OT: Hercules Graphics out of business.

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 customers 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

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

> One of the pioneers of the PC graphics industry, Hercules Computer > Technology, is reportedly closing its doors. A source close to the That's a shame. I have one of their old 2d SVGA cards in my machine right now and it's 16bit colors look better than that of the Voodoo3. I suppose the only thing "quality above quantity" will getcha these days is a bankruptcy deal. klink

I guess that's why I haven't had a reply to my support queries regarding my recently installed Thriller3D.... Too bad the outdated drivers and BIOS are often problematic with this card. Marc.

Voodoo 3 is a secondary card. What is the lastest king of the hill Primary video card ? Don't know if I want to replace my Thriller but it seems silly that GPL is the only piece of software that takes advantage of its architecture.

Quoted text (62 lines)

>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

Voodoo3 is a primary card.

Oi, Rip van Winckle...it's time to wake up! ;-) Andrew "only one vid card in this PC and it's a V3" McP

I only ever owned one Herc card... a Herc Stingray 64. It lasted over three years in my PC as it moved from late 486, almost up to the time I went to a Celeron, which has to be something of a record! Shame to hear anyone going under, but it's been a bit of a crowded market for a while. Heck, even Intel are getting out of the video business! Mind you, that's chips not cards, but that's a mere detail :-) Andrew McP

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

Uh, that's incorrect. Voodoo 3 is both 2D and 3D. You're thinking of the old Voodoo and Voodoo 2 cards.

Quoted text (71 lines)

>Voodoo 3 is a secondary card. What is the lastest king of the hill >Primary video card ? Don't know if I want to replace my Thriller but >it seems silly that GPL is the only piece of software that takes >advantage of its architecture. >>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

I remember, back in the day, when I popped for a Hercules Graphics Adapter (the official name for the card) to put in my IBM PC (the one with the 8088 processor!). The card added color and graphic capabilities that IBM could not provide at the time. This was back in 81 or 82. I thought it was soooo coooool to get 16 colors! Actually, I still have that doorstop around here somewhere... > 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

Quoted text (30 lines)

> 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

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

Quoted text (18 lines)

> 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

Do you remember how much you paid for that back then? > I remember, back in the day, when I popped for a Hercules Graphics Adapter > (the official name for the card) to put in my IBM PC (the one with the 8088 > processor!). The card added color and graphic capabilities that IBM could > not provide at the time. This was back in 81 or 82. I thought it was soooo > coooool to get 16 colors! Actually, I still have that doorstop around here

Quoted text (11 lines)

> somewhere... > > 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

Quoted text (32 lines)

> > 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

: Do you remember how much you paid for that back then? :> I remember, back in the day, when I popped for a Hercules Graphics Adapter :> (the official name for the card) to put in my IBM PC (the one with the :> 8088 processor!). The card added color and graphic capabilities that :> IBM could not provide at the time. This was back in 81 or 82. I :> thought it was soooo coooool to get 16 colors! Actually, I still have that :> doorstop around I myself saved pennies just to get my hands finally on the monochrome adaptor. Being the engineering geek that I am (and was) I couldn't wait to run AutoCAD at 730x500 (or something like that). Colour was not a priority for me... resolution was. Of course, now I get both... Stephen

I think it was around $200 . Seemed like a deal at the time, because it was reasonable solution for color and graphics. > Do you remember how much you paid for that back then? > > I remember, back in the day, when I popped for a Hercules Graphics Adapter > > (the official name for the card) to put in my IBM PC (the one with the > 8088 > > processor!). The card added color and graphic capabilities that IBM could

Quoted text (15 lines)

> > not provide at the time. This was back in 81 or 82. I thought it was > soooo > > coooool to get 16 colors! Actually, I still have that doorstop around > here > > somewhere... > > > 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

Quoted text (33 lines)

> 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