Core International, Inc

For other uses, see Core.

Core International, Inc

Type	Private
Industry	Computer hardware and Computer software
Founded	1979 Incorporated 1981 in Florida,
Founder(s)	Hal Prewitt
Headquarters	Originally Boca Raton, Florida
Key people	After sale Dr. Susumu Yoshida, Hajime Unoki, Yoshio Ishigaki
Products	Computer data storage, Disk array, hard disk drives, Backup software and for Personal computers
Total assets	Unknown
Website	www.sony.com

Core International, Inc. commonly known as Core(R)^[1], was a multinational computer and technology corporation head-quartered in Boca Raton, Florida, United States.

The company is now part of Sony and no longer exists as stand-alone identity. Founded in 1979^[2] by Hal Prewitt as a technology firm to develop, market and support computer related products and services. They were best known for support of IBM's first business microcomputers known as the 5100, 5110 and 5120. With the introduction of the IBM PC and PC AT, the company provided an extensive line of disk drives, backup and personal computer products. Core became very well known as a leading industry developer of disk array and computer data storage.

Many^[3] of its products were the first of their kind, had no direct competition and were widely regarded for their superior^[4] performance and reliability. Users and the computer press raved about Core's products. Infoworld described Core's ATplus "is built like a Sherman tank, offering exceptional performance and reliability."^[5] PC Magazine called them "Workhorses of Performance Computing"^[6] and "High-quality construction..breaks the speed barrier for access times"^[7] and asked "Will other manufactures follow suit?"

Core was well known for their ingenious advertising and perhaps produced a few of the PC Industry's greatest promotions. The 1985 and 1986 rebate and recall Ad^[8] for IBM PC AT hard disk drives. So successful^[9] and controversial^[10], there was a rumor it was a topic at a IBM board of directors meeting. And the time where they gave away a FREE IBM PC AT when purchasing one of Core's ATplus 72 MB drives^[11].

Core remained a private company solely owned by Prewitt until 1993^[12] when purchased^[13] by Aiwa, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony.

History

See also: Hal Prewitt

For business history pre-incorporation

1975–1980: Founding

The company was built on the early work^[14] of Prewitt using his business and personal computer development experiences. This was the period during the creation of the first microcomputers, the launch of the Altair 8800 and founding of Microsoft. He was selling and programming Minicomputers and assembling these microcomputers, attaching computer peripherals, programming and building them into business computer systems.

Core was created under a different business model^[15]. Initially, it was marketed as an association and structured as a for-profit organization specifically for users of the IBM 5100 Series and IBM System/23. The objective was to sell by mail-order computer supplies, pre-developed (off-the-shelf) programs and hardware maintenance service. Supplies included printer ribbons and paper, diskettes, tape cartridges. Software ranged from simple mortgage interest calculations, word processing, games and utilities to advanced payroll, accounting and industry specific applications. Users wanted readily available, simple to install and support for software that was also low in cost. Core was able to fill this niche because IBM had developed the machines with engineering and scientific applications in mind, while business programs such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing were not generally available. Computer maintenance was an insurance program that provided on-site repairs and replacement parts, all provided by IBM service but at a lower cost than available directly from IBM.

The company was very successful^[16] attracting users of the IBM 5100 Series as many IBM Sales Representatives referred their customers to the organization. While Core grew, profits were used for the continuing development of computer data storage.

1981–1983: Hard disk drives, LAN and PC for IBM 5100 series

These IBM machines had a closed architecture, with most the design information unpublished and held secret. Computer systems of this design are extremely or most likely impossible to have the ability to swap components, obtain support from other vendors or upgrade to better configuration/another model unless that option is available from the original manufacturer. The limitations make a customer dependent on one vendor for products and services for the software and hardware parts of the system.

Core sensed a opportunity to provide greater and faster computer data storage. After a five-year effort, in September 1982 they announced the availability of the first hard disk drives^[17] and local area network (LAN)^[18] for the IBM 5100 Series. IBM systems as sold were storage limited and without a network option; the 5100 had tape with the 5110 and 5120 restricted to 1.2 MB floppy disks. Core drives were available starting at 10 MB and increased up to 160 MB in removable and fixed configurations.

CoreNet, the LAN built into each Core storage system, allowed interconnection of up to eight IBM 5100 Series systems, providing the ability to share storage and data. This configuration pre-dated LANs of the period for the IBM PC and compatibles.

In 1983, Core introduced two major solutions as IBM was withdrawing from marketing the IBM 5100 series. First, software called PC51 that would run allowed 5100 series computer programs written in BASIC to run unmodified on the IBM PC and compatibles under MS DOS. And second, a LAN card for the IBM PC and compatibles that provided connection to the IBM 5100 Series network. These solutions allowed IBM 5110/5120 series users to add new technology and increase productivity while retaining their investment in equipment and software.

Core's development of their storage systems, LAN and PC51 software was major technology engineering feat without rivals. Due to the complexity and the successful reverse engineering of the systems, resulted in captive market as they were the only organization able to provide an upgrade path for these IBM owners.

1984–1986: Educating the Marketplace, IBM VAD, Hard Disk Drives, PC and Backup

In 1984, CORE expanded its product focus and entered the PC marketplace. The Company's first product introduced the year before, called PC-51, was a completely new operating system (and language) for the IBM PC and compatibles. It enabled a PC to function like an IBM 5110/5120 System, demonstrating the Company's strong software development capabilities. Not only did this allow users to continue using the application software they had already developed, but it increased processing speed by a factor of two to ten times, and reduced maintenance cost up to 90%.

This new product opened up an unexplored marketplace for CORE by allowing the Company to become an IBM Value Added Dealer (VAD) and sell both the IBM PC and CORE products individually and as a combined package. IBM authorized and promoted this relationship because it provided a upgrade path for their customers that was previous unavailable. As a result of the early development effort for the IBM 5100 series, CORE released its own family of high performance hard disk drives called the ATplus Series^[19], with better capacity, reliability and performance than IBM's drives.

A few weeks after the introduction of the new IBM AT in August 1984, CORE discovered problems in the factory-issued hard disk drive. As the media and marketplace learned of IBM's disk problems, CORE was once again in a unique position to capitalize on an opportunity, without any significant competition. For more than six months the IBM AT the model with the CMI was in short supply^[20]. Delays were attributed to lack of drives, technical problems with the machine or some other undisclosed issues.

Somewhat surprised by the opportunity and belief to be successful on a timely and international scale, Core desired a major partner and selected Control Data Corporation(CDC) to assist with the introduction of the drives for the PC marketplace. The announcement^[21][22] was made in February 1985 and generated a significant amount of press coverage.

Core discovered that a general lack of understanding existed among the news media and users regarding technology of different computer and mass storage systems. Few understood the value of different systems to the end-user or how to rate the many choices in the marketplace. In response, Core began placing considerable emphasis on user education which resulted in a major contribution to computer industry. Directly from these efforts, the news media, computer magazines, product reviewers, dealers and computer manufactures started discussing, providing and promoting "Seek time", "Access time", "transfer time" and how to value or understand hard disk drives importance in a computer system. The company believed the more end-users learned about computers and the engineering behind Core products, the less these users wanted any other product.

Purchasers of the IBM AT were reporting some dealers^[23][24] were installing inferior drives into the computer without disclosing the fact. To help buyers and for industry education, Core developed the DiskP program, later replaced by the COREtest^[25], (DOS based), to identify sub-standard products by providing a visual demonstration of the speed and comparative measurements of hard disk drives and controllers. Many computer publications^[26][27], hardware manufacturers, distributors, dealers^[28] and independent evaluation firms^[29] relied on COREtest for product comparison, which made COREtest the industry standard^[30] and most often quoted benchmark. As these programs were provide with out charge and freely available from BBS, computer magazines and dealers, it is believed there was an installed base of over million copies worldwide promoting Core technology and education.

For more than two years, newspapers^[31], magazines and computer publications^[32][33][34] ran stories on the IBM AT and Computer Memories Inc.(CMI) hard disk drives problems. Core was usually discussed in these stories which provided the company with immense exposure and value.

References

1. ^ "CORE". Registered Trademark. http://www.trademarkia.com/core-73587709.html. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
2. ^ "Hal Prewitt; a computer whiz kid challenges the big boys". Florida Trend. 1 August 1987. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-6378228/hal-prewitt-computer-whiz.html. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
3. ^ "Boyhood dream becomes a reality for entrepreneur". South Florida Business Journal. http://coreinternational.info/SFBJ_June_88.pdf. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
4. ^ Hard Disk Drive Survives Sherman Tank Test. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=hTwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55&dq=%22core+International%22+sherman+tank&as_pt=MAGAZINES&cd=1#v=onepage&q=%22core%20International%22%20sherman%20tank&f=false. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
5. ^ Reliability is Hard Disk Key. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=AS8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&dq=%22is+built+like+a+Sherman+tank,+offering+exceptional+performance+and+reliability.%22&as_pt=MAGAZINES&cd=7#v=onepage&q=%22is%20built%20like%20a%20Sherman%20tank%2C%20offering%20exceptional%20performance%20and%20reliability.%22&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
6. ^ "Core Hard Disk - August 6, 1985". PC Magazine. http://coreinternational.info/1985_PCMag_on_ATplus_Drives.pdf. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
7. ^ "One, Two, Breakthrough: The Core HC25". PC Magazine - May 1986. http://1986_PCMag_on_HC_Drives.pdf. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
8. ^ Mercedes Ad - Circa 1985. Core. http://books.google.com/books?id=MS8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=mercedes+infoworld&lr=&as_pt=MAGAZINES&rview=1&cd=19#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
9. ^ Ad of the Year - John C. Dvorak. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=cC8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=IBM+at+%22Core+International%22+$1,000+rebate&source=bl&ots=73Ef2eFLe5&sig=F_Wqh7jVy82QoCK324fxVxn8Kqc&hl=en&ei=wyvDS_SdLIXGlQfSvJDdBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CBsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=IBM%20at%20%22Core%20International%22%20%241%2C000%20rebate&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
10. ^ "Company To Send Ibm On Sea Dive=Sun-Sentinel". http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-12-15/news/0340750084_1_ibm-disk-disk-drives-hard-disk. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
11. ^ FREE IBM PC AT Ad - Circa 1985. Core. http://books.google.com/books?id=_S4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=%22free+IBM%22+pc+at+infoworld&lr=&as_pt=MAGAZINES&rview=1&cd=9#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
12. ^ "Japanese Firm Invests Heavily In Boca`s Core". Sun-Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-04-14/business/9202020890_1_aiwa-prewitt-core. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
13. ^ "Aiwa Co Ltd(Sony Corp) acquires Core International". Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Aiwa_Co_Ltd_Sony_Corp_acquires_Core_International-252303020. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
14. ^ "Boyhood dream becomes a reality for entrepreneur". South Florida Business Journal. http://coreinternational.info/SFBJ_June_88.pdf. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
15. ^ "Join Core circa 1980". Core. http://coreinternational.info/198007_Join_Core_Letter.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
16. ^ "Hal Prewitt; a computer whiz kid challenges the big boys". Florida Trend. 1 August 1987. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-6378228/hal-prewitt-computer-whiz.html. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
17. ^ "Save IBM 5110/20's from junk yards of the world". Core. http://www.coreinternational.info/1981_5110_Disk_Brochure.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
18. ^ "September 1982 Core Newsletter". Core. http://www.coreinternational.info/1982_Sept_CORE_Newsletter.pdf. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
19. ^ "ATplus". Core. http://www.coreinternational.info/1984_ATplus_Brochure.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
20. ^ Waiting for the AT Train. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=6i4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33&dq=shortage+IBM+pc+at+infoworld&lr=&as_pt=MAGAZINES&rview=1&cd=19#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
21. ^ "Core, Control Data Offer AT Disk-Upgrade Kits". Core. http://www.coreinternational.info/1985_PCW_on_ATplus_Anouncm.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
22. ^ "IBM VAD Sells own drives". Core. http://www.coreinternational.info/1985_MM_on_ATplus_Announcment.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
23. ^ Dealers Pawn Off Inferior Drives. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=qy8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA20&dq=march%2010%2C%201986%20infoworld&lr&as_pt=MAGAZINES&rview=1&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
24. ^ Substandard Components Still Surfacing. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=Oi8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5&dq=infoworld+march+10,+1986++%22dealers+pawn%22&lr=&as_pt=MAGAZINES&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
25. ^ "Useful DOS Software". Joe Forster. http://sta.c64.org/dosprg.html. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
26. ^ Equity II Competes as a low-priced clone. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ty8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&dq=Coretest&as_pt=MAGAZINES&cd=7#v=onepage&q=Coretest&f=false. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
27. ^ "Buying Computer Hardware". Patsula Media. http://www.patsula.com/books/gb24.pdf. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
28. ^ Borrett, Lloyd. ""Megabyte Tarnish," PC Australia, September 1985; url accessed March 8, 2010
29. ^ "Patent 5295247". United States Patent Office. http://www.everypatent.com/comp/pat5295247.html. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
30. ^ A User's View. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=RjsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64&dq=Coretest+standard&as_pt=MAGAZINES&cd=3#v=onepage&q=Coretest%20standard&f=false. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
31. ^ Bates, James (17 March 1987). "Disk-Drive Maker Put Its Eggs in One Basket--and Fell". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-17/business/fi-12289_1. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
32. ^ IBM PC AT. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=qS4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA57&ots=j1tlgwUnBN&dq=%22stay%20away%20from%20this%20speed%20demon%22&pg=PA57#v=onepage&q=%22stay%20away%20from%20this%20speed%20demon%22&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
33. ^ PC AT Problems Cause Concerns. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=5C4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA13&dq=march%2011%201985%20PC%20AT%20infoworld%20cause%20concerns&pg=PA24#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
34. ^ Drive Problems Continue in PC AT. InfoWorld. http://books.google.com/books?id=OC8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA6&dq=IBM%20at%20drive%20problems%201985&lr&as_pt=MAGAZINES&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 

External links

• Sony official website