rec.autos.simulators

> One of the pioneers of the PC graphics industry, Hercules Computer
> Technology, is reportedly closing its doors. A source close to the

>--Dave

>--
>Dave Schwabe

>"If you're in control, you're not going fast enough" -- Parnelli Jones
>The Aussie Toad -- GPL Brabham Page
>http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

>> http://avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=8211999-0589

>> Saturday, August 21, 1999 - 00:58 CDT
>> Hercules Shutting Down

>> One of the pioneers of the PC graphics industry, Hercules Computer
>> Technology, is reportedly closing its doors. A source close to the
>> story informed the Adrenaline Vault that the financially troubled
>> Fremont, Calif.-based graphics card manufacturer is shutting down
>> after 17 years. Additionally, it was reported that employees there
>> have gone unpaid for 14 days and are not answering the phones because
>> they are "clearing out." An official press release is expected soon.

>> The staff there also told the source it is improbable that they will
>> be fulfilling additional video card orders, including recent ones,
>> though it is possible some employees are still preparing cards for
>> shipment. Nonetheless, the company website is still active and
>> includes a section through which several Hercules products can be
>> pre-ordered. The source also indicated that if a customer's credit
>> card has not been billed for a recent order, it would probably not be
>> shipped.

>> Similar to other success stories of the computer industry, Hercules
>> Computer Technology was launched in a garage. In this case, the garage
>> was 10 miles northeast of San Francisco in the town of Hercules. It
>> was there in 1982 that the first high-resolution graphics adapter for
>> the burgeoning PC business was created, the Hercules Monochrome
>> Graphics Adapter.

>> From its roots in establishing the monochrome graphics standard,
>> Hercules pioneered advances in color graphics solutions. In the late
>> 80s and early 90s, the company led the industry with high-end
>> solutions based on TIGA, RISC and proprietary ASIC technologies. These
>> products brought graphics functionality to PCs once reserved for more
>> expensive professional systems.

>> Since 1992, Hercules has focused on its Windows multimedia
>> accelerators, including an extensive line of 3D graphics cards. In
>> November 1998, a proposed acquisition of the privately held
>> corporation by Germany-based ELSA was terminated when the companies
>> were unable to agree on the terms of the sale. Hercules still managed
>> to ship its Dynamite TNT2 in June 1999, and on Aug. 9 released updated
>> drivers for its entire TNT and TNT2 product line.

>> --
>> * rrevved at mindspring dot com

>>Well, for those of us who have used a Thriller with good success for GPL,
>>this is a bummer. Guess it's time to get that Voodoo 3 3000.... the
>>Rendition reference drivers have never worked for me, so I will not be using
>>those.

>>--Dave

>>--
>>Dave Schwabe

>>"If you're in control, you're not going fast enough" -- Parnelli Jones
>>The Aussie Toad -- GPL Brabham Page
>>http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

>>> http://avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=8211999-0589

>>> Saturday, August 21, 1999 - 00:58 CDT
>>> Hercules Shutting Down

>>> One of the pioneers of the PC graphics industry, Hercules Computer
>>> Technology, is reportedly closing its doors. A source close to the
>>> story informed the Adrenaline Vault that the financially troubled
>>> Fremont, Calif.-based graphics card manufacturer is shutting down
>>> after 17 years. Additionally, it was reported that employees there
>>> have gone unpaid for 14 days and are not answering the phones because
>>> they are "clearing out." An official press release is expected soon.

>>> The staff there also told the source it is improbable that they will
>>> be fulfilling additional video card orders, including recent ones,
>>> though it is possible some employees are still preparing cards for
>>> shipment. Nonetheless, the company website is still active and
>>> includes a section through which several Hercules products can be
>>> pre-ordered. The source also indicated that if a customer's credit
>>> card has not been billed for a recent order, it would probably not be
>>> shipped.

>>> Similar to other success stories of the computer industry, Hercules
>>> Computer Technology was launched in a garage. In this case, the garage
>>> was 10 miles northeast of San Francisco in the town of Hercules. It
>>> was there in 1982 that the first high-resolution graphics adapter for
>>> the burgeoning PC business was created, the Hercules Monochrome
>>> Graphics Adapter.

>>> From its roots in establishing the monochrome graphics standard,
>>> Hercules pioneered advances in color graphics solutions. In the late
>>> 80s and early 90s, the company led the industry with high-end
>>> solutions based on TIGA, RISC and proprietary ASIC technologies. These
>>> products brought graphics functionality to PCs once reserved for more
>>> expensive professional systems.

>>> Since 1992, Hercules has focused on its Windows multimedia
>>> accelerators, including an extensive line of 3D graphics cards. In
>>> November 1998, a proposed acquisition of the privately held
>>> corporation by Germany-based ELSA was terminated when the companies
>>> were unable to agree on the terms of the sale. Hercules still managed
>>> to ship its Dynamite TNT2 in June 1999, and on Aug. 9 released updated
>>> drivers for its entire TNT and TNT2 product line.

>>> --
>>> * rrevved at mindspring dot com

> "Information from a Hercules executive indicates that the company will
> officially close it doors within the week. There are not indications as to
> whether current orders will be shipped. Pending orders for their high
demand
> Dynamite TNT2 Ultra are note expected to be fulfilled.

> The executive, who has requested anonymity cites embezzlement and
> mismanagement as causes for the collapse of this industry pioneer."

> i guess that could have something to do with them losing money :)

> -zAmboni

> > On Sat, 21 Aug 1999 13:05:58 GMT,

> > >Now that's a "wow...."
> > >I know you'll remember
> > >with me and some of the
> > >older coots when Hercules
> > >was the King Kong of it
> > >all......................

> > >AR
> > Yep. A friend of mine had one. I wonder with the TNT2 etc. why
> > they are having to fold now.. It would seem that they were going
> > in a good direction.. hmm.

> > --
> > * rrevved at mindspring dot com

> >Now that's a "wow...."
> >I know you'll remember
> >with me and some of the
> >older coots when Hercules
> >was the King Kong of it
> >all......................

> >AR
> Yep. A friend of mine had one. I wonder with the TNT2 etc. why
> they are having to fold now.. It would seem that they were going
> in a good direction.. hmm.

> --
> * rrevved at mindspring dot com

> > Ed......
> > i saw this over at Shugashack last night (which pimped it from
> RivaExtreme)

> > "Information from a Hercules executive indicates that the company will
> > officially close it doors within the week. There are not indications as
to
> > whether current orders will be shipped. Pending orders for their high
> demand
> > Dynamite TNT2 Ultra are note expected to be fulfilled.

> > The executive, who has requested anonymity cites embezzlement and
> > mismanagement as causes for the collapse of this industry pioneer."

> > i guess that could have something to do with them losing money :)

> > -zAmboni

> > > On Sat, 21 Aug 1999 13:05:58 GMT,

> > > >Now that's a "wow...."
> > > >I know you'll remember
> > > >with me and some of the
> > > >older coots when Hercules
> > > >was the King Kong of it
> > > >all......................

> > > >AR
> > > Yep. A friend of mine had one. I wonder with the TNT2 etc. why
> > > they are having to fold now.. It would seem that they were going
> > > in a good direction.. hmm.

> > > --
> > > * rrevved at mindspring dot com