CompuAdd
Encyclopedia
CompuAdd Corporation was an Austin, Texas
manufacturer of personal computer
s. It assembled its product from components manufactured by others. CompuAdd created generic PC clone computers, but unlike most clone
makers, had a large engineering staff. CompuAdd also created a Multimedia PC (MPC), the FunStation, and a Sun workstation
clone, the SparcStation 1.
CompuAdd was the largest clone PC manufacturer in Austin, Texas until 1993 and outsold PC's Limited (bankrupted and renamed Dell Computer Corporation
). CompuAdd sold PCs to corporate, educational and government entities. CompuAdd Computers 386 was on the US Army's Mobile Missile System in Gulf War
1 (1991) and it was rated and tested by the Army for that use.
. He went to school at the University of Texas at Austin
and graduated with degree in electrical engineering
in 1971. He became employed by Texas Instruments
as a design engineer in a classified government reconnaissance project. In 1974 Hayden switched jobs to TI's Calculator Division and became a project engineer. It was here Hayden claims he developed the entrepreneurial spirit that he later applied when he started CompuAdd. After several years in this position, which required a great deal of overtime, he decided that he needed more time to contemplate his future. He noticed that quality assurance was less demanding work with shorter hours and switched jobs. As his 10 year anniversary with TI approached in 1981, Hayden turned in his resignation. The following year he founded CompuAdd using $100,000 earned by selling real estate part time. Hayden sold computer peripherals and add-on devices such as disk drives. The name came from this computer add-on business plan.
CompuAdd operated a chain of retail computer stores in the United States. In 1993, CompuAdd shut down all retail operations and filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy.
CompuAdd also had a strong server line and all of its systems were superior to Dell Computer systems at the time.
CompuAdd was two years ahead of its local competitor Dell Computers (PC's Limited) in catalog sales and had over 200 retail stores at the time bankruptcy was filed.
Due to losses from debt owed by PC's Limited, and the default on over 1500 retail stores (lease agreement with Trammell Crow
), the debt to income ratio was much more than the corporation could sustain and went through a liquidation process of all its assets.
At the height of CompuAdd's reign, it had over 100 sales people. CompuAdd policy was to not allow any Sales Rep to have the same name, so many chose their own names like Austin, Houston, Travis, Lamar, and other Texas geographically known places and historic people.
Bill Hayden was the Founder and CEO of CompuAdd Computer Corporation until its final day.
Corporate Marketing slogan at time of demise was: Customer Driven by Design.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
manufacturer of personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s. It assembled its product from components manufactured by others. CompuAdd created generic PC clone computers, but unlike most clone
Clone (computer science)
In computing, a clone is a hardware or software system that is designed to mimic another system. Compatibility with the original system is usually the explicit purpose of cloning hardware or low-level software such as operating systems...
makers, had a large engineering staff. CompuAdd also created a Multimedia PC (MPC), the FunStation, and a Sun workstation
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
clone, the SparcStation 1.
CompuAdd was the largest clone PC manufacturer in Austin, Texas until 1993 and outsold PC's Limited (bankrupted and renamed Dell Computer Corporation
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
). CompuAdd sold PCs to corporate, educational and government entities. CompuAdd Computers 386 was on the US Army's Mobile Missile System in Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
1 (1991) and it was rated and tested by the Army for that use.
History
CompuAdd was founded by Bill Hayden in 1982. Hayden was born in San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He went to school at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and graduated with degree in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
in 1971. He became employed by Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
as a design engineer in a classified government reconnaissance project. In 1974 Hayden switched jobs to TI's Calculator Division and became a project engineer. It was here Hayden claims he developed the entrepreneurial spirit that he later applied when he started CompuAdd. After several years in this position, which required a great deal of overtime, he decided that he needed more time to contemplate his future. He noticed that quality assurance was less demanding work with shorter hours and switched jobs. As his 10 year anniversary with TI approached in 1981, Hayden turned in his resignation. The following year he founded CompuAdd using $100,000 earned by selling real estate part time. Hayden sold computer peripherals and add-on devices such as disk drives. The name came from this computer add-on business plan.
CompuAdd operated a chain of retail computer stores in the United States. In 1993, CompuAdd shut down all retail operations and filed for Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy.
CompuAdd also had a strong server line and all of its systems were superior to Dell Computer systems at the time.
CompuAdd was two years ahead of its local competitor Dell Computers (PC's Limited) in catalog sales and had over 200 retail stores at the time bankruptcy was filed.
Due to losses from debt owed by PC's Limited, and the default on over 1500 retail stores (lease agreement with Trammell Crow
Trammell Crow
F. Trammell Crow was an American real estate developer. Crow is credited for creating several famous real estate projects, including Dallas Market Center, Peachtree Center , and San Francisco's Embarcadero Center.-Biography:Crow was born in Dallas, Texas...
), the debt to income ratio was much more than the corporation could sustain and went through a liquidation process of all its assets.
At the height of CompuAdd's reign, it had over 100 sales people. CompuAdd policy was to not allow any Sales Rep to have the same name, so many chose their own names like Austin, Houston, Travis, Lamar, and other Texas geographically known places and historic people.
Bill Hayden was the Founder and CEO of CompuAdd Computer Corporation until its final day.
Corporate Marketing slogan at time of demise was: Customer Driven by Design.