Computer Memory

Founded by the late Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, Apple Computers have become one of the largest producers of computers in the world. Also responsible for some of the biggest innovations in the mobile industry to date, Apple computers started from much more humble beginnings.

Having set out with the goal of creating a small computer that could be available to the masses, Wozniak and Jobs starting building the prototype Apple I that even had a hand built wooden outer-casing. Steve Jobs actually sold his only car to finance the enterprise.

1977
Just a year later, the pair had created the Apple II, which was the first mass produced 8 bit home computer the world had ever seen. It completely revolutionised the industry and saw the first colour graphics on such a device. Their sales figures then rocketed to an amazing $117m by 1980, the year the Apple II hit the market.

1983
Wozniak left the business in 1983, which led to Jobs hiring Pepsi Cola’s John Sculley as his company president. A pairing that unfortunately didn’t go so well and ended up with Jobs himself leaving for new pastures in 1985. He went on to further success, acquiring Pixar from George Lucas, which as we all know is the company behind so many huge animated movie hits, like Toy Story and Finding Nemo.

Apple remained successful through the 1980s and the start of the 1990s even without Jobs at the helm, but many feel that this was in large part due to actions made whilst he was still at the company. Most notable of which was a deal he made with then minnow, Adobe.

Struggling
Jobs returned to Apple in 1996 as CEO, when it seemed that the company’s days were numbered. Their computers were in dire need of an operating system, which was what led to Apple buying out Jobs’ new company NeXT software and his subsequent involvement. Jobs was able to forge an unlikely alliance with Microsoft to create an OS for the Mac.

This decision was seen as being pivotal to the company’s subsequent success, which has since gone on to produce the iPod and create the music behemoth that is iTunes - The most profitable of all Apple related products.

Today we see MacBooks, Apple TV, the iPhone and so much more. Apple is something of a pioneer in the world of computing and even though Steve Jobs himself died in 2011, his legacy looks set to last for many years to come.

Advent Computers today is a UK-based supplier of laptops, desktop PC and computer peripherals that started life on the 22nd of February 1984 in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India. When it launched, it was primarily concerned with the manufacturing and distribution of computers, computer hardware and software in India and internationally.

A key part of the business was to export business application software compatible with IBM S/38 computer systems which were a major part of the computer market at the time. By 1987, Advent had a focus on the development and production of world class IBM S/38 software for wholesale distribution.

IBM AS/400

Just a year later, IBM released the AS/400 system which had identical architecture to its predecessor. Advent recognised the potential of the moment and created a high level distribution and financial software suite called ADS 400 designed specifically for this new model.

In 1991, Michael Arul bought half of the company and at the same time, Advent was installing some of the biggest computer networks in India. The locations included the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Department of Space in Kerala and the National Information Centre in New Delhi.

A short time later, a distribution agreement was established with Singapore based company PTE Ltd

Branching Out

By 1995, Advent had successfully introduced ADS 400 to South East Asia and this paved the way for the company to make even bigger strides, forcing its way into the extremely lucrative US market. Around this time, distributor agreements were established with the Haw Par Group in South East Asia, a leading business conglomerate in the region.

Just a couple of years later in 1997, IBM was believed have installed around 4,000,000 system globally, which represented over a quarter of IBMs worldwide revenue, which illustrates just how profitable Advent’s software offering was at the time.
 

Acquisitions

Moving forward to 2000, Advent acquired both unlisted enterprises - Softsolutions Private Limited and Ibhar Software Private Ltd. It also not long after signed a memorandum of understanding with TVS Electronics (TVSE) with respect to the production of set-top boxes.

Today, whilst still involved in software development, Advent now manufactures a range of notebooks, laptops, tablets and, desktops. Their products are aimed at the economy end of the market and whilst their market share is fairly modest when compared to the major players like Samsung, Apple, and Lenovo, they continue to be a viable and profitable company.