Core International
| Company type | Private (until 1993) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Computer hardware and software |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Hal Prewitt |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Fate | Acquired by Aiwa (Sony subsidiary) |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton , United States |
Key people | Hal Prewitt, Dr. Susumu Yoshida, Hajime Unoki, Yoshio Ishigaki |
| Products | Computer hardware, software, disk storage devices, backup systems, personal computers |
CORE International Inc., widely referred to as Core, was a global technology and computer company based in Boca Raton, Florida.
Established in 1979 by entrepreneur Hal Prewitt, Core specialized in the development, marketing, and support of computer-related products and services. The company became well-known for its support of IBM's early business microcomputers, such as the IBM 5100, 5110, and 5120 models. After the introduction of the IBM PC and PC AT, Core broadened its offerings to include disk storage devices, backup systems, and personal computers, thereby enhancing its standing in both hardware and software markets.
Until 1993, Core operated as a privately owned entity under Prewitt's leadership. That year, it was acquired by Aiwa, a Sony subsidiary, which led to a major transformation in Core’s corporate configuration and international operations. Following the acquisition, prominent executives included Dr. Susumu Yoshida, Hajime Unoki, and Yoshio Ishigaki.
Core’s strategic approach centered on capitalizing on its expertise in data storage and backup solutions to increase its share within the rapidly evolving personal computing sector. The company’s product lineup and services played a crucial role in its financial success and industry acclaim before its absorption into Sony’s extensive technology division.
1975–1980: Formation
Hal Prewitt founded Core with the goal of selling and programming minicomputers, assembling microcomputers along with peripherals, and integrating these components into business computing environments. Initially established as a commercial association catering to users of the IBM 5100 Series and IBM System/23, Core concentrated on mail-order distribution of computer supplies, delivering ready-made software packages, and offering hardware maintenance. Its inventory included items such as printer ribbons, paper stock, floppy disks, tape cartridges, as well as software applications ranging from mortgage calculators to word processing tools, games, payroll systems, accounting programs, and industry-specific solutions.
IBM sales agents often directed IBM 5100 Series customers toward Core, thereby expanding the company's customer base.
1981–1983: Introduction of Hard Drives, LANs, and PC Compatibility for IBM 5100 Series
In September 1982, Core unveiled the first hard disk drives alongside local area network (LAN) solutions designed specifically for the IBM 5100 Series. Prior storage options for these systems were limited—tape drives for the 5100 and 1.2 MB floppy disks for the 5110/5120—whereas Core provided hard drives ranging from 10 MB up to 160 MB available in both removable and fixed configurations.
The integrated LAN system named Core-Net allowed up to eight IBM 5100 Series machines to be interconnected for shared data storage and access. This pioneering LAN technology foreshadowed networking capabilities that later became standard in IBM PC-compatible systems.
By 1983, after IBM ceased marketing the 5100 series, Core released PC51 software which enabled unaltered BASIC programs originally written for the 5100 series to operate on IBM PCs running MS-DOS. Furthermore, Core created a LAN interface card that allowed IBM PCs to connect seamlessly to the IBM 5100 Series network infrastructure, facilitating cross-platform interoperability.
1984–1986: Market Education, IBM VAD Partnership, Hard Drives Expansion, PCs and Backup Solutions
In 1984, Core made its debut in the personal computer (PC) arena with the PC-51, an operating system and programming language designed for the IBM PC and compatible machines. This product enabled these PCs to emulate the functionality of IBM 5110/5120 models. This development allowed Core to become an authorized IBM value-added reseller, permitted to market IBM PCs alongside its proprietary offerings. Building on earlier work with the IBM 5100 series, Core introduced the ATplus Series, a line of hard disk drives.
After the IBM AT was launched in August 1984, Core recognized shortcomings in the original hard drives installed by the manufacturer, compounded by limited competition and supply constraints. To resolve these challenges, Core collaborated with Control Data Corporation (CDC) in February 1985 to deliver alternative hard drive solutions tailored for the PC market.
Concerns surfaced regarding dealers fitting substandard drives without informing customers. To combat this, Core created DiskP, which was subsequently succeeded by COREtest—a DOS-based diagnostic utility designed to assess hard drive performance and reliability. COREtest was widely embraced by computer magazines, manufacturers, distributors, and independent testers, bolstering Core’s standing in quality assurance and shaping industry benchmarks.