"We won't make that mistake again." (Floating Point Systems Inc.; listening to customers)
Article Abstract:
When Norman Winningstad founded Floating Point Systems in 1975, the company's array processor technology worked well for customers and Floating Point prospered. Then, in 1981 Floating Point introduced minisupercomputers, which process long arrays of high-precision numbers but are not as fast or as expensive as supercomputers, and the company continued to profit. However, in 1986 the company introduced the T Series computer based on the commercially untried technique of massively parallel computing and developed a wealth of applications written in the obscure Occam language, but only 10 T Series systems were sold. The company ignored customers needs for stand-alone systems and standards and was in deep trouble by mid-1986. Now, Howard Thrailkill is trying to turn the company around by marketing a stand-alone Unix-based minisupercomputer and Unix superworkstations, but it may be too late.
Publication Name: Forbes
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0015-6914
Year: 1989
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Divided we flourish
Article Abstract:
The splinter of computer companies, as seen in the break-up of Cray Research into two separate entities, is healthy for both the computer industry and the country as a whole. Few companies can focus their efforts on more than one strong market. Cray's split came about as an admission that the two approaches would allow each unit to focus on its own approach to supercomputers. The same can be done to other hardware and software companies in need of focus. Lotus Development Corp, for instance, has Notes, a text editing product that takes the company away from its spreadsheet roots. Lotus is looking for someone else to market Notes to give it a better opportunity. Other companies have grown too large and travel in inconsistent markets. Divestment might help them focus on their strengths.
Publication Name: Forbes
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0015-6914
Year: 1989
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Top-down lexicography
Article Abstract:
Franklin Computer Corp has engineered a dramatic comeback from bankruptcy within a four year period. Much of the credit for the turnaround is given to the marketing skills of Morton David, who took over the reigns of the microcomputer company just before it filed for Chapter 11 protection in 1984. In the fiscal year ending Mar 31, 1989, Franklin earned $8.9 million on sales of $67.7 million. The company has found a market niche with its upscale Language Master hand-held computers. Language Master has a spelling dictionary of 83,000 words and can provide spelling correction, provide definitions of the words in its dictionary and play word games. In addition to the $400 Language Master, Franklin offers three lower-priced hand-held systems for various markets.
Publication Name: Forbes
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0015-6914
Year: 1989
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Total cost management at Parker Hannifin. Time management...or learning how to say no
- Abstracts: The impact of different capital gains tax regimes on the lock-in effect and new risky investment decisions
- Abstracts: The impact of discharge decisions on health care quality. Advertising cost interactions and the optimality of pulsing
- Abstracts: Are tradeoffs inherent in diversification moves? A simultaneous model for type of diversification and mode of expansion decisions
- Abstracts: Vehicle scheduling in public transit and Lagrangean pricing. A fast taboo search algorithm for the job shop problem