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'''Librex Computer Systems Inc.''' was a short-lived American subsidiary of the [[Nippon Steel|Nippon Steel Corporation]] that manufactured [[Laptop|notebook computers]] from 1990 to 1992.<ref name=
==History==
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Nippon Steel EISD, which only operated domestically, influenced the foundation of Librex, as executives within Nippon Steel expressed the desire for the company to have its own name-brand commodity computer.<ref name=Rockman1996 /> Starting in 1986, EISD had formed joint ventures with the American companies [[IBM]], [[Concurrent Computer Corporation]], [[Supertek Computers]], [[Sun Microsystems]], [[Calcomp|CalComp]], and [[3M]] and Japan companies [[Hitachi]] and [[Itochu]] to help develop EISD's hardware and software products.<ref name=Electronic_News1990 /><ref name=Schmitz1990>{{cite journal | last=Schmitz | first=Tom | date=September 9, 1990 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-09-09-9003150509-story.html | title=Nippon Steel Will Build Laptops in Silicon Valley | work=Chicago Tribune | publisher=Tribune Publishing | page=11E}}</ref><ref name=CBR1990>{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=August 23, 1990 | url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/nippon_steel_forms_librex_to_make_mabket_laptops_in_the_us | title=Nippon Steel Forms Librex to Make, Market Laptops in the US | work=Computer Business Review | publisher=New Statesman Media Group | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011033233/https://techmonitor.ai/technology/nippon_steel_forms_librex_to_make_mabket_laptops_in_the_us | archivedate=October 11, 2022}}</ref> Discussions within Nippon Steel to form an international computer company began in 1987 with the commissioning of EISD to research the manufacture of [[workstation]]s and [[laptop]]s. A slate of notebook computers were developed by EISD in partnership with the EISS laboratories of Tokyo and [[Kanagawa, Japan]]. On Librex's incorporation in June 1990, the general manager of EISD, Toshiji Tanaka, was named president and [[Chief financial officer|CFO]] of Librex and moved to San Jose. The subsidiary employed only 12 in August 1990, with 28 additional positions planned for creation by December; Librex projected 80 jobs in late 1991.<ref name=Electronic_News1990 />
Librex contracted the mass manufacturing of the company's initial product lineup, a duo of notebook computers, to an unnamed American firm.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Sexton | first=Tara | date=August 27, 1990 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A8783238/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=New Nippon Steel Division to Launch Line of Computers | work=PC Week | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=7 | issue=34 | page=24 | via=Gale}}</ref> The Librex office in San Jose mostly handled sales and marketing and other operational duties, although the office did posses limited manufacturing facilities.<ref name=CBR1990 /> The Librex 386SX and Librex 286—two notebook computers based on [[Intel]]'s [[Intel 80386SX|80386SX]] and [[Intel 80286|80286]] processors respectively—were unveiled at [[COMDEX|COMDEX/Fall]] in November 1990.<ref name=Fitzgerald1990>{{cite journal | last=Fitzgerald | first=Michael | date=November 12, 1990 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uq5aBOwhFnoC&pg=PA144 | title=Pick your portable | work=Computerworld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=XXVI | issue=46 | page=144 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Krohn1990 /> The former was released on time in December 1990; the Librex 386SX was released in limited quantities that month,<ref name=Krohn1990>{{cite journal | last=Krohn | first=Nico | date=November 12, 1990 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 | title=Japanese Steel Maker Tries U.S. Notebook Market | work=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=12 | issue=46 | page=27 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Skillings1990>{{cite journal | last=Skillings | first=Jonathan | date=November 12, 1990 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A9589291/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=386SX chip dominates scene in new laptop releases | work=PC Week | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=7 | issue=45 | page=17 | via=Gale}}</ref> shipping en masse in March 1991.<ref>{{cite journal | last=O'Brien | first=Bill | date=March 12, 1991 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GF_6VuE4h2MC&pg=PT114 | title=Battery-Powered 386SXs and 386DXs | work=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=10 | issue=5 | pages=111–187 | via=Google Books}}</ref>{{rp|114}} The Librex 386SX was mostly positively received in ''[[InfoWorld]]'', ''[[ABA Journal]]'', and ''[[PC Magazine]]''.<ref name=Garza1991>{{cite journal | last=Garza | first=Victor R. | date=October 7, 1991 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zT0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA74 | title=Librex wades into the 386SX | work=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=XXVI | issue=13 | page=40 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Mass1991>{{cite journal | editor-last=Mass | editor-first=Debra Cassens | date=November 1991 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvJHc73NRKwC&pg=PA97 | title=Of First Impressions: New Products for Attorneys | work=ABA Journal | publisher=American Bar Association | volume=77 | pages=95–97 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Howard1992>{{cite journal | last=Howard | first=Bill | date=April 14, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AoKUhNoOys4C&pg=PP178 | title=High-End Notebook PCs | work=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=11 | issue=7 | pages=113–181 | via=Google Books}}</ref>{{rp|156}}
In November 1991, Librex unveiled the M486 and M386SL lines of notebooks. They were based on Intel's [[Intel 80486|486]] and [[Intel 80386SL|386SL]] processors respectively and were compatible with an optional [[docking station]]. Interfacing to the laptop through a 130-pin connector, the docking station added two 16-bit [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] expansion slots, a [[SCSI]] hard drive adapter, a passthrough for serial, parallel, and external monitor cables, and three 3.5-inch disk drive bays. Slated for an early 1992 release,<ref name=Quinlan1991>{{cite journal | last=Quinlan | first=Tom | date=November 4, 1991 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xz0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 | title=Librex moves to desktop with batch of portables | work=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=13 | issue=44 | page=32 | via=Google Books}}</ref> they were shortly followed up by the introduction of the Librex T386SX, featuring a modular design that extended into the design of the caddy for the internal hard drive, which could be removed toollessly for replacement or stored away as a security precaution. It took propriety [[Random-access memory|RAM]] modules for memory upgrades, supporting up to 12 MB of RAM from the stock 4 MB. The T386SX's floppy drive was external only, connected to the notebook via a detachable cable.<ref name=Lee1992>{{cite journal | last=Lee | first=Yvonne | date=March 16, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3D0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 | title=Librex introduces mix, match notebook | work=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=14 | issue=11 | page=30 | via=Google Books}}</ref> The T386SX's case bore a rubberized coating to make it scratch-resistant and slip-proof.<ref name=Levin1992 /> It was the first and only Librex laptop to feature [[PC Card]] slots.<ref name=Fitzgerald1992>{{cite journal | last=Fitzgerald | first=Michael | date=March 23, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fxsaF0QuVEC&pg=PA36 | title=i486-based notebooks hit market | work=Computerworld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=XXVI | issue=12 | page=36 | via=Google Books}}</ref> Like the Librex 386SX, it received mostly good reviews.<ref name=Levin1992>{{cite journal | last=Levin | first=Carol | date=August 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hqQJaNzN9IcC&pg=PA40 | title=First Looks: Librex T386SX | work=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=11 | issue=14 | pages=40–41 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Mass1992>{{cite journal | editor-last=Mass | editor-first=Debra Cassens | date=September 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUPdREzSRGkC&pg=PA89 | title=Of First Impressions: New Products for Attorneys | work=ABA Journal | publisher=American Bar Association | volume=79 | pages=89–90 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=Howard1992>{{cite journal | last=Howard | first=Bill | date=December 22, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9TVJ_G_sk8C&pg=PA238 | title=Portable Computers: On the Road | work=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=11 | issue=22 | pages=153–265 | via=Google Books}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
* {{cite journal | last=Lee | first=Yvonne | date=September 7, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 | title=Librex shuts down its U.S. operations | work=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=14 | issue=36 | page=26 | via=Google Books}}
* {{cite journal | last=Howard | first=Bill | date=August 1993 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H53CIZnYLZwC&pg=PA224 | title=The Portable Puzzle | work=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=12 | issue=14 | pages=126–269 | via=Google Books}}
}}
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