Airis Computer
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | Pair Computer Corporation |
| Founded | July 24, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | Jeffrey A. Maziarek, Steven R. Valentor |
| Defunct | January 2, 1993 |
| Fate | Ceased operations amid trademark dispute |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Mike Maziarek (president), Jeffrey A. Maziarek (VP sales and marketing) |
| Products | Airis VH-286 laptop |
Number of employees | 10 (1991) |
Airis Computer Corporation—initially named Pair Computer Corporation—was an American mail-order computer firm that operated briefly from 1989 until 1993. Its only product, the Airis VH-286 laptop, stood out for its thin profile and extended battery endurance, powered uniquely by disposable C-cell batteries. The launch encountered several postponements caused by FCC compliance challenges and other complications. The company ceased operations in 1993 amid a trademark dispute with Harris Corporation; its trademark rights expired toward the end of 1992. Industry insiders suggest that Airis may never have completed any sales.
Establishment
Airis was founded in Chicago, Illinois, by Jeffrey A. Maziarek and Steven R. Valentor. Initially incorporated as Pair Computer Corporation on July 24, 1989, the company quickly changed its name to Airis following a trademark clearance process. Both founders had previously worked at Zenith Data Systems and left after its acquisition by Groupe Bull in 1989—Valentor held a systems engineering role, while Maziarek specialized in marketing. The venture received financial backing from Mark IV Realty Corporation; as part of this arrangement, Maziarek temporarily took on the role of vice president of sales and marketing at an associated firm.
Mike Maziarek, Jeffrey’s brother, assumed the presidency despite lacking a background in technology; his prior experience was managing a picture-framing retail chain. Airis operated out of an eight-room office situated in Chicago’s Elston Corridor building. The company aimed to challenge established notebook manufacturers such as Compaq and Toshiba by delivering a laptop that combined robust performance with affordability and superior battery longevity. Their initial prototype was unveiled at the Midwest Computer Show held in Chicago in May 1990.
Airis VH-286
The Airis VH-286 laptop was equipped with an Intel 80286 CPU running at 12.5 MHz, featuring a socket for an optional Intel 80287 math coprocessor and expandable SIMM RAM starting at 2 MB. It incorporated a built-in 2400-baud modem alongside an 11-inch monochrome super-twisted nematic LCD display supporting VGA resolution (640×480 pixels); early versions initially offered only EGA video capability. Storage consisted of a 2.5-inch, 20 MB hard disk drive supplied by PrairieTek and Conner Peripherals, augmented with 256 KB of page cache memory. The LCD controller was sourced from Chips and Technologies, while the keyboard contained 82 keys manufactured by EECO/Maxi-Switch. Printed circuit board assembly was outsourced to a facility in Des Plaines, Illinois, with final product assembly conducted at Airis’ Chicago headquarters, reportedly taking just three and a half minutes per unit.
A key differentiator was the laptop’s power system and BIOS design. In addition to an optional rechargeable nickel–cadmium battery pack, the VH-286 supported operation on up to ten disposable C batteries, which could provide as much as 20 hours of usage—a notable advantage for prolonged mobile applications despite the batteries being single-use. The BIOS resided on a 128-KB Intel flash EEPROM chip, allowing firmware updates via Airis’ proprietary bulletin-board system (BBS) over the embedded modem connection. This TeleROM feature enabled users to remotely upgrade BIOS capabilities and apply bug fixes, thereby extending the device’s functional lifespan and bolstering its market competitiveness.
The notebook weighed approximately 6.5 pounds when fully outfitted with ten C batteries and measured roughly 12 by 10 by 2 inches within a black plastic enclosure described by The New York Times as "strikingly attractive." Notably absent was an internal 3.5-inch floppy disk drive; instead, an external floppy drive was offered—a decision that sparked some debate at the time. The system came preloaded with MS-DOS version 4.0 embedded in ROM, underscoring Airis’ emphasis on delivering essential software ready for immediate business use.
Delays and decline
Following its announcement in June 1990, the VH-286 generated considerable excitement, even earning a cover story in Byte magazine. Initially set to launch in September 1990 at a price of US$1,899, the release was postponed until November as Airis redesigned the motherboard to incorporate a VGA port. By late 1990, the company had transitioned to a mail-order sales approach. After securing FCC Class B certification in December 1990, Airis declared the product would be available by February 1991, operating with a workforce of ten employees at that point.
Nonetheless, by January 1992, PC Magazine reported that the VH-286 had yet to reach customers, a statement Byte reiterated in 1995. Concurrently, Harris Corporation initiated a trademark infringement suit against Airis in October 1991, which was settled two years later in 1993. During this timeframe, Airis allowed its trademark registration to expire in December 1992 and ultimately discontinued its business operations on January 2, 1993.
See also
- 1989 establishments in Illinois
- 1993 disestablishments in Illinois
- American companies established in 1989
- American companies disestablished in 1993
- Computer companies established in 1989
- Computer companies disestablished in 1993
- Defunct companies based in Chicago
- Defunct computer companies of the United States
- Defunct computer hardware companies
- Defunct computer systems companies
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment