COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3572

Computer Storage Devices

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1930–1985founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedCitizen Watch Co., Ltd.FoundedCitizen Watch Co., Ltd.
1930
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedOdetics Inc.FoundedOdetics Inc.
1969
FoundedAmdahl CorporationFoundedAmdahl CorporationFoundedWestern Digital Corp.FoundedWestern Digital Corp.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedIomega CorporationFoundedIomega Corporation
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedMaxtor CorporationFoundedMaxtor CorporationFoundedSyQuest Technology, Inc.FoundedSyQuest Technology, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedExabyte CorporationFoundedExabyte Corporation
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source begin to challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1998
TechnologyUS v. Microsoft antitrust trial reshapes software.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Odetics Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Odetics Inc.
Odetics Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Odetics Inc.
Amdahl Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Amdahl Corporation is a leading manufacturer of large-scale data-processing systems.
Amdahl Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Amdahl Corporation is a leading manufacturer of large-scale data-processing systems.
Western Digital Corp. →
Active · founded 1970
Western Digital Corp.
Western Digital Corp. →
Active · founded 1970
Western Digital Corp.
Iomega Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
One of the fastest-growing companies in the United States during the late 1990s, Iomega Corporation manufactures…
Iomega Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
One of the fastest-growing companies in the United States during the late 1990s, Iomega Corporation manufactures…
Maxtor Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
Maxtor Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer disk drives.
Maxtor Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
Maxtor Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer disk drives.
SyQuest Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
In an industry where obsolescence is often only months away and a single misstep can sink a company, SyQuest…
SyQuest Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
In an industry where obsolescence is often only months away and a single misstep can sink a company, SyQuest…
Exabyte Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Exabyte Corporation designs, develops, produces and sells tape subsystems for data storage applications.
Exabyte Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Exabyte Corporation designs, develops, produces and sells tape subsystems for data storage applications.
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