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Vector Graphic

From Alfawiki
Vector Graphic, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryComputer hardware
Founded1976
FounderRobert Harp, Lore Harp
Defunct1987
FateBankruptcy and liquidation
Headquarters
Newbury Park, California
,
United States
ProductsMicrocomputers (Vector 1, Vector 1+, Vector Graphic 3, Vector Graphic 4), Flashwriter system, Memorite word processing software
Number of employees
425 (peak), ~36 (mid-1985)

Vector Graphic, Inc. was among the pioneering microcomputer firms established in 1976, the same year as Apple Computer, operating during the pre-IBM PC period alongside competitors such as NorthStar Horizon, IMSAI, and MITS Altair.

History

The company’s first offering was a memory card compatible with the S-100 bus. In 1977, Vector Graphic introduced its inaugural complete microcomputer, the Vector 1, which utilized the Z80 processor.[1] Later releases included the Vector 1+ featuring a floppy disk drive, the Vector Graphic 3 that combined a fixed keyboard with an integrated screen terminal and CPU housing, and the Vector Graphic 4, which served as a bridge between 8-bit and 16-bit architectures.

While primarily designed to operate under the CP/M system, the Vector 3 also accommodated OASIS, MDOS, and MZOS platforms. Initial models incorporated Micropolis floppy disk controllers and drives; subsequent versions adopted integrated controllers for both floppy and hard drives using Tandon hardware. Most units employed less common 5¼-inch floppy drives with 100 tracks per inch and utilized 16-sector hard sector disks; some configurations offered 8-inch floppy drives and hard disk options.

Vector Graphic reached its highest revenue of $36 million in 1982 when it was publicly listed. Nevertheless, the market landscape shifted dramatically after IBM released its PC in August 1981, which weakened smaller companies’ positions. An unintended early reveal of the Vector 4 in April 1982 coincided with founder Robert Harp’s exit following a power struggle with co-founder Lore Harp.

Following Computerland’s decision to stock IBM PCs, sales through this major retailer dropped significantly, prompting Vector Graphic to terminate that sales channel.[2] The premature announcement of the Vector 4 delayed sales of the Vector 3 by as much as six months. The management’s choice to equip the Vector 4 with CP/M was a calculated risk based on the expectation that IBM would not adopt DOS; this misjudgment contributed to financial difficulties. By late 1984, Lore Harp had departed, and venture capitalists took over company control.

By mid-1985, workforce numbers had dwindled from a high of 425 employees to roughly thirty-six. The headquarters and assembly plant located in Newbury Park were eventually converted into retail space.[3] In December 1985, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; after unsuccessful attempts to merge with another firm, its assets were sold off under Chapter 7 liquidation in October 1987.[4]

Vector Graphic was notable for innovations such as the Flashwriter system, which integrated video and keyboard control functions, and for its Memorite word processing software. When combined with Flashwriter hardware, Memorite provided an affordable word processing solution that previously required dedicated hardware devices.

As of , Vector Graphic sustains a modest yet engaged user base.

See also

Further reading

External links

  • www.classiccmp.org – photographs of the Vector 1 system, including its catalog and pricing details
  • www.youtube.com – footage showcasing a 1980 Vector Graphic 3 VIP Computer starting up from its authentic 5MB hard drive and executing a sales presentation
  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Edwards
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named libes198209
  3. ↑ Los Angeles Times
  4. ↑ Los Angeles Times
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