the HeadStart, a semi-portable all-in-one featuring both the [[Intel 8086]] of the IBM PC, allowing it to run "most" programs for the PC's [[PC DOS|DOS]], and a Z80 microprocessor capable of running CP/M.<ref name=Coyne /><ref>{{cite journal | last=Zientara | first=Peggy | date=December 26, 1983 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ei4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 | title=Intertec unveils portable with 12-inch screen | workjournal=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=5 | issue=52 | pagepages=64–65 | via=Google Books}}</ref> The computer was not as [[IBM PC compatible]] as was advertised, however, and the product flopped.<ref name=Coyne /> Massive layoffs within the company ensued, with the company only employing 12 by June 1985, down from a peak of 600 employees in 1983.<ref name=Coyne /><ref>{{cite journal | date=December 11, 1984 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/397887514/ | title=Intertec Data Lays Off More of Its Workers; Number Isn't Disclosed | workjournal=The Wall Street Journal | publisher=Dow Jones & Company | page=1 | viaid={{ProQuest|397887514}} }}</ref> In 1986, William Wells' younger brother Ron Wells took over the company and renamed it to Wells American. It pivoted to the production of true IBM PC compatibles, marketing the A-Star as one such example that year.<ref name=Coyne />

In 1988, Wells American introduced a new CompuStar that could take expansion cards of both the IBM PC and IBM's new [[IBM PS/2|Personal System/2 (PS/2)]]. The expansion bus of the IBM PC was a mostly open standard known as the [[Industry Standard Architecture|Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)]], while the PS/2's bus was based on IBM's [[Micro Channel architecture]], a more locked-down, heavily patented architecture devised by IBM as an attempt to regain market share lost through the proliferation and commodification of IBM PC clones. The new CompuStar possessed both ISA and Micro Channel expansion slots.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Shelley | first=Beverly S. | date=July 16, 1988 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121816074/wells-american-is-pinning-its-hopes-on/ | title=Wells American is pinning its hopes on CompuStar | workjournal=The State | page=7C | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | date=October 1988 | url=https://archive.org/details/pc_world-1988_10/page/n17/ | title=Wells Clones the PS/2 | workjournal=PC World | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=6 | issue=10 | page=16 | via=the Internet Archive}}</ref>

The new CompuStar was not enough to reverse the company's fortunes, and in 1990 the company suspended all manufacturing activities and marketing in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal | date=January 11, 1990 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/398139551/ | title=Wells American Cuts Production, Suspends Marketing in the U.S. | workjournal=The Wall Street Journal | publisher=Dow Jones & Company | page=1 | viaid={{ProQuest|398139551}} }}</ref> In 1991, the company filed for [[Chapter 7 bankruptcy]] and had its assets [[liquidated]].<ref>{{cite journal | date=May 3, 1991 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/398193460/ | title=Wells American Corp.: Company Decides to File For Bankruptcy Liquidation | workjournal=The Wall Street Journal | publisher=Dow Jones & Company | page=C13 | viaid={{ProQuest|398193460}} }}</ref>

==References==

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[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]

[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]