Canon Computer Systems

Canon Computer Systems, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Computer hardware
Founded	1992
Founder	Canon Inc.
Defunct	January 2001
Fate	Restructured into Canon Digital Home and Personal Systems
Headquarters	Costa Mesa, California , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Yasuhiro Tsubota (president until restructuring), Ryoichi Bamba (president after restructuring)
Products	Personal computers, workstations, printers, photocopiers
Parent	Canon Inc.

Canon Computer Systems, Inc. (CCSI), a United States-based branch of Canon Inc., was founded in 1992 with the purpose of designing and distributing Canon's range of personal computers, workstations, printers, and photocopiers. The company discontinued its operations in January 2001.

History

Canon's engagement in the computing sector originated in the 1970s, beginning with the programmable desktop calculator-style AX-1 introduced in 1978, followed by the MS-DOS-compatible AS-100 released in 1982. The firm ventured into the home computer arena with the V-20 and V-10 models launched in 1984 and 1985 respectively. In 1987, Canon unveiled the Canon Cat, an innovative device created by Jef Raskin, a key figure behind Apple's Macintosh. By 1989, Canon had acquired a substantial shareholding in NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple.

In April 1992, Canon separated its computer division to form Canon Computer Systems, based in Costa Mesa, California. Yasuhiro Tsubota, who previously established Epson America and consulted for NeXT, was appointed president. The subsidiary introduced desktop and notebook computers under the Innova and Innova Book brand names, aiming to reach $125 million in revenue by October 1993. A $10 million advertising campaign was launched through Hajjar/Kaufman, an offshoot of Dentsu.

The majority of Innova Books were manufactured overseas by Taiwanese original equipment manufacturers such as Chicony Electronics and Featron. The Innova Book 10 (1994) was known for its lightweight subnotebook design, while the Innova Book 200LS (1995) featured a leading-edge 11.3-inch display. In collaboration with IBM Japan, Canon debuted the NoteJet in 1993—a notebook integrating an inkjet printer. After NeXT exited hardware production in 1994, Canon assumed control of the NeXTstation product line and subsequently launched the x86-based Object.Station workstation.

Although Canon Computer targeted $1 billion in sales by 1997, it entered the personal computer market relatively late. Due to poor sales performance, the Innova series was discontinued by January 1997. The company then shifted focus towards silicon-on-insulator technology manufacturing, investing ¥3 billion (approximately US$25.8 million) to build a clean room facility at Canon’s Hiratsuka plant. At the same time, Canon divested its NeXT shares back to Apple during Apple's acquisition of NeXT following Steve Jobs' return.

Canon Computer continued marketing printers, scanners, and digital cameras until it restructured in January 2001 into Canon Digital Home and Personal Systems. Leadership transitioned from Tsubota to Ryoichi Bamba as president.

Desktops

Name	Processor	Clock speed (MHz)	Date
Innova 386SX/33	386SX	33	Template:Date table sorting
Innova 486	486SX	25	Template:Date table sorting
Innova 486SX/33	486SX	33	Template:Date table sorting
Innova 486e	486SX	25	Template:Date table sorting
Innova 486v	486DX2	33–66	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Vision L33/210	486SX	33	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Vision L50/340	486DX2	50	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT4900	486DX4	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT7010	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9110	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT7000	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9100	Pentium	90	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT4610	486DX2	66	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9010	Pentium	90	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT7030	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT7040	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9120	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9130	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9300	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9310	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9320	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9600	Pentium	166	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Pro 5100SD	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Pro 5400ST	Pentium	166	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9210	Pentium	120	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9340	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9350	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9620	Pentium	166	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9630	Pentium	166	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Media MT9800	Pentium	200	Template:Date table sorting

Innova

Model	CPU	Clock Speed (MHz)	Release Date
Innova 386NX	Am386SX	33	Template:Date table sorting
Innova 486NX	486SX	25	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 150C	486DX2	50	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 150CT	486DX2	50	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 1110 P75	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 1100 P75T	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 1100 P90	Pentium	90	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 1100 P90T	Pentium	90	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 1100 P120T	Pentium	120	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 175C	Cx486	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 200LS	486DX4	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 300P	Pentium	75	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 350CD	Cx5x86	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 360CD	Am5x86	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 475CDS	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 475CDT	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 620CDT	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 480CDS	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 480CDT	Pentium	100	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 490CDS	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 490CDT	Pentium	133	Template:Date table sorting

Subnotebooks

Model	CPU	Clock Speed (MHz)	Release Date
Innova Book 10	486SL	33	Template:Date table sorting
Innova Book 10C	486SL	33	Template:Date table sorting

Other

Model	CPU	Clock Speed (MHz)	Default RAM (MB)	Display Type	Release Date
PN-100	PowerPC 603e	100	16	Active-matrix color	Template:Date table sorting
Power Notebook	PowerPC 603e	100	32	Active-matrix color	Template:Date table sorting

Workstations

Model	CPU	Clock Speed (MHz)	Hard Drive Interface	Release Date
Object.Station 31	Pentium	100	IDE	Template:Date table sorting
Object.Station 41	Pentium	100	SCSI	Template:Date table sorting
Object.Station 50	Pentium	100	SCSI	Template:Date table sorting
Object.Station 52	Pentium	120	SCSI	Template:Date table sorting
Power Workstation	PowerPC 604 (single or dual)	100, 120, or 133	SCSI	Template:Date table sorting