AST

(AST Computer, Irvine, CA) A PC manufacturer founded in 1980 by Albert Wong, Safi Quershey and Tom Yuen (A, S and T). It offered a complete line of PCs that sold through its dealer channel. AST was initially known for its line of add-in memory boards for the PC, including the Rampage and SixPak Plus boards. In 1993, AST acquired Tandy Corporation's PC manufacturing facilities. In 1997, the parent company AST Research, Inc. was taken over by Samsung Electronics who struggled to revive sales and compete with known brands such as Gateway, Dell and Compaq. In January 1999, Beny Alagem, co-founder of Packard Bell, purchased the AST name and intellectual property rights for a new PC hardware venture. However, before the year was over, the once-illustrious brand ceased production altogether.

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(company)

AST - 1. ARI Service. 2. AST Computers, LLC.