Video Seven

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Headland Technology" redirects here. Not to be confused with Headlands Technologies.

Video Seven, Inc.
Company type
  • Private (1982–1987)
  • Public (1987–1989)
  • Subsidiary (1989–1993)
IndustryComputer
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984) in Milpitas, California
FounderPaul Jain
Defunct1989; 35 years ago (1989)
FateMerged with G-2 Inc. in 1989 to form Headland Technology, itself acquired by Computer Visualization Technologies, Inc.; dissolved in 1993
Products

Video Seven, Inc., also typeset as Video-7, later Headland Technology, Inc., was a public American computer hardware company independently active from 1984 to 1989. The company manufactured expansion cards for personal computers, mainly graphics cards for the IBM PC through their Vega brand. It was founded by Paul Jain as his second venture in the graphics card market; after his departure in 1990, he founded Media Vision. Video Seven delivered both the first graphics card compatible with IBM's Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), in 1985, and one of the first cards compatible with IBM's Video Graphics Array (VGA) standard, in 1987. In 1989, Video Seven merged with G-2 Inc., a subsidiary of LSI Logic Corporation, becoming Headland Technology.

History

Foundation (1984–1987)

Video Seven, Inc. was founded by Paul Jain in Milpitas, California, in 1984. Before starting Video Seven, Jain had been the founder of Paradise Systems, another graphics card manufacturer that was an early vendor in the IBM Personal Computer market.[1] Jain served as Paradise's CEO for two years until April 1984,[2] when he founded Video Seven, his second venture in the graphics card market.[1] Jain would remain on Paradise's boardroom until 1987, after Paradise was acquired by Western Digital.[3][4]

Video Seven's first product was announced in August 1984 for the

RGBI video. This allowed for much higher quality output than the stock composite output of the IIc was capable of achieving. The RGB Interface only worked with certain RGBI color monitors meant for the earlier Apple III microcomputer. However, combined with Video Seven's second product, the Grappler, users could connect the IIc and the RGB Interface to any standard IBM Personal Computer monitor.[5][6]: 208  In late 1984, Video Seven licensed the technologies behind the RGB Interface to Sakata U.S.A. Corporation, who released the XP-7, an expansion card for the Apple IIe that allowed it to connect to RGBI monitors.[6]: 207–208  Video Seven made $1.8 million in sales from these products in their first year.[7] The company released their last Apple II product in September 1985,[8] after which the company began focusing on products for the IBM PC.[9]
: 42 

Over the summer of 1985, Video Seven formed a joint venture with

Quadram Corporation purchased a large stake in Video Seven, expressing interest in using its technology in an EGA-compatible board of theirs.[16] The result of their partnership was the Quad EGA+, a full-length version of the Vega that was otherwise identical in functionality.[12]: 34 [17]

The Vega Deluxe, introduced in October 1986,[18] extended the EGA standard to include 640-by-480-pixel and 752-by-410-pixel color graphics modes. These new modes represent roughly 37-percent increases over the highest color resolution supported by stock EGA (640-by-350-pixels). These modes were only usable with certain expensive multimode monitors, however.[19]: 175 

Growth (1987–1989)

The Vega VGA, introduced in September 1987, was Video Seven's first VGA-compatible card.

Increasing sales of Vega boards made Video Seven one of the largest global manufacturers of IBM PC expansion cards. Their largest competitors at the time included Jain's former Paradise Systems and Hercules Computer Technology. In 1987 alone, Video Seven earned a $2.8 million profit on sales of $34.3 million.[7] Its steady growth prompted Video Seven to file to go public in October that year.[20]

In September 1987, Video Seven announced their first VGA-compatible card, the Vega VGA, for an October release.

PC Magazine as the first fully compatible VGA card for ISA machines.[24][25]
: 188–191 

dynamic RAM
.

In August 1988, Video Seven shipped two new VGA-compatbile boards: the FastWrite and the VRAM VGA.

dynamic RAM in tandem with the cache to achieve modest improvements in performance over the competition, the VRAM VGA uses dedicated video RAM (VRAM) to achieve large gains in performance through being dual-ported, allowing the processor to execute program code while the VRAM works in tandem with the graphics chipset to draw to the screen simultaneously.[27]: 79 [28] The VRAM VGA was the first VGA graphics card on the market to incorporate VRAM,[29] allowing it to outperform IBM's own ISA-based PS/2 Display Adapter.[30] InfoWorld wrote that the VRAM VGA board represented "the cutting edge of VGA technology",[27]: 80  with speed improvements in Microsoft Word chart editing representing "the first time in our VGA testing" the magazine found "a significant speed difference when comparing the Fastwrite and V-RAM" to several of its competitors.[27]
: 79 

Acquisition and decline (1989–1993)

In October 1988, LSI Logic Corporation, a large stakeholder in Video Seven, acquired a majority stake in the company after acquiring all of the shares belonging to Intelligent Systems, the owners of Quadram. Their stake increased from 20 percent to 70 percent.[31] In April 1989, Video Seven merged with LSI subsidiary G-2 Inc. to form Headland Technology, retaining the Video Seven brand for future video cards.[32] LSI reportedly spent $50 million on the acquisition.[4] Jain sold his stakes as part of the acquisition and shortly thereafter formed Media Vision, a vendor of multimedia expansion cards, in 1990.[1]

Video Seven continued to compete in the high-end video graphics marketplace until 1992, when LSI Logic sold Headland to Computer Visualization Technologies, Inc. (CVTI), of Fremont, California, a subsidiary of Germany-based Spea Software AG.[33] Headland had been suffering from executive churn and market disinterest in the last few years of its existence under LSI Logic. CVTI struggled with the Video Seven division themselves and shuttered it in 1993.[34] They continued to sell multimedia peripherals such as sound and graphics cards with the Video Seven trademark into 1995,[35][36] until Spea themselves were purchased by Diamond Multimedia in November 1995.[37]

Trademark revival (1997–2009)

Logo of the revived Videoseven
Logo of the revived Videoseven

In the late 1990s, Macrotron AG acquired the rights to the Video Seven trademark from Diamond Multimedia and revived it as a brand of computer monitors in Europe, under the new stylization Videoseven.[38][39] In 1998, Ingram Micro acquired a majority stake in Macrotron and made it a subsidiary of the company's Munich branch, renaming it to Ingram Macrotron AG. Ingram Macrotron continued using the Videoseven trademark in Europe for computer monitors and other computer peripherals. Beginning in 2007, they began using the name in consumer electronics sold in the United States, including portable and dashboard GPS units, among other devices. This was the first time since 1995 that the Video Seven name saw use in the United States.[39] Ingram would continue marketing products under the Videoseven trademark until mid-2009.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Worthington, Paul (September 24, 1990). "Media Vision Emerges with Affordable Upgrades". InfoWorld. 12 (39). IDG Publications: 26. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Siegmann, K. (April 23, 1984). "Paradise Names Finch President, Taps Van Overbeek as Sales VP". Computer Retail News (50). UBM: 16 – via Gale.
  3. ^ Staff writer (February 12, 1987). "Western Digital Co. Begins Secondary Public Offering". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: 1 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ a b c Clark, Don (November 12, 1992). "Media Vision's shares soar on first trading day". San Francisco Chronicle: C1 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Davis, Frederic E. (August 1984). "Apple II Forever". A+. 2 (8). Ziff-Davis: 163 et seq – via Gale.
  6. ^ a b Linzmayer, Owen W. (December 1984). "Apple Cart". Creative Computing. 10 (12): 205–208 – via the Internet Archive.
  7. ^ a b c d Carlsen, Clifford (October 12, 1987). "Video Seven hopes to raise $30 million". San Francisco Business Times. 2 (6): 3 – via Gale.
  8. ^ Staff writer (September 9, 1985). "Graphics Adapters Give Apple II Line Color Capabilities". InfoWorld. 7 (36). IDG Publications: 57. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Linzmayer, Owen W. (November 1988). "Apple IIc Plus" (PDF). A+. 6 (11). Ziff-Davis: 36–45. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Petrosky, Mary (August 19, 1985). "Market Looks to EGA as De Facto Standard". InfoWorld. 7 (33). IDG Publications: 32–37 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Spector, Greg (October 1, 1985). "Add-on Board Boosts Power of Four Major Graphics Cards". PC Week. 2 (39). Ziff-Davis: 1 – via Gale.
  12. ^ a b Bermant, Charles (February 11, 1986). "EGA Standard Evolves for PC Graphics Users". PC Magazine. 5 (3). Ziff-Davis: 33–34. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Petzold, Charles (February 11, 1986). "VEGA, Quad EGA+ Beat IBM on Versatility". PC Magazine. 5 (3). Ziff-Davis: 34. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Staff writer (October 20, 1987). "Video Seven slashes graphics board prices to better position line". PC Week. 4 (42). Ziff-Davis: 10 – via Gale.
  15. ^ a b Clark, Don (April 23, 1987). "IBM Signals a New Race for Video-7". The San Francisco Chronicle: 33 – via ProQuest.
  16. ^ Petrosky, Mary (December 9, 1985). "Quadram Buys Stake in Video-7". InfoWorld. 7 (49). IDG Publications: 15. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Eric, Knorr; Karl Koessel (August 1986). "Quadram QuadEGA+; Video-7 Vega (BIOS 04B)". PC World. 4 (8). IDG Publications: 218 – via Gale.
  18. ^ Stafford, Paul M. (October 28, 1986). "Video-7 Vega Deluxe Card Takes EGA to New Heights of Resolution". PC Magazine. 5 (18). Ziff-Davis: 44. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Staff writer (January 1987). "VEGA Deluxe: Extra High Resolution Graphics Adapter". Computer Shopper. 7 (1). SX2 Media Labs: 175–178 – via the Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Staff writer (October 8, 1987). "Recent SEC Filings". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: 1 – via ProQuest.
  21. ^ a b Brennan, Laura (September 1, 1987). "Video Seven claims first fully compatible VGA card". PC Week. 4 (35). Ziff-Davis: 3 – via Gale.
  22. ^ Brennan, Laura (October 20, 1987). "VGA-compatible boards top IBM original". PC Week. 4 (42). Ziff-Davis: 10 – via Gale.
  23. ^ Brennan, Laura (November 10, 1987). "Rival board makers squabble over VGA compatibility issues". PC Week. 4 (45). Ziff-Davis: 5. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  24. ^ Brennan, Laura (November 3, 1987). "Compaq provides VGA options for its PCs". PC Week. 4 (44). Ziff-Davis: 36. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  25. ^ Rosch, Winn L. (February 16, 1988). "VGA Compatibles: Gaining on the New Standard". PC Magazine. 7 (3). Ziff-Davis: 175–196. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ Staff writer (August 22, 1988). "No-Pause VGA". PC Week. 5 (34). Ziff-Davis: 22. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  27. ^ a b c Douglas, Sally J. (October 10, 1988). "Video Seven's Fastwrite and V-RAM Leap Ahead in Speed". InfoWorld. 10 (41). IDG Publications: 79–80. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ Zengerle, Patricia (April 4, 1988). "Video Seven fields VGA card with fast VRAM". MIS Week. 9 (14). Condé Nast: 29. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  29. ^ Brennan, Laura (April 5, 1988). "Video Seven speeds up VGA race". PC Week. 5 (14). Ziff-Davis: 3. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  30. ^ Carole, Patton (April 4, 1988). "Video-7 Releases VRAM-Powered VGA Board to Speed Up PC Graphics". InfoWorld. 10 (14). IDG Publications: 26. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ Staff writer (October 24, 1988). "LSI ups stake in Video Seven". Computerworld. 22 (43). CW Communications: 6 – via Gale.
  32. ^ Pane, Patricia J. (April 10, 1989). "Video Seven and G-2 Will Merge to Form Headland Technology". InfoWorld. 11 (15). IDG Publications: 42. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ Corcoran, Cate (August 31, 1992). "LSI's Video Seven bought by German graphics company". InfoWorld. 14 (35). IDG Publications: 29. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ Schroeder, Erica (July 19, 1993). "Graphics board maker Video Seven shuts doors". PC Week. 10 (28). Ziff-Davis: 135. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Gale.
  35. ^ Glass, Brett (June 13, 1994). "If your system arrives all shook up, consider sending it back". InfoWorld. 16 (24). IDG Publications: 42. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Gale.
  36. ^ Staff writer (March 1, 1995). "Windows '95 – SPEA Intros Enhanced Graphics Card". Newsbytes. WP Company. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Gale.
  37. ^ Staff writer (November 6, 1995). "Diamond to acquire software company". HFN. 69 (45). BridgeTower Media: 58. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Gale.
  38. ^ Gazette OMPI des marques internationales [WIPO Gazette of International Marks]. Vol. 5, no. 25. 2000. p. 915. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ a b Tolkoff, Sarah (December 10, 2007). "Ingram's Own Brand". Orange County Business Journal. 30 (50). American City Business Journals: 8 – via ProQuest.
  40. ^ "V7 Worldwide Home". n.d. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Last available snapshot.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Video_Seven&oldid=1221020867"