Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
Line 2:
==History==
===Background and foundation (1986–1990)===
Librex Computer Systems was incorporated in [[San Jose, California]], in June 1990;<ref name=Electronic_News1990>{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=August 27, 1990 | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_electronic-news_1990-08-27_36_1824/page/n2/ | title=Nippon Steel U.S. Subsidiary Plans CPU Market Entry in '91 | work=Electronic News | publisher=Sage Publications | volume=36 | issue=1824 | page=7 | via=the Internet Archive}}</ref> [[Nippon Steel]] formally introduced it in August 1990.<ref name=Richards1990>{{cite journal | last=Richards | first=Evelyn | date=August 23, 1990 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1990/08/23/nippon-steel-to-open-computer-subsidiary-in-california/8c367b55-51e2-4b3d-9af6-95c9a9b2ff5d/ | title=Nippon Steel to Open Computer Subsidiary in California | work=The Washington Post | publisher=The Washington Post Company | page=C1}}</ref><ref name=New_York_Times1992>{{cite journal | last=Associated Press | date=August 29, 1992 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/29/business/company-news-nippon-steel-quiting-personal-computer-business.html | title=Nippon Steel Quitting Personal Computer Business | work=The New York Times | publisher=The New York Times Company | page=1.35 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526065730/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/29/business/company-news-nippon-steel-quiting-personal-computer-business.html | archivedate=May 26, 2015}}</ref> Librex was the first venture in the United States for Nippon Steel's Electronics and Information Systems Division (EISD), which had sold software and hardware only in Japan.<ref name=Electronic_News1990 /> Librex was forerun by the existence of NS Computer Systems, Inc., a company set up by Nippon Steel in [[Santa Ana, California]], to research the American computer marketplace.<ref name=Furukawa1990>{{cite journal | last=Furukawa | first=Tsukasa | date=August 31, 1990 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A9395433/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Nippon Plans US Release of Computers | work=American Metal Market | volume=98 | issue=171 | page=4 | via=Gale}}</ref>
Line 8 ⟶ 9:
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 />
===First products (1990–1991)===
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=Howard1992a>{{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}}
===Subsequent lineups and dissolution (1991–1992)===
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=Howard1992b>{{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>
Although Librex's laptops continued to receive high marks for their build quality, the company saw pressure in the crowded notebook market by the beginning of 1992.<ref name=Eisenstodt1992>{{cite web | last=Eisenstodt | first=Gale | date=January 24, 1992 | url=https://www.afr.com/companies/nippon-steel-learns-from-diversification-19920124-kaoas | title=Nippon Steel Learns from Diversification | work=Australian Financial Review | agency=Forbes Reprint | publisher=Nine Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011033237/https://www.afr.com/companies/nippon-steel-learns-from-diversification-19920124-kaoas | archivedate=October 11, 2022}}</ref> Amid falling profit margins, Nippon Steel announced in August 1992 that they would dissolve both Librex and Nippon Steel Computer PLC in the United Kingdom,<ref name=New_York_Times1992 /> in what was called "the first visible fallout from the price war" hitting the portable computer market in the early 1990s, according to [[International Data Group|IDC]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Librex pulled their products from the market that month but continued to support customers until March 1993 while they discussed selling their capital and intellectual property to potential buyers.<ref name=Wall_Street_Journal1992>{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=August 31, 1992 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/398376981/ | title=Nippon Steel to Close Computer Subsidiaries In U.S. and Britain | work=The Wall Street Journal | publisher=Dow Jones & Company | page=1 | via=ProQuest}}</ref> Polywell Computers of San Francisco ultimately bought the tooling for Librex's notebook computers, selling them in the United States in 1993.<ref name=Howard1993>{{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}}</ref>
In its three years of existence, Librex managed to attain the rank of the 47th largest personal computer maker in the United States by the time it ceased operations.<ref name=New_York_Times1992 /> Dan Crane, vice president of sales and marketing for Librex, reflected in 1996 that Nippon Steel's remote management imposed handicaps in selling Librex's products at attractive prices: "Nippon Steel simply didn't have the cultural infrastructure needed to compete here ... [having a] rather cool, ultraslim notebook for 1992 with quantities and prices that were [arbitrarily] set in 1991", in part due to management honoring the initial quotes it gave to retail and direct sales partners, refusing to ask for adjustments after the fact.<ref name=Doyle1996>{{cite journal | last=Doyle | first=T. C. | date=July 1, 1996 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/194167590/ | title=Pacific Power | work=VARbusiness | publisher=CMP Publications | page=68 | via=ProQuest}}</ref>
==References==
| |||