Chinese-American computer pioneer An Wang (1920-1990) and Wang Laboratories founded by him: some aspects of their history of interest to me - Part 2
Last updated on 1st Sep. 2021
Minor update on 28th May 2022
To see part 1 post, please visit: Chinese-American computer pioneer An Wang (1920-1990) and Wang Laboratories founded by him: some aspects of their history of interest to me - Part 1, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/04/chinese-american-computer-pioneer-wang.html .
Part 3 (final part) of this post series can be read here: https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/10/chinese-american-computer-pioneer-wang.html .
Note: This post heavily draws on the book: Lessons by An Wang (with Eugene Linden) published in 1986, https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Lessons.html?id=CSTxxSaJPGQC&redir_esc=y . By default, "Wang writes" or "He writes" or similar words, in this post refers to what Wang has written in the Lessons book.
Sections in this post
- IBM Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST) released in 1964, among the first word processor products without CRT display; Wang company spotting and exploring opportunities in word processing products (late 1960s and early 1970s)
- First Wang Word Processor machine product line - Wang 1200 (1220 model without CRT display first shipped in 1972; 1222 model with one line CRT display in 1975)
- First successful Wang general-purpose computer: Wang 2200 minicomputer/desktop computer with 16x64 char CRT display (first shipped in 1973); Wang 2200 among first desktop computers
- Large number of software applications for Wang 700 and Wang 2200 by 1975; 1973 oil crisis contributes/leads to sales and earnings decline, and first employees layoff and salary cuts in Wang Laboratories in fiscal 1975
- Background of creation of Wang's very successful CRT-based Word Processing System (WPS) and its introduction in 1976
- 25th anniversary (1976) Annual Report of Wang Laboratories with Fiscal 1976 orders exceeding $100 million and Wang Labs. having average 2600 employees
- New sales and marketing strategy for Wang Word Processors in 1976 enables rapid penetration into Fortune 1000 office market; Wang TV ad. campaign boosts Wang (computers) name recognition; By 1978 Wang was largest supplier of CRT-based word processing systems worldwide
======================================================
In Lessons book, Dr. Wang writes that in late 1960s he read a study that stated: "while the average factory worker is supported by about fifteen thousand dollars' worth of tools and machinery that improve his productivity, virtually the only equipment supporting an office worker is a four-hundred-dollar electric typewriter plus pencils and paper." Usage of computers in business then was in data processing and payroll applications and not in ordinary office work. Dr. Wang had recruited Ed Lesnick around 1968 for business applications products. Lesnick noted that PHI, the company that Wang had acquired, had a word processing program developed by a company called VIP Business Products, on their typewriters, which while not having CRT display based word processing ability, had search and replace functions and could justify text.
It would be difficult for readers today to understand how word processing could be done without a CRT display/screen! So it will be appropriate to share some background about word processing machines in the 1960s. For that we first need to look at IBM's popular electric typewriter then.
Given below are extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter :
The IBM Selectric typewriter was a highly successful line of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on 31 July 1961.[1][2]
Instead of the "basket" of individual typebars that swing up to strike the ribbon and page in a typical typewriter of the period, the Selectric had an "element" (frequently called a "typeball", or less formally, a "golf ball") that rotated and pivoted to the correct position before striking. The element could be easily changed so as to use different fonts in the same document typed on the same typewriter, resurrecting a capability which had been pioneered by typewriters such as the Hammond and Blickensderfer in the late 19th century. The Selectric also replaced the traditional typewriter's horizontally moving carriage with a roller (platen) that turned to advance the paper but did not move horizontally, while the typeball and ribbon mechanism did.
The Selectric mechanism was notable for using internal mechanical binary coding and two mechanical digital-to-analog converters, called whiffletree linkages, to select the character to be typed.
Selectrics and their descendants eventually captured 75 percent of the United States market for electric typewriters used in business.[3] IBM replaced the Selectric line with the IBM Wheelwriter in 1984 and transferred its typewriter business to the newly formed Lexmark in 1991.[4] By the Selectric's 25th anniversary, in 1986, a total of more than 13 million machines had been made and sold.[5]
[Wiki References:]
1. "History of the IBM Typewriter". https://etypewriters.com/history.htm , etypewriters.com. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
2. Carriageless Typewriter Shown; New I.B.M. Selectric Can Accommodate Six Print Fonts, New York Times, 1 August 1961, "An electric typewriter that eliminates type bars and movable carriages and that can use six interchangeable type faces was introduced by the International Business Machines Corporation yesterday ..."
3. "Eliot Fette Noyes, FIDSA". Industrial Design Society of America--About ID. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
4. "IBM Archives: IBM typewriter milestones - page 2". http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/modelb/modelb_milestone2.html , ibm.com. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
5. "IBM100 - The Selectric Typewriter". https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/selectric/ , www-03.ibm.com. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
--- end wiki extracts ---
This video is claimed to be a 1961 TV commercial of the IBM Selectric typewriter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJ-23B27uI, 1 min.
A detailed video on IBM Selectric typewriter, how it is a great improvement over the manual typewriter, and how it works (Skip to 15:57 to see a demo of typing on it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJITkKaO0qA, 16 min. 57 secs., published by Chryosran22.
Screenshot of above video showing an IBM Selectric typewriter:
[To open pic in larger resolution, right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.]
Screenshot of above video showing 'golf ball' mechanism inside an IBM Selectric typewriter:
This video shows how easily one can change the 'golf ball' in an IBM Selectric typewriter to get type with different font(s) on the same paper: IBM Selectric II Typewriter Golf Ball Madness!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOIPN70f_-I , 6 min. 31 secs.
But the initial IBM Selectric typewriters did not have any word processing capability. That changed with the introduction of the IBM MT/ST (Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter) in 1964.
Given below are further extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter :
In 1964 IBM introduced the "Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter" and in 1969, a "Magnetic Card Selectric Typewriter". These were sometimes referred to as the "MT/ST" and "MC/ST", respectively. The MC/ST was also available in a "communicating" version which could emulate an IBM 2741 terminal or run its native Correspondence Code. These featured electronically interfaced typing mechanisms and keyboards and a magnetic storage device (either tape in a cartridge, or a magnetic-coated card the same size as an 80-column punched card) for recording, editing, and replaying typed material at ca. 12–15 characters per second.
These machines were among the first to provide word processing capability in any form. They used the same elements as ordinary office Selectrics.
--- end extracts ---
From above wiki extract, we learn that IBM MT/ST introduced in 1964 was among the first to provide (rudimentary) word processing ability.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_MT/ST provides some more info. on the MT/ST.
https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/technology/1103/gallery.most_admired_ibm.fortune/3.html has a pic of the IBM MT/ST (pic link: https://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2011/technology/1103/gallery.most_admired_ibm.fortune/images/ibm_history_3.jpg ). Note that there is no CRT screen.
From around 6 min. 10 secs. to 10 min. 30 secs. in the following video, we can see how a 1969 IBM Magnetic Card Selectric Typewriter can do word processing work (note that it is Magnetic Card and not Magnetic Tape but I think the Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter would have done word processing tasks in a similar way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW_jJjUarp0, 12 min. 30 secs.
Above pic is a screenshot of above video showing the IBM MC/ST. Note that even the MC/ST released in 1969 did not have a CRT display.
Wang writes that in 1968, "the word processing market was almost exclusively controlled by IBM, and most of the machines available simply automated repetitive typing chores. Without a CRT, editing was difficult." But in 1968, Wang felt that the company did not have the technology to create a competitive word processing product. So this possibility was temporarily shelved. Two years later, Wang had the required technology and so, Wang writes, "I decided that we should go after the word processing market in earnest".
What had changed in 1970 was that Wang had the 700 series calculator. In the previous 2 years, Wang had leased an IBM MT/ST to study its features. They realized that they had most of the components to produce a competitive or better machine. The 700 calculator was already able to work with the Selectric typewriter (which the MT/ST used), and the 700 calculator could also read (magnetic) tape cassettes. Dr. Wang implies that the electronics hardware of the 700 machine did not need to be changed, writing that only the 700 calculator machine's microcode (firmware) would need to be rewritten to do word processing.
First Wang Word Processor machine product line - Wang 1200 (1220 model without CRT display first shipped in 1972; 1222 model with one line CRT display in 1975)
Wang writes in Lessons, "In November 1971, we announced the 1200, our entry into the word processing market. The 1200 was really an automatic typewriter with limited editing functions." Letters typed on the terminal (typewriter) would be stored on tape cassette. Editing the letter was done using command codes. Search function permitted the user (secretary typically) to find and change a single line of text. This enabled generic letters to be made and stored on tape cassette which could be modified as needed and then printed. Printing speed was 175 words per minute and printing was automatic thus eliminating human error possibilities that non-automatic typewriters had. [Ravi: I think the user would have to first ensure that the letter on tape cassette did not have any errors, which could be done either at the time the letter was being typed in at which time the typed in characters would be getting printed on the attached paper, or by printing draft copies, and making corrections of any errors on the letter copy on tape cassette. Note that the Wang 1200 did not have a CRT display, and so the only way to check the letter was to print it.]
Wang writes that the 1200 was "extremely primitive by today's standards" with today being 1986 when the book was published, but it was still significantly superior to working on an electric typewriter. Wang writes, "For all the difficulty of working without a CRT, and for all the expense of the 1200 as compared with an electric typewriter, the 1200 could still cut the average cost of a business letter in half." This comparison is to an electric typewriter but not to IBM's word processor products of IBM MT/ST or IBM MC/ST which also used the IBM Selectric typewriter, and which was the key competition for Wang company. Dr. Wang does not provide the latter comparison in the Lessons book.
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102746931 has a pic and some info. on Wang 1200. Below pic is from that page (courtesy computerhistory.org):
Extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Laboratories#Word_processors
The Wang 1200
Wang's first attempt at a word processor was the Wang 1200, announced in late 1971,[15] but not available until 1972.[16] The design consisted of the logic of a Wang 500 calculator hooked up to an OEM-manufactured IBM Selectric typewriter for keying and printing, and dual cassette decks for storage. Harold Koplow, who had written the microcode for the Wang 700 (and its derivative, the Wang 500) rewrote the microcode to perform word processing functions instead of number crunching.
The operator of a Wang 1200 typed text on a conventional IBM Selectric keyboard; when the Return key was pressed, the line of text was stored on a cassette tape. One cassette held roughly 20 pages of text, and could be "played back" (e.g., the text retrieved) by printing the contents on continuous-form paper in the 1200 typewriter's "print" mode. The stored text could also be edited, using keys on a simple, six-key array. Basic editing functions included Insert, Delete, Skip (character, line), and so on.
The labor and cost savings of this device were immediate, and remarkable: pages of text no longer had to be retyped to correct simple errors, and projects could be worked on, stored, and then retrieved for use later on. The rudimentary Wang 1200 machine was the precursor of the Wang Office Information System (OIS), which revolutionized the way typing projects were performed in the American workplace.
[Wiki References]
15. "Top 10 technologies of the past 45 years". https://www.computerworld.com/article/2492619/top-10-technologies-of-the-past-45-years.html , October 22, 2012. Wang 1200 (1971)
16. "Wang, An". https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/wang , began producing its first word processor, the Wang 1200, in 1972
--- end extract ---
http://www.wang1200.org/ gives good info. on Wang 1200.
As per http://www.wang1200.org/history.html , Wang Labs rented an IBM Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST) and analyzed it. They felt they could provide a better product using an OEM'd IBM Selectric type writer which Wang 500 calculator could already use, Wang's own cassette tape drives to store and access programs and data, along with modified microcode for the Wang 500 calculator logic to act as a word processor instead of as a calculator.
The above link also informs us that the first Wang 1200 Word Processor machine model shipped was Wang 1220 in May 1972.
I could not get a decent youtube video on Wang 1200 word processor machine.
Dr. Wang writes that the IBM Selectric machine that the Wang 1200 used as a terminal was the source of a problem as Wang started distributing the machines to selected customers in the summer of 1972. He writes, "During printing, the carriage of the Selectric tended to hop around. The cause of the problem defied our analysis, an analysis that was somewhat limited because IBM refused to supply us with specifications for the Selectric."
There was "tremendous demand" for the 1200 machine which Wang provided on rent, but the hopping carriage problem resulted in many customers cancelling the rental, with cancellations touching an 80 percent rate at one point.
This problem with the 1200 contributed to the first earnings decline (16.6%) in Wang Labs. history in fiscal 1972, and the first loss ($116,000) in the company's history in first quarter of 1973. Wang writes, ".. I am quite sure that were it not for the problems with the 1200, it [Ravi: loss] would never have occurred."
Wang writes that eventually they called some IBM servicemen who reported that the "carriage stabilizer spring" part was missing. On putting one in, the machine worked. Wang writes that the IBM servicemen said that the carriage stabilizer spring was in all the Selectric machines IBM produced for their own markets. Note that Wang seems to have got their Selectric machines from IBM as an OEM product. Wang company found that all the Selectric machines they had, had this spring missing!
Wang writes that there were some other less serious problems with the Selectric machines supplied to them.
Ed Lesnick who was a top manager for the Wang 2200 product, got very upset and complained to the appropriate IBM Vice-President (VP) about Wang being supplied Selectric machines with missing parts by IBM. The IBM VP said that the product they produced for OEM market did not require that spring! But IBM did send a team after this to install the stabilizer spring in all the Selectric machines Wang had at their Tewksbury facility.
Wang writes that they later learned that one of their competitors, Redactron, who also used the Selectric machine in their word processor product, had "gone through the same torments" that Wang had, and that IBM did not inform them of this stabilizer spring issue, due to which they (Redactron) never solved the problem.
Wang writes that they recruited a separate sales force to sell word processor machines. As the machines were aimed at helping a secretary and with most secretaries then being women, Wang company hired many women salespersons for this word processor machines sales force. Wang writes, "Many of these women had, in fact, been secretaries and understood the ways in which the 1200 might lighten the burden of a secretary's job."
Ravi: Fascinating and very pleasing to know that Wang company recruited many women salespersons in the 1970s for their word processor machines sales force.
As per http://www.wang1200.org/history.html , in 1975, Wang 1222 Word Processor machine was available. It provided an option of a one-line video display which allowed the user to view the line being edited on-screen before committing to paper.
http://www.wang1200.org/docs/brochure/WangWordProcessing.700-3456A.9-75.pdf is a 6 page 1975 brochure on "Wang Word Processing". This brochure describes the 1975 "System 1222" Wang Word Processor machine, which seems to be the same as the "Wang 1222" referred to earlier. I have given below page 2 and 3 of the pdf as pics.
1967 advertisement-movie of IBM MT/ST called "Paperwork Explosion", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IZw2CoYztk , 4 min. 58 secs.
1975 What is Word Processing? Vintage Computer History, Educational, IBM, Astrotype, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqTTxLPPE30, 7 min. 37 secs. published by Computer History Archives Project.
The Wang 2200 minicomputer/desktop computer is the first successful Wang general-purpose computer product line. As somebody who learned programming on Wang VS minicomputers in the 1980s and which platform solidified my base as a software development professional, I was very keen to read up on Wang 2200 and share info. about it here. The terminals for the Wang 2200 have quite some similarities to the Wang VS terminals that I used in the 1980s. I mean, I recognized them right away as Wang terminals. All the Wang products covered in the earlier sections - various calculator products and the Wang 1200 Word Processing products - were very different from the Wang VS terminals and computers I worked on in the 1980s. With the Wang 2200 product, I am getting into territory which, based on my direct experience, I am able to relate to, in a better way than the earlier Wang products.
Dr. Wang writes in Lessons that the 2200 was "almost ready for shipping" by mid-1971. [But as per Dr. Wang it first shipped in late 1972 and Wikipedia Wang 2200 page states that it first appeared in May 1973 (relevant extract given below).]
What Happened to Wang Computers: How the Wang 2200 Reinvented Office IT, https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2017/04/advent-office-pcs-wang-2200-reigned-computing-dynamo , 26th April 2017 is an interesting article in this context. It states that in the early 1970s, computers in offices were rare. It goes on to say, "In the age before the microprocessor and ubiquitous personal computers, Wang Laboratories, which started off as a maker of electronic calculators, developed and introduced what some would hail as one of the first desktop computers — the Wang 2200. In the 1970s and into the 1980s, the company became a dominant player in the office computer market."
The article states, "Although the Wang 2200 was previewed in 1972, it did not start shipping until the spring of 1973 and cost $6,700."
The article also refers to a ComputerWorld magazine November 1972 issue article on Wang 2200, https://books.google.com.au/books?id=trl_RJ8Yz4YC&lpg=PT17&dq=%22Wang%202200%22&pg=PT17#v=onepage&q=%22Wang%202200%22&f=false . I think this may be a historically important piece of evidence related to Wang 2200. As it was easier to sell such products as programmable calculators rather than computers (details on this issue have been provided earlier in part-1 post), the Wang 2200 seems to have been initially marketed as a programmable calculator.
I have given below a pic I made of this article alone from the ComputerWorld November 1972 magazine link given above. I thank ComputerWorld and have presumed that ComputerWorld would not have any objections to me sharing this historical evidence article on Wang 2200 on this post which is freely viewable by all on the Internet and does not have any profit-motive whatsoever.
[On PC desktop, to open pic in larger resolution where the article is easily readable, right-click on pic followed by open link (NOT image) in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.]
This Nov. 1972 ComputerWorld article on Wang 2200 reinforces my view conveyed earlier that I am able to relate to the Wang 2200 product, based on my direct experience of using Wang computers in 1980s. I mean, if a Nov. 1972 Wang 2200 computer was provided to me in working condition now in 2021 almost half a century later, though I have not done any serious programming for around two decades (I am excluding small programs I wrote for teaching purposes from 2003 to 2011), if I wanted to, even today I could quite easily start writing BASIC programs on this Nov. 1972 Wang 2200 to meet office needs.
Dr. Wang writes, in mid-1971, the 2200 "represented the culmination of the lessons we had learned in our three earlier attempts to build a general-purpose computer". The improvements on the 3300 included using magnetic tape cassettes instead of paper tape to store programs (and data), and using a CRT as a terminal instead of a teletypewriter. Wang writes that in the 2200, "we put the ROM on a chip and housed both BASIC and its interpreter in ROM, thus solving the problems of memory storage and loading BASIC."
Wang writes, "The cost savings of our approach enabled us to design and sell the computer at a price that would attract the frustrated programmers previously writing applications on the 700." It was user-friendly (easy to use)! Wang writes, "When you turned it on, the screen flashed Ready - ROM had done the startup chores most computers would require of the operator. When you wanted to load a program, you pushed a button that said Load."
Wang writes that to avoid the (marketing) pitfalls associated with 'computer' word, the 2200 was initially referred to by the company as a "computing calculator". Very significantly, Wang writes, "However, it was a true minicomputer, useful for general business, as well as statistical and engineering applications. First shipped in late 1972, it (Wang 2200), continued to evolve, and we are still selling the computer today (1986)." So Dr. An Wang refers to the Wang 2200 as a "true minicomputer". As far as I can recall of my readings of the Lessons book (so far), I don't think Dr. Wang refers to Wang 2200 as a "personal computer".
As given in a later section covering 25th year Annual Report of Wang Laboratories in 1976, "Small" computer products (Wang 2200 and the later Wang Computer System which used Wang 2200 in standard configurations) accounted for more than 85% of the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30,1976 (fiscal 1976). At that time word processing equipment contributed to only around 10% of annual revenue. Fiscal 1976 sales was 96.9 million dollars and earnings was 6.17 million dollars. So just around 2 to 3 years after the Wang 2200 computer was released in mid 1973, it (I am viewing WCS as a Wang 2200 product) became the main revenue earner for Wang Laboratories! In later years, Wang word processing (computer) products would bring in lot of revenue to the company but in the key transition period of moving from calculators to computer products (small systems and word processing computer products), Wang 2200 was the winner that saw Wang Laboratories comfortably make the transition.
Let us see how the Wang 2200 is viewed in the "desktop computer" historical context by Wikipedia and some other Internet source(s) today. Given below is an extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_computer :
A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuration has a case that houses the power supply, motherboard (a printed circuit board with a microprocessor as the central processing unit, memory, bus, certain peripherals and other electronic components), disk storage (usually one or more hard disk drives, solid state drives, optical disc drives, and in early models a floppy disk drive); a keyboard and mouse for input; and a computer monitor, speakers, and, often, a printer for output. The case may be oriented horizontally or vertically and placed either underneath, beside, or on top of a desk.
...
History
Origins
Prior to the widespread use of microprocessors, a computer that could fit on a desk was considered remarkably small; the type of computers most commonly used were minicomputers, which were extremely large. Early computers took up the space of a whole room. Minicomputers generally fit into one or a few refrigerator-sized racks.
It was not until the 1970s when fully programmable computers appeared that could fit entirely on top of a desk. 1970 saw the introduction of the Datapoint 2200, a "smart" computer terminal complete with keyboard and monitor, was designed to connect with a mainframe computer but that didn't stop owners from using its built-in computational abilities as a stand-alone desktop computer.[1] The HP 9800 series, which started out as programmable calculators in 1971 but was programmable in BASIC by 1972, used a smaller version of a minicomputer design based on ROM memory and had small one-line LED alphanumeric displays and displayed graphics with a plotter.[2] The Wang 2200 of 1973 had a full-size cathode ray tube (CRT) and cassette tape storage. The IBM 5100 in 1975 had a small CRT display and could be programmed in BASIC and APL. These were generally expensive specialized computers sold for business or scientific uses.[3]
Growth and development
Apple II, TRS-80 and Commodore PET were first generation personal home computers launched in 1977, which were aimed at the consumer market – rather than businessmen or computer hobbyists. Byte magazine referred to these three as the "1977 Trinity" of personal computing.[4] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, desktop computers became the predominant type, the most popular being the IBM PC and its clones, followed by the Apple Macintosh,[5] with the third-placed Commodore Amiga having some success in the mid-1980s but declining by the early 1990s.
[References:]
1. Lamont Wood, "Forgotten PC history: The true origins of the personal computer" Archived 2008-08-14 at the Wayback Machine, Computerworld, 8 August 2008
2. "Hewlett Packard 9830A - Complete History of the HP9830A". history-computer.com.
3. "Timeline of Computer History". Computer History Museum. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
4. "Most Important Companies". Byte. September 1995. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
5. "Thirty years of Mac: 1984 - The Macintosh". Apple. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
--- end extract from Desktop computer wiki page ---
Ravi: While the above extract says, "A desktop computer is a personal computer ...", I don't think that is the accepted view. Some desktop computers are not viewed as personal computers (PCs). In particular, I don't think that most computer history related writers view Wang 2200 as a personal computer (PC).
Given below are relevant extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer :
A personal computer (PC) is a multi-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use.[1] Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or technician. Unlike large, costly minicomputers and mainframes, time-sharing by many people at the same time is not used with personal computers.
...
Since the early 1990s, Microsoft operating systems and Intel hardware dominated much of the personal computer market, first with MS-DOS and then with Microsoft Windows. Alternatives to Microsoft's Windows operating systems occupy a minority share of the industry. These include Apple's macOS and free and open-source Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux.
The advent of personal computers and the concurrent Digital Revolution have significantly affected the lives of people in all countries.
...
[From History section of wiki page:]
Early personal computers—generally called microcomputers—were often sold in a kit form and in limited volumes, and were of interest mostly to hobbyists and technicians. Minimal programming was done with toggle switches to enter instructions, and output was provided by front panel lamps. Practical use required adding peripherals such as keyboards, computer displays, disk drives, and printers.
Micral N was the earliest commercial, non-kit microcomputer based on a microprocessor, the Intel 8008. It was built starting in 1972, and a few hundred units were sold. This had been preceded by the Datapoint 2200 in 1970, for which the Intel 8008 had been commissioned, though not accepted for use. The CPU design implemented in the Datapoint 2200 became the basis for x86 architecture[17] used in the original IBM PC and its descendants.[18]
In 1973, the IBM Los Gatos Scientific Center developed a portable computer prototype called SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine Portable) based on the IBM PALM processor with a Philips compact cassette drive, small CRT, and full function keyboard. SCAMP emulated an IBM 1130 minicomputer in order to run APL/1130.[19] In 1973, APL was generally available only on mainframe computers, and most desktop sized microcomputers such as the Wang 2200 or HP 9800 offered only BASIC. Because SCAMP was the first to emulate APL/1130 performance on a portable, single user computer, PC Magazine in 1983 designated SCAMP a "revolutionary concept" and "the world's first personal computer".[19][20]
...
A seminal step in personal computing was the 1973 Xerox Alto, developed at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). It had a graphical user interface (GUI) which later served as inspiration for Apple's Macintosh, and Microsoft's Windows operating system. The Alto was a demonstration project, not commercialized, as the parts were too expensive to be affordable.[21]
Also in 1973 Hewlett Packard introduced fully BASIC programmable microcomputers that fit entirely on top of a desk, including a keyboard, a small one-line display, and printer. The Wang 2200 microcomputer of 1973 had a full-size cathode ray tube (CRT) and cassette tape storage.[22] These were generally expensive specialized computers sold for business or scientific uses.
1974 saw the introduction of what is considered by many to be the first true "personal computer", the Altair 8800 created by Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS).[23][24] Based on the 8-bit Intel 8080 Microprocessor,[25] the Altair is widely recognized as the spark that ignited the microcomputer revolution[26] as the first commercially successful personal computer.[27] The computer bus designed for the Altair was to become a de facto standard in the form of the S-100 bus, and the first programming language for the machine was Microsoft's founding product, Altair BASIC.[28][29]
In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold the Apple I computer circuit board, which was fully prepared and contained about 30 chips. The Apple I computer differed from the other kit-style hobby computers of era. At the request of Paul Terrell, owner of the Byte Shop, Jobs and Wozniak were given their first purchase order, for 50 Apple I computers, only if the computers were assembled and tested and not a kit computer. Terrell wanted to have computers to sell to a wide range of users, not just experienced electronics hobbyists who had the soldering skills to assemble a computer kit. The Apple I as delivered was still technically a kit computer, as it did not have a power supply, case, or keyboard when it was delivered to the Byte Shop.
The first successfully mass-marketed personal computer to be announced was the Commodore PET after being revealed in January 1977. However, it was back-ordered and not available until later that year.[30] Three months later (April), the Apple II (usually referred to as the "Apple") was announced with the first units being shipped 10 June 1977,[31] and the TRS-80 from Tandy Corporation / Tandy Radio Shack following in August 1977, which sold over 100,000 units during its lifetime. Together, these 3 machines were referred to as the "1977 trinity". Mass-market, ready-assembled computers had arrived, and allowed a wider range of people to use computers, focusing more on software applications and less on development of the processor hardware.
[References:]
1. "personal computer". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
17. Weidendorfer, Josef (2011). Encyclopedia of Parallel Computing, Intel Core Microarchitecture, x86 Processor Family. Boston, MA: Springer. ISBN 978-0-387-09765-7.
18. "Forgotten PC history: The true origins of the personal computer". 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
19. "IBM Archives". Archived from the original on 10 February 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
20. PC Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 6, November 1983, ‘'SCAMP: The Missing Link in the PC's Past?‘’
21. Roy A. Allan, A Bibliography of the Personal Computer [electronic resource]: the Books and Periodical Articles, Allan Publishing – 2006, p. 73
22. Jim Battle (August 9, 2008). "The Wang 2200". Wang2200.org. Jim Battle. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
23. Roy A. Allan, A Bibliography of the Personal Computer [electronic resource] : the Books and Periodical Articles, Allan Publishing – 2006, p. 80
24. The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge, Second Edition: A Desk Reference for the Curious Mind (2007). Macmillan, p. 448.
25. Green, Wayne (February 1976). "Believe Me – I'm No Expert!". 73 Magazine. No. 184. Peterborough, NH: 73, Inc. p. 89. Wayne Green visited MITS in August 1975 and interviewed Ed Roberts. Article has several paragraphs on the design of the Altair 8800.
26. Garland, Harry (March 1977). "Design Innovations in Personal Computers". Computer. 10 (3): 24. doi:10.1109/c-m.1977.217669. S2CID 32243439. "There is little question that the current enthusiasm in personal computing was catalyzed by the introduction of the MITS Altair computer kit in January 1975."
27. Dorf, Richard C., ed. The engineering handbook. CRC Press, 2004.
28. Ceruzzi, Paul E. (2003). A History of Modern Computing. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-262-53203-7. "This announcement [Altair 8800] ranks with IBM's announcement of the System/360 a decade earlier as one of the most significant in the history of computing."
29. Freiberger, Paul; Swaine, Michael (2000). Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-135892-7.
30. What's New (February 1978), "Commodore Ships First PET Computers", BYTE, 3 (2): 190 Commodore press release. "The PET computer made its debut recently as the first 100 units were shipped to waiting customers in mid-October 1977."
31. "Apple II History". Apple II History. 2008-11-04. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
--- end extract from Personal computer wiki page ---
Ravi: The only Wang computer mentioned in above wiki page is the Wang 2200.
Extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_2200
The Wang 2200 appeared in May 1973,[10] and was Wang Laboratories' first minicomputer that could perform data processing in a common computer language. Unlike some other desktop computers, such as the HP 9830, it had a cathode-ray tube (CRT) in a cabinet that also included an integrated computer-controlled cassette tape storage unit and keyboard. Microcoded to run interpretive BASIC, about 65,000 systems were shipped in its lifetime and it found wide use in small and medium-size businesses worldwide.
The 2200 evolved into a desktop computer and larger system to support up to 16 workstations and utilized commercial disk technologies that appeared in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[11] The disk subsystems could be attached to up to 15 computers giving a theoretical upper limit of 240 workstations in a single cluster.
[Wiki References:]
10. "Wang 2200 - Complete History of the Wang 2200 Computer". https://history-computer.com/wang-2200-complete-history-of-the-wang-2200-computer/
11. Wang Offers End Users Portable Unit, Workstations, By Esther Surden, Computerworld - 5 Apr 1976 - Page 35, ...the 2200 PCS portable system...Model 2200WS workstation...
--- end extract ---
Ravi: I think it is clear from the above extracts I have given of the Desktop computer, Personal computer and Wang 2200 wiki pages that the Wang 2200 is not generally viewed as a Personal Computer (PC) and is viewed as an early Desktop computer and as a minicomputer.
The only entry for Wang computers in this Computer History Timeline: https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/computers/ is for the Wang 2200. The entry has a pic of the Wang 2200. I have given below most of the short text entry:
Wang was a successful calculator manufacturer, then a successful word processor company. The 1973 Wang 2200 makes it a successful computer company, too. Wang sold the 2200 primarily through Value Added Resellers, who added special software to solve specific customer problems. The 2200 used a built-in CRT, cassette tape for storage, and ran the programming language BASIC.
--- end extract from computerhistory.org ---
Pic below is a 1974 advertisement of the Wang 2200 computer referred to as "Wang System 2200", courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_System_2200_Computer_1974.jpg :
Try To Out-Grow It: Main memory is field expandable in 4K increments (at $1,600 per 4K). Up to 32K. You can choose from three kinds (and 7 price ranges) of printers ... one even has a stepping motor for very precise 4-quadrant incremental plotting. Speaking of plots, we have a new, very large flatbed (31" X 48") for only $8,000 or a smaller one if you plot small. Both print alphanumerics and plot under full program control. Been appalled lately by disk prices? Starting at just $4,500, we offer you our new "floppy" disk in single, double and triple disk configurations (.25, .50 and .75 MB's). For big disk power, you can have 1, 2 or 5 megabyte fixed/removable disk systems. All peripherals, including punched or mark sense hopper card readers, paper tape readers and on- line BCD or ASCII controllers are easily added-on in the field so your System 2200 will grow with your needs.
The Wise Terminal: If you are now or may soon be getting into terminals, we have several new products that will instantly upgrade your System 2200 for telecommunications with any other System 2200 or a mainframe computer. And, you still have a powerful stand-alone system. Another approach, of course, is to justify it as a powerful terminal and get a "free" stand-alone computer. Wise?
We Do A Lot For You: System 2200 is backed by over 250 factory-trained Wang Service Technicians in 105 U.S. cities. Naturally, we guarantee or warranty everything you buy from us. If you want, there are free programming/operating schools here in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, almost every week. We have a growing program library on a wide range of statistics and math/science applications. Our user group (with the unlikely name of "SWAP") could help you cut programming costs even further. We do a lot for you.
WANG
• All prices U.S. List. If you're the entrepreneur type, we've just announced a new 7-module Basic Accounting System software package for the business end of your business like payroll, invoicing, inventory, receivables and some really fancy management reports.
--- end most of text of advertisement ---
Wang 2200 Basic computer - 1973 era, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlLP8jhkktc , 3 min. 23 secs. published by Debut Vintage
Given below are 3 screenshots of above video:
Below pic shows the CRT and keyboard combined unit that also has a cassette reader/writer:
Below pic shows the side of the processor unit:
Below pic shows part of the top of the processor unit with On/Off switch:
Wang 2200 basic computer from 1975, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=med9jOQ3j-w, 1 min. 43 secs. published by retr0mak.
Given below are some screenshots from above video. The Wang 2200 computer may be a 1975 model but its operation seems the same as the earlier video which seems to be a 1973 model.
Below pic shows a 2 line BASIC program that is typed in from the keyboard, listed on the CRT display and then run with the output being shown on the CRT display.
Below pic shows keyboard of the Wang 2200 computer
Below pic shows a Wang Labs. data cassette:
Below pic shows the listing of the program on the data cassette after it is loaded into the computer:
Part 1 of this multi-post series (https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/04/chinese-american-computer-pioneer-wang.html ) shares a link to a video showing a Wang 3300 emulator ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiE9AS7c1lY ) that uses a teletypewriter as input and output device. The video has an example of a program typed in directly on the teletypewriter and another example of a program loaded from a paper tape. The post has screenshots of the video which show some of these operations.
The first Wang 3300 computer product was shipped in 1971. The first Wang 2200 computer product was shipped in 1973. It is clear from the above videos that in 2 years from 1971 to 1973, Wang Labs. made a critical jump from a Teletypewriter I/O computer to CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and keyboard I/O computer with magnetic cassette tape support (for programs and data). The latter (Wang 2200) seems so much easier to use as compared to the former (Wang 3300). It is no wonder that while Wang 3300 product line did not do well, the Wang 2200 product line was a great success.
http://www.wang2200.org/ and https://www.wang2200.org/systems.html have detailed info. on Wang 2200.
I think it is appropriate for me here to share my appreciation for the great work done by wang2200.org as well as wang1200.org websites and its author(s) with Mr. Jim Battle seeming to be a/the main author, in preserving information about Wang 2200 computer systems and Wang 1200 word processing systems, and making them available on the Internet. These websites has been vital for me to gain some understanding of the Wang 2200 computer systems and Wang 1200 word processing systems. Note that I have worked on the Wang VS computer line (from 1984 to 1990) which came after Wang 2200, and while I did hear about Wang 2200 systems being sold and used even in those years, I do not recall ever working on a Wang 2200 system. If the wang2200.org website had not been around, I would have had to manage with rather meagre information on it available elsewhere on the Internet, which would have been a great pity as the Wang 2200 computer systems seem to have been the first successful computer product line of Wang Laboratories. Thank you so much wang2200.org folks for the great work you'll have done. I have not done any significant work on the Wang Word Processor machines but, of course, I was aware of them. wang1200.org folks have done a great job in providing historical info. about these initial Wang word processing systems on the Internet. Thanks to them too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_2200 also gives some historical info. They inform us that the initial models of this line were Wang 2200 A, B and C models which had an external power supply. In later Wang 2200 S and T models, the power supply was integrated into the processor unit, besides having some other improvements.
Some interesting detailed technical info. links are provided below:
Data Sheet for Wang 2200 A/B/C model CPU (1974): http://wang2200.org/docs/datasheet/2200ABC_CPU_DataSheet.700-3491.11-74.pdf
Data Sheet for Wang 2200 T model CPU (1975): http://wang2200.org/docs/datasheet/2200T_CPU_DataSheet.700-3723.9-75.pdf . The pic below is from this Data Sheet showing the CPU and an attached console (CRT and keyboard). Note that the console does not have a tape drive.
Data Sheet for Console Model 2220 (1975): http://wang2200.org/docs/datasheet/2220_ConsoleCrtKeyboardSingleTapeCassette_DataSheet.700-3528.1-75.pdf . An extract from its first page: "The Model 2220 provides the user with a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display, a Single Tape Cassette Drive, and an Upper/ Lowercase Alphanumeric/BASlC Keyboard self-contained in an integrated compact chassis. This peripheral, when combined with a System 2200A, 2200B, 2200C, or 2200S CPU, provides a minimum 2200 system.
The Model 2220 integrated 9" diagonal CRT display allows the user to view instantly his calculations and program text. The display capacity is 16 lines with up to 64 characters per line. For a sharp and clear output on the CRT screen, brightness and contrast controls are provided." The pic below is from the datasheet which seems to correspond to the model shown in above mentioned video "Wang 2200 Basic computer - 1973 era" and its associated screenshot given earlier.
Here's a 1976 advertisement of Wang 2200 computer that targeted the IBM 5100 computer: http://wang2200.org/docs/ad/Wang2200BetterThanIBM.5-76.pdf . I think this advertisement captures how Wang viewed itself as a competitor to IBM in the small computer systems in 1976. So I have given most of the text of the advertisement below (italics part within square brackets are explanatory notes from me):
[In large and bold font:] Wang happens to make a better small computer than IBM.
[In smaller and normal font:]
The Wang 2200 computer versus the IBM 5100 computer.
When you make a few simple comparisons, you'll find there simply is no comparison.
First, we cost $3,575* less. [The top pic part of the ad. gives the price of Wang 2200 as $5,400 and price of what seems to be IBM 5100 computer as $8,975. ... * U.S. domestic prices only]
On peripherals, we win again: 35 to 3.
Our 9" diagonal CRT is to their 5" diagonal screen as cinemascope is to a picture postcard.
IBM has 114 programs. The Wang General Library offers twice as many.
The Wang 2200 processes BASIC programs up to four times faster. And tests show their machine uses up to twice the memory for an identical program.
You can get a Wang 2200 on your terms: rent, lease or buy one.
Wang has been producing desk top computers since 1967 [I think the reference is to the unsuccessful Wang 4000 first shipped in 1967]. IBM introduced the 5100 in September, 1975.
All things considered, do you want to buy a great big company or a great little computer?
--- end text extracts from Wang 2200 advertisement ---
From June 1975, Wang offered standardized combinations of existing products, peripherals and software - WCS/10, WCS/20 and WCS/30. WCS stood for Wang Computer System.
As per https://www.wang2200.org/systems.html WCS/10 used a 2200T CPU and console with tape drive (pic: https://www.wang2200.org/images/wcs10.jpg ).
As per https://www.wang2200.org/systems.html WCS/20 used a 2200T CPU with console and floppy drive (pic: https://www.wang2200.org/images/wcs20.jpg ). Data sheet for WCS/20 (1975) is available: http://wang2200.org/docs/datasheet/Wcs20_DataSheet.700-3612A.6-75.pdf . Its introduction paragraphs state: "The WCS/20 is a powerful, low-cost, flexible disk based system offering the first time user or the branch office the capabilities of large scale computers.
The WCS/20 features an 8K Central Processing Unit including a "hardwired" Extended BASIC language interpreter, 8K bytes of user memory, an operator console comprised of a 1,024 character Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Display and operator keyboard, and a single flexible disk for mass storage — all in one coordinated piece of office furniture. Through additional options (e.g., matrix printers, tape cassette drives, telecommunications capability, etc.), the WCS/20 maintains flexibility for the user." Note that 1024 character CRT seems to correspond to 16 lines of 64 characters (16 x 64 = 1024). The Data Sheet states that the "flexible disk" capacity is 256 KB and its size is about 7.5 inches diameter.
As per https://www.wang2200.org/systems.html WCS/30 used a 2200T CPU with console, floppy drive and 5M hard disk drive (pic: https://www.wang2200.org/images/wcs30.jpg ). The Data Sheet for WCS/30 (1976) is available: http://wang2200.org/docs/datasheet/Wcs30_DataSheet.700-3610B.1-76.pdf . Its introduction paragraph states: "The Wang Computer System/30 (WCS/30) is a powerful, low cost, fixed/removable hard surface disk based system offering the first time user or the branch office operation the capabilities of large scale computers. The three logical storage units provide an easy to use foundation for data processing needs.
The WCS/30 features a 16K Central Processing Unit including a "hardwired" Extended BASIC language interpreter, an operator console comprised of a 1,024 character Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Display and operator keyboard, a diskette drive for off line program and data storage and a 5-megabyte disk for mass storage, and a 132-column line printer — all in three coordinated pieces of office furniture. Through additional options, e.g., a 10-megabyte disk, higher speed matrix printers, telecommunications capability, Work Stations available now, and planned for the future, the WCS/30 maintains a flexibility for the user, preventing the rapid obsolescence plaguing many other computer systems."
The pic below is from the 1976 Wang Labs. Annual Report.
Ravi: As a former software development professional who was mostly employed by or consulted with software consultancy/development companies based in India (which included being contracted to Wang Laboratories to work on Wang's software like Wang Videotex (in 1985-86), Wang's port of Banyan VINES LAN software (around 1988 if I recall correctly) and Wang's SMTP Gateway software (1989-1999 if I recall correctly), I am keenly interested in successfully sold software written on early Wang computers and calculators like Wang 700, by users of Wang computers (non employees of Wang Laboratories). Such software written by users who could be end-user customers or software development companies who developed customized or generalized software applications on early Wang computers (including Wang 700 calculator), show how early Wang computers were used as a building block on top of which value was added through application software, which successfully met needs of customers. An exception case where Wang employees/Wang company themselves wrote application software on early Wang computers, and then sold the software + Wang computer, also falls in this area of keen interest for me.
Wang writes in Lessons, "By 1975, both the 700 and the 2200 had enormous libraries of applications programs, many of them written by customers." Wang mentions that two engineers from Westinghouse company which had purchased the 700 calculator and on which they seem to have written software programs/applications while as employees of Westinghouse, quit Westinghouse and "founded their own software house" to sell applications they developed for the Wang 700 calculator. While Dr. Wang does not provide the year in which this company was founded, from the context we can presume that it was in early or mid 1970s. I googled with relevant terms to see if I could get some info. on this software company founded by ex Westinghouse employees but did not get suitable results.
Wang writes about software written by a Wang employee on Wang 700 for auto dealers that was a big success in the early 1970s, helping Wang Laboratories to sell its programmable-calculators (and computers perhaps). Wang writes, "By 1973, before the auto market crashed, various forms of the auto dealer package accounted for 70 percent of our business. These applications turned out to be another key event in the transformation of Wang from a company whose customers were primarily scientific and technical into a company whose customers were primarily businesspeople."
Wang gives a short history of this auto dealer software. The software, or perhaps the first version of the software, was developed by a Wang 700 salesman named Ken Sullivan who was based in Chicago, in 1960-70. In 1969, auto dealers told Sullivan about the need for a computer system that would assist auto salesmen to comply with the then newly passed Truth In Lending Act.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_in_Lending_Act : "The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) of 1968 is a United States federal law designed to promote the informed use of consumer credit, by requiring disclosures about its terms and cost to standardize the manner in which costs associated with borrowing are calculated and disclosed.[1: Dlabay, Les R.; Burrow, James L.; Kleindl, Brad (2009). Intro to Business. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. p. 469. ISBN 978-0-538-44561-0.]"
Sullivan asked and was given a week's time to write the program that would meet the auto dealers' needs, even though Sullivan was a salesman and not a programmer! The developed program was shown at a national (US) auto dealer convention in February 1970. Wang writes, "The response among the twenty-eight thousand auto dealers gathered there was overwhelming and included commitments from some of the largest auto dealers in the world."
The software also allowed auto salesman to calculate the monthly payments for an auto loan. Modified/refigured payment schedules could be calculated 'instantly' to suit customer's needs, whereas earlier it would have taken a day or two to work out the modified schedule. Thus the application (and the Wang 700 on which it was running) became a very useful sales tool for auto dealers.
Ravi: Hmm. Fascinating to know how an application software package written in 1969-70 by a Wang Laboratories salesman was a key driving factor for very good sales of Wang programmable-calculators/computers and associated software package.
Later insurance companies got interested in the software as it could be used for calculations of accident and health insurance plans. Wang writes that "Globe Life Insurance of Chicago" made the then largest order in Wang Laboratories history of 100 systems.
I googled for Wang 700 applications and found some interesting results. The first entry below is of an auto dealer software (business application) and later entries are scientific/technical applications.
- https://www.theciada.com/item/comsoft-2 - "Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association - Preferred Providers -> Dealer Management Software -> ComSoft" gives us an interesting history of the ComSoft company. "Commercial Software, Inc. (ComSoft) was established in 1971 after its founder, Barry Cooper, realized the need for dealerships to accurately compute and disclose interest rates, monthly payments, and factor in credit life and disability premiums, among other charges, prior to customers signing a retail installment sales contract. ... Using his math and programming skills from working within the Actuarial Department at a NC life insurance firm coupled with a WANG 700 programmable desktop calculator, Barry Cooper was a pioneer in the Dealership Management Software business."
- Plotter Interfaced with a Calculator, (article authors:) PROF. ECON DORRER, B. KURZ, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B., Canada, Photogrammetric Engineering 1973 (Magazine?), https://www.unibw.de/visual-computing/publikationen-vortraege/publikationen-1/pdf-dateien-publikationen/pe-rs-1973-10.pdf .
- Cartographic Research 1977 by Topographic Division, U. S. Geological Survey, https://pubs.usgs.gov/unnumbered/70098418/report.pdf , has a list of Wang 700/720 programs (from end of document page 63 which is PDF page 70). In the introduction it says, "The following is a list of programs written for Wang 700 and 720 desk calculators. Most programs are designed for the 720 but can be run on the 700with minor modifications. " The number of Wang 700/720 programs listed seem to be 76.
- https://oakleafblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/software-development-meme.html posted by Roger Jennings on 5th July 2008 "What was the first real program you wrote? [Answer:] A Wang 700 program for analyzing excessive losses of Corning Corelle glass dinnerware in the production process." The post has more details of the program and of other programming work done by Roger Jennings on early Wang computers/programmable-calculators.
That I was able to quite easily get information on the Internet now in 2021 about quite a few Wang 700 application programs written in the late 1960s and 1970s, shows that Wang 700 was a popular application program development calculator/computer in those times.
Ravi: I find it fascinating to know that a software house/company (ComSoft) was founded in or around 1971 whose main activity, at founding time, was selling applications developed on a Wang product - in this case, the Wang 700 programmable-calculator with the application being auto dealership management software. The other company of this nature was founded by the two ex Westinghouse employees mentioned earlier but we do not know the year when that company was founded nor its name. Perhaps these two companies were among the first third-party software solutions companies providing software for Wang computer/programmable-calculator products!
[From https://termly.io/legal-dictionary/third-party-software/ "Third-party software is a computer program created or developed by a different company than the one that developed the computer’s operating system. For example, any software running on a Microsoft computer that was not created by Microsoft is third-party software."]
Note that the first software company I joined as an employee (trainee programmer) in March 1984 in Mumbai, India, called Datamatics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datamatics , provided software development services on Wang computers - customized software solutions and manpower (body shopping). I learned programming on Wang computers and have been part of development teams developing various application and system software for mostly foreign customers (US, Europe, Middle East (Asia) typically) but also for Datamatics itself which software was used to service Indian clients, on Wang computers mainly from 1984 to 1990. That's why I am so interested in these probably 'among the first' third-party software companies providing software development solutions on Wang computer/programming-calculator products in early 1970s.
The 1973 oil crisis created problems for Wang company. Given below is an extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis giving an overview of the oil crisis:
The 1973 oil crisis or first oil crisis began in October 1973 when the members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries led by Saudi Arabia proclaimed an oil embargo. The embargo was targeted at nations perceived as supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War.[1] The initial nations targeted were Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States with the embargo also later extended to Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa. By the end of the embargo in March 1974,[2] the price of oil had risen nearly 300%, from US$3 per barrel to nearly $12 globally; US prices were significantly higher. The embargo caused an oil crisis, or "shock", with many short- and long-term effects on global politics and the global economy.[3]
[References:]
1. Smith, Charles D. (2006), Palestine and the Arab–Israeli Conflict, New York: Bedford, p. 329.
2. "OPEC Oil Embargo 1973–1974". U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
3. "The price of oil – in context". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
--- end wiki extract ---
Wang writes that the "auto package" being a major revenue earner for Wang Laboratories in the early 1970s left it vulnerable "when the oil crisis stopped automobile sales in their tracks in 1975" which led to a "financial shock" to Wang Laboratories. In fiscal 1975 calculators and computers sales contributed to around 83% of Wang company revenue. The oil crisis resulted in over 20% decline of Wang 700 sales. Company earnings for fiscal 1975 declined 33% from fiscal 1974. Lower earnings led to higher borrowings from bank. As the stock market was not doing well and Wang stock was traded at lower values (it came close to issuing price but never went below it), getting finance from stock market was not possible.
Cost cutting had to be done. Wang writes, "We reduced the salaries of officers and salaried employees, and we had to lay off forty people." Wang writes that this was the first layoff in company history and so he hated doing it. But he says that by the end of the fiscal year (1975, I presume), Wang was able to hire most of them back!
Wang then writes that by fiscal year 1976, these problems were resolved and the company embarked on a period of strong growth.
Note that this section mainly covers the introduction of Wang WPS. A later section will cover the later years of WPS and successor systems, including the sales & marketing efforts Wang made.
The Wang 1200 word processor machines did not fulfill Dr. Wang's expectations. In Lessons book, Dr. Wang lists lack of CRT (display) and difficult to remember editing commands as key drawbacks. A later one-line CRT display addition to the 1200 series machines was line oriented and did not provide whole document editing feature (which a larger CRT display would have).
Wang notes that Carl Masi was made head of the marketing effort for word processors (around 1974).
Dr. Wang writes that despite its limitations, the 1200 was doing well in the word processing market by 1975. The introduction of Xerox's 800 automatic typewriting system based on a Diablo printer on which printing was twice as fast as the 1200, was a serious competitive threat to the 1200. Wang writes that the sales force "became increasingly restive".
In response to this threat and to improve on the 1200, Wang Laboratories started considering development of "a new generation of word processors". For the 1200, Wang Laboratories had modified existing technology it had and developed something "not dissimilar" to the competition then. But for the new machine, an entirely different approach was taken. Wang writes, "a team under Harold Koplow concerned themselves exclusively with what a secretary would want from the machine, and only then did they begin to draw up specifications."
AES and Vydec were two competitors who already sold CRT-based word processor machines. Koplow and team had a look at these machines but chose to do something different. They interacted with "the word processing center at Wang" and produced a manual for the proposed machine. Dr Wang writes that any secretary could learn to use the proposed machine "in about half an hour" and that the machine would have "all the features (secretaries) most wanted in a word processor".
The new machine would have a large CRT display that enabled secretaries to work on entire documents instead of working on a line at a time.
The big winner was the ease-of-use or user-friendliness of the machine which would be menu-driven. Wang writes, "At every decision point, the secretary would be presented with a clear set of choices, written in a language anyone would understand." The secretary had to simply respond to these choices to get her job done. Wang writes that the proposed machine "would without doubt be the most user-friendly machine on the market at that time". He goes on to make another claim: "It was perhaps the first computer with which an ordinary person could interact."
Only after the manual evoked responses on the lines of "That's a great machine" from all who read it, did the team start work on specifications for the word processor machine (associated with the manual).
Wang writes that the new machine named as Word Processing System (WPS) was introduced in June 1976 at the Syntopican trade show in New York City which Wang says is "the premier word processing show in the world". A prototype of the Wang WPS was sent to the show with three persons to demonstrate the prototype.
Wang writes, "Word spread like wildfire about the machine, and within moments of the first demonstration, people were lined up ten deep at the booth." To control crowds, invitations had to be issued! Wang writes that even though the prototype was not fully operational, "people saw text editing done on a screen, and they thought it was magic."
The three persons showing the demonstrations were very tired at the end of the first day. Carl Masi got them to train the Wang sales force from New York to show the demonstrations, and they were able to learn it quickly, which showed how easy to use the WPS was.
Wang writes that based on an advance look at the WPS which had a list price of 30,000 dollars for the hard disk version, one customer gave an order of a million dollars!
Ravi: Wang Laboratories had produced a great winner with its CRT-based WPS. It propelled the company to further heights. But that needed significant sales and marketing efforts. As mentioned earlier, this section mainly focuses on introduction of WPS with a later section covering later years of WPS and successor systems.
Now let us look at other accounts of Wang's CRT-based Word Processor machines. Given below is an extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Laboratories#Word_processors
Following the Wang 1200, Harold Koplow and David Moros made another attempt at designing a word processor. They started by first writing the user's manual for the product. A 2002 Boston Globe article refers to Koplow as a "wisecracking rebel" who "was waiting for dismissal when, in 1975, he developed the product that made computers popularly accessible."
In Koplow's words, "Dr. Wang kicked me out of marketing. I, along with Dave Moros was relegated to Long Range Planning — 'LRPed'. This ... was tantamount to being fired: 'here is a temporary job until you find another one in some other company.'"
Although he and Moros perceived the assignment to design a word processing machine as busywork. They went ahead anyway, wrote the manual, and convinced An Wang to turn it into a real project. The word processing machine – the Wang 1200 WPS – was introduced in June 1976 and was an instant success, as was its successor, the 1977 Wang OIS[17] (Office Information System).
These products were technological breakthroughs. They were multi-user systems. Each workstation looked like a typical terminal, but contained its own Intel 8080 microprocessor (later versions used a Z80) and 64 KB of RAM (comparable, but lower in power than the original IBM PC which came out in 1981). Disk storage was centralized in a master unit and shared by the workstations, and connection was via high-speed dual coaxial cable "928 Link".[18] Multiple OIS masters could be networked to each other, allowing file sharing among hundreds of users. The systems were user-friendly and fairly easy to administer, with the latter task often performed by office personnel, in an era when most machines required trained administrators.
[Wiki References]
17. "Wang-Computers1" http://community.fortunecity.ws/roswell/goldendawn/232/WangComputers1.htm Retrieved 2016-05-20.
18. During the late 1970s and early 1980s Wang Labs Dept. 14, headed by Harold Koplow, was responsible for development of the WANG WPS and OIS Systems, Wang's most successful products. The internal code name for the project was "928" derived from the date of original conception of the product September 28, 1975.
--- end wiki extract ---
Note that Harold Koplow is listed as a Vice President in "Development Center" in the 1976 Annual Report of Wang Labs covered in a later section in this post.
PCMag encyclopedia: https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/wang-labs , states: "In the 1970s, Wang introduced its WPS word processor and VS minicomputers. It became North America's largest supplier of small business computers and the world's leader in word processors."
Given below is an extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_processor :
A CRT-based system by Wang Laboratories became one of the most popular systems of the 1970s and early 1980s. The Wang system displayed text on a CRT screen, and incorporated virtually every fundamental characteristic of word processors as they are known today. While early computerized word processor system were often expensive and hard to use (that is, like the computer mainframes of the 1960s), the Wang system was a true office machine, affordable to organizations such as medium-sized law firms, and easily mastered and operated by secretarial staff.
The phrase "word processor" rapidly came to refer to CRT-based machines similar to Wang's. Numerous machines of this kind emerged, typically marketed by traditional office-equipment companies such as IBM, Lanier (AES Data machines - re-badged), CPT, and NBI. All were specialized, dedicated, proprietary systems, with prices in the $10,000 range. Cheap general-purpose personal computers were still the domain of hobbyists.
--- end wiki extract ---
https://www.wang2200.org/docs/brochure/WangLabsAnnualReport.1976.pdf is the 1976 Annual Report of Wang Laboratories (25 pages), with 1976 marking 25 years of Wang Laboratories. I think this is a vital document as it is an official report from Wang Laboratories about its business and its financial standing at that time. So I have shared some information from it below.
An Wang is listed as Chairman of the Board of Directors and President. Ge Yao Chu is shown prominently as Senior Vice President. John F. Cunningham (who later became President of Wang Labs. for a short period 1983 to 1984) is shown as Senior Vice President.
Page 3 of the report (page 5 in pdf file) has the President and Chairman An Wang's report to stockholders dated Sept. 8th 1976. It is a great one-page capture of Wang Labs. at that time. Wang writes, "In Fiscal 1976, the Company completed its 25th Anniversary Year. Orders for our products broke all previous records and exceeded $100 million. Financial results were gratifying. In every sense, the Company has emerged as a primary multinational manufacturer of computer systems."
The following paragraphs show that it is computer systems that were the primary products of Wang Labs. at that time. In other words, the company had moved from being a mainly calculator selling company to a computer selling company. Word Processing systems were not yet a big contributor but that was to change in later years.
"Our 267 sales and 659 service support personnel in North America continued the post recessionary growth commenced in the fourth quarter of Fiscal '75 and recorded strong gains. Demand for the Company's primary computer lines, the System 2200 and the WCS, continued to increase as the lines were broadened. Applications are continually expanded both by internal efforts and through arrangements with outside vendors.
We have directed more attention to major and multinational companies, with greater potential for larger multisystem installations. Initial success was achieved in Fiscal 1976, and we look for strong gains with these companies in Fiscal 1977.
The price of our most popular system now averages $20,000, and the number of multiple systems installations is increasing considerably."
Ravi: along with some comments from me in italics, indented and prefixed with 'Ravi' :
The Company is engaged primarily in the design and manufacture of computing equipment and related peripheral devices. These products are marketed as Small Computer Systems for use in applications directed toward business, commercial, data processing and scientific computations. The Company also markets a computer-based Word Processing System. The Company's products are primarily sold to end-users by the Company's world-wide marketing organization. In addition, its products are sometimes leased or rented to end users.
The Company entered the calculator business in 1965 with electronic products which were designed to replace mechanical calculators and which offered additional features such as scientific functions and programming capability. Since then the Company's business has evolved into higher priced small computer systems combining a central processor with a variety of input, output and data storage peripherals and application software. Small computer products accounted for more than 85% of the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30,1976.
In 1972, the Company made initial deliveries of an automatic office typewriter. Rentals and sales of this word processing equipment accounted for approximately 10% of the Company's revenues for the year ended June 30,1976. On June 21,1976, the Company introduced a new CRT-based word processing system. Word processing has traditionally been for the Company an application of its small computer expertise. In the future, we expect word processing will be recognized as a major and fast growing sector of the computer industry.
Ravi: Only about 10% of Wang Labs. revenue came from Word Processing equipment in fiscal year 1976!
Small Computer Systems
The Company primarily produces, sells and services two lines of small computers, the "System 2200" and the "WCS" (Wang Computer System).
Ravi: These "Small Computer Systems" were the main business of Wang Laboratories in fiscal 1976.
The System 2200, initially delivered in May 1973, is normally purchased as a system in which small computers are combined with peripheral equipment and application software. These systems are primarily sold to commercial, scientific, engineering, medical and educational users. System prices range generally from $5,400 to $45,000 depending on the model, peripheral equipment, and software chosen by the customer.
In 1975, the Company made initial deliveries of a second line of small computer systems which were identified as WCS-Models 10, 20 and 30. The capabilities and "architecture" of these products are the same as the System 2200; however, the marketing of the WCS line is directed more to the business and commercial application. A significant difference between the WCS Series and the System 2200 is that the WCS systems are packaged with standardized configurations, rather than the modularized version in the case of the System 2200.
The System 2200 and WCS lines are the Company's most powerful systems. The systems provide small computer capability by using extended BASIC computer language and a line of up to 65 peripheral devices. It is expected that the "System 2200" and the "WCS" lines will be expanded and will continue to be a major source of the Company's growth during fiscal 1977.
These systems can handle a wide variety of applications. Memory can be expanded from 4,096 bytes (in increments of 4,096 or 8,192) to 32,768 bytes. Peripheral equipment available for the system includes output typewriters; high, medium and low speed printers; input keyboards; CRT console displays; magnetic tape cassette reader/recorders; 1/2 inch IBM compatible magnetic tape drives; digital and analog flatbed and drum plotters; digitizers; flexible and hard surface disk memory storage devices; card readers; telecommunication options; and several interfaces for on-line applications. A library of programs and subroutines covering mathematical, engineering and commercial applications is available to users.
Ravi: That's quite an impressive combination of small computer systems and peripherals for 1976, IMHO.
In addition to the System 2200 and WCS lines of small computers, the company is continuing to market two of its earlier lines of programmable calculators, the Model 600 and the Model 700. These proven products retain specialized user interest, although in Fiscal 1976 revenues for both products were minor in comparison to the larger more powerful System 2200 and WCS lines.
Ravi: The report captures that the calculator business was fading away, and Wang Labs. seems to have successfully reinvented itself as a small computer systems company.
Programming is an integral part of the sale of small computer systems. Programming for Wang Systems is provided in many ways: the customer writes his own programs employing Wang factory written utilities, Wang factory written programs are used in their entirety, programs produced by independent software houses are employed as is, or an outside software vendor provides a customized installation. Outside vendors' customized programs are used most frequently.
Custom programs are available locally through a network of independent software vendors, and many of these vendors also have available standard programs written for Wang systems. Local vendors are the principal source of commercially oriented programs.
Ravi: It is very interesting for me to see that in 1976 itself, Wang Labs. had a network of independent software vendors providing custom programs and that "local vendors" were the principal source of commercially oriented programs. My first company, Datamatics Consultants in Mumbai, India, was one such independent software vendor offering custom built software solutions for Wang computers to customers in USA, Middle East and Europe some time before I joined the company as a trainee COBOL programmer in 1984. I doubt if Datamatics had any tie-up with Wang Labs. in 1976 - the tie-up probably happened in late 1970s or early 1980s by which time I think the Wang VS line of minicomputers were the primary computer systems line of Wang Labs. even if Wang 2200 systems continued to be sold.
The Company offers a number of specialized program packages for special applications to which the user will make virtually no modifications. These programs are important to the Company's marketing effort in the technical, educational, and scientific areas. About one-third of the System 2200 and WCS systems sold in North America during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1976 incorporated such software packages for use in statistical, banking, civil engineering, and automobile dealer markets.
During Fiscal 1976, the Company introduced several significant new turnkey computer systems. These include Wang/CASH, for public accountants; SPARK, for the automotive parts aftermarket operations; and MPS (Management Planning System), for budgeting, forecasting and planning.
Ravi: Fascinating to know that right in 1976, Wang had so many software package solutions on its small computer systems, to offer to customers. I think such software packages would have been vital to sell the computer systems, as many customers would have been looking for one-stop solutions (software packages and computer systems) for their problems/computing needs.
The Company offers utility or "framework" programs to aid the customer or his chosen vendor in programming the systems, and many of our customers choose the Company's "BASIC" language systems because of the ease of programming. The Company also sponsors an end-users organization through which members may obtain programs from other members at a minimal or nominal cost.
Ravi: It is noteworthy that in 1976 Wang did not seem to offer COBOL language programming environment to its customers and its software vendors. By the time (in 1984), I got into Wang computers for business applications programming, COBOL was the programming language of choice for such software solutions with BASIC being relatively less important.
...
Word Processing Systems
In May 1972, the Company made initial deliveries of its first word processing system, the Model 1220. The system utilized an IBM Selectric typewriter as an input/ output device and was oriented to a line of text.
In January 1975, the Model 1222 was introduced. This unit further refined the line oriented typewriter based word processing systems, or as it became known, the "automatic typewriter."
The Model 1220 and 1222 were representative of first generation word processing systems, which significantly improved the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of initial text entry, editing, correction, and proofreading. These units used two standard magnetic tape cassettes and electronics or "logic" similar to the Company's programmable calculators to offer features including direct search to any line, automatic centering, and right margin justification.
On June 21,1976, the Company introduced a new line of word processing systems, the WPS 10, 20 and 30. These systems represent a fully expandable and integrated "family" of word processing systems which range from a single operator stand-alone work station to a configuration including a central processor and 10 megabyte disk capable of supporting 14 peripheral devices including work stations, high speed draft printers, lower speed letter quality printers, and telecommunication options. While the earlier models were based around a typewriter and were line oriented, the new WPS family is based around a cathode ray tube (CRT) and is document oriented. The operator sits at an electronic keyboard and "types" directly onto a CRT. The information is then edited or corrected "electronically", stored on magnetic disk platters, and printed in either draft copy at 130 or 200 characters per second, or in letter quality at 40 characters per second, or more than twice the speed of the IBM Selectric typewriter. The new WPS systems are much simpler for the operator to learn; they also achieve substantially higher productivity. The WPS line can be customized to fit the exact requirements of the user, and expanded as those needs increase.
The Company markets its word processing systems primarily in the manufacturing, government, legal, accounting, banking, engineering, and financial marketplaces, both as single systems and as multiple systems which comprise a Word Processing Center. Within these markets, features of the systems serve a variety of word processing applications including power typing, text editing, statistical typing, forms completion, and automatic letter writing.
The word processing systems are sold and leased to customers under five-year full payout leases offered by the Company and independent third party leasing companies. In addition, the systems are rented to customers based on a minimum rental term of twelve months. Rental customers are given an option to purchase the system, or to convert to a full payout lease agreement. Approximately 40% of the systems in the field are rented.
The Company believes that with the introduction of the WPS 10, 20 and 30 systems, it is in a strong position to increase its market share in this fast growing small computer application.
Ravi: I think even An Wang would not have foreseen how popular these Wang CRT-based Word Processing computer systems would become, with Wang Labs. becoming known as one of the premier companies in Word Processing computer systems the world over, before Word Processing software on small microcomputers and personal computers became the more popular Word Processing solution. However, the above extracts make it clear that he and/or his top management team saw good potential for sales of their WPS products.
...
Marketing
The Company markets its line of small computer products in the United States, principally through approximately 255 sales personnel based in offices located in 100 cities. The word processing sales force includes 58 personnel located in 44 cities. Four Area Directors and 25 District Managers direct the sales efforts of both the small computer and word processing sales forces. Maintenance service for company products is provided by a Customer Engineering organization comprised of 438 personnel headquartered in the Company's facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. The Company also maintains field service offices in 100 cities. Area and District Service Managers coordinate the Company's end-user service with the field sales organization, home office manufacturing, and R & D liaisons.
Sales outside the United States produced approximately 45% of the Company's revenues in Fiscal 1976. Profitability on international sales is comparable to profit on sales made in the United States. The Company's products are marketed in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and West Germany through wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries employing approximately 160 sales personnel. In addition to its direct sales and service organizations overseas, independent representatives market the Company's products in 41 other countries.
Ravi: 45% of revenue of Wang Labs. in Fiscal 1976 came from international sales (outside USA)! India is listed as one of the countries where Wang had "International Representatives" in the last page of the report. http://www.digitron.in/about-us.html tells us, "Digitron Computers Pvt. Ltd., incorporated in 1978 entered Information Technology (IT) arena as the sole distributor of Wang Laboratories, USA in India offering development & implementation of wide variety of business applications on Wang mini-computer platform. Leveraging the vast collective technological resources available, Digitron's mission in India at that time was to translate the goal of WANG LABORATORIES INC., U.S.A. of making computer technology easier to use and more affordable - to all the corporate in this country." But Digitron was formed only in 1978! Prior to that, perhaps the founders of Digitron through another company, were the India representatives of Wang Labs.
Digitron was a different company from Datamatics. However I think there were some common director(s) in Digitron and Datamatics. I did not do any major Wang computers software development or other Wang computers work for any Indian customer of Digitron. But I do recall some Wang computers software work done for Oberoi Towers hotel in Mumbai by Datamatics in mid 1980s and where I paid a visit or two (don't recall whether they were casual visits to meet colleagues working there or work visits). I think those Wang computer(s) would have been sold to Oberoi Towers by Digitron.
In 1976, the Company's principal customers in the domestic marketplace were commercial, scientific, industrial and educational users and agencies of the United States Government. Direct sales to agencies of the United States Government throughout the country in the aggregate did not exceed 6% of total revenues. The Company's ten largest other customers (excluding third party leasing companies and independent foreign sales representatives) accounted for less than 3% of total revenues.
The Company's Small Computer Systems and related peripheral devices are primarily sold outright to end users; however, Word Processing Systems are both sold and rented under short-term arrangements. Both Small Computer Systems and Word Processing Systems are leased under three- and five-year full payout leases offered primarily by third-party leasing companies. Of total company revenues for Fiscal 1976, approximately 9% were derived from sales to 3rd party lessors, and approximately 6% from short-term rentals. Revenues from full payout leases are accounted for by the Company on the "finance method."
Ravi: If I recall correctly, I have read that IBM mainframe computers then were so expensive to buy outright that customers would typically rent or lease them.
Research and Engineering
The technology involved in the design and manufacture of the Company's products is complex and subject to constant change. Accordingly, the Company is committed to a program of research and development which is oriented primarily toward new hardware and software products as well as the improvement and refinement of existing products and their uses. Projects under development include further advanced computing systems directed toward data processing, word processing, and distributed processing applications. There can be no assurance that such projects will yield new products.
In the fiscal year ended June 30,1976, the Company spent approximately $4,263,000 for research and engineering, all of which was Company sponsored. These expenditures reflect direct labor costs and some allowances for material and overhead expenses. This compares with $3,348,000 expended during the prior fiscal year. All of these expenditures were charged to expenses in the year incurred. Approximately 160 engineers, systems analysts, and programmers are employed by the Company in research and development.
Manufacturing, Material and Supplies
The Company manufactures most of its products with the exception of certain mass storage peripherals (such as magnetic disc files). These standard products are assembled from basic components and parts, largely purchased from a variety of outside suppliers. The Company currently has single source supply for certain integrated circuits; however, the Company continually seeks alternate sources and the number of single source items is small. Although a supplier's failure to deliver these sole source circuits could cause production delays, the Company believes that such delays would be temporary.
The seven hundred employees in Manufacturing include an extensive Quality Control Department which is also responsible for testing all system configurations prior to shipment.
During Fiscal 1976, the number of mechanical components, printed circuit boards and sheet metal parts fabricated from in-house facilities increased substantially. This resulted in improved availability and quality, as well as savings in the cost of the finished products produced.
Ravi: In 1976, USA sales force was slightly over 300 employees, maintenance service employees were 438, engineers, system analysts and programmers employees were around 160 and manufacturing employees were 700. Wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries employed around 160 sales personnel. That comes to a total of around 1760 employees doing the above mentioned work. A later section, whose extract is given below, gives the average number of employees in fiscal 1976 as 2600.
Competition
The markets in which the Company's small computing systems compete are not clearly defined. In general, the markets may be divided into three areas depending upon function and price of the systems. The first area is the general purpose small computer market and prices of systems range from $25,000 to $45,000. The second area is the dedicated commercial and distributed processing market and prices range from $10,000 to $25,000. The third area is the technical and scientific computation market and prices of systems range from $4,000 to $20,000.
Reliable statistics are not readily available for any market. Also many of the Company's products are sold in more than one market.
The largest market for the Company is the general purpose small computer area. Competition includes IBM, Burroughs, Nixdorf, Tektronix, Phillips, Digital Equipment Corp., and Basic 4. The Company believes Burroughs and IBM are the largest competitors.
In the dedicated commercial and distributed processing area, competitors include Burroughs, Basic 4, Olivetti and Digital Equipment Corp.; however, it is not certain which competitor has the largest share of this market.
Ravi: During the second half of 1980s, I think, in the minicomputers sector, the main competition to Wang VS minicomputers came from IBM, Digital Equipment Corp., Data General and Burroughs/Unisys. However, the bigger competition came from small computers like IBM PC and its compatibles on the low end and Unix servers from companies like Sun and Apollo on the higher end. But it is very interesting for me to see that in 1976 in the general purpose small computer area, Wang Labs. believed that its main competitors are Burroughs and IBM, and that in "dedicated commercial and distributed processing area" competitors mentioned are Burroughs, Olivetti and Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) [besides Basic 4 about which I have very little knowledge].
In the technical and scientific area, competitors include Hewlett Packard, Tektronix, Digital Equipment Corp., and IBM; Hewlett Packard is believed to be the largest competitor.
Ravi: I think the report is referring to Wang Calculators area here. Not unexpectedly, Hewlett Packard was viewed as the largest competitor.
All of these markets are very competitive and include some firms with substantially greater financial resources and larger distribution organizations than the Company.
Employees
During Fiscal 1976, the average number of persons employed by the Company was 2,600. The Company has not experienced any strikes or work stoppages and considers its relations with its employees to be good. None of the employees of the Company are represented by a labor union.
Ravi: Around 2600 employees; no labor unions and so no union issues! Interesting!
Properties
...
Outside the U.S., the Company owns a 35,334 square foot facility on five acres of land near Brussels, Belgium which serves as the administrative and service support headquarters for European operations.
Ravi: When I was on a software development assignment stint in Wang International Telecommunications Research Centre (ITRC), Brussels, Belgium in 1985-86, the ITRC office was housed on some floor(s) of a building which I think had other companies' offices too (on Rue de Geneve). At times, Wang ITRC colleagues would take me and my Datamatics colleagues (3 of us were together on that assignment) to another Wang facility in Brussels (which I think was referred to as Wang Belgium) for lunch as it had a great cafeteria, whereas Wang ITRC did not have any such cafeteria. This other Wang facility was large and its cafeteria itself was sizeable. Perhaps it was the same 35,334 sq. foot facility mentioned in the report extract above!
--- end extracts from "The Company's Business" section of Wang Labs. Annual Report 1976 ----
Dr. Wang writes in Lessons that Wang Word Processing System (WPS) marketing was not being done well. While there were 3 sales force teams in Washington, New York and Chicago that were dedicated to word processing sales, the rest of the USA market (25 odd districts) came under managers who handled both data processing and word processing, and who were not giving enough attention to word processing. Wang writes, "It was clear both to me and to our enthusiastic customers that the product was truly superior to anything then available in the marketplace, and yet it was being neglected by our own sales force."
Dr. Wang separated sales of word processing equipment from other sales, and appointed his son Fred Wang to head sales of word processing in 1976. This led to good results as in a short time, Wang was able to penetrate Fortune 1000 office market with its word processing products. The word processing sales force came out ahead of other sales persons in sales and earnings. Wang writes, "One year, four out of our five top salespeople were women, and all five of them were selling word processors." That women were at the forefront in these sales was "particularly satisfying" to Dr. Wang.
Some of the Fortune 1000 companies/large companies would ask for productivity data for word processors. Dr. Wang's former secretary had moved to marketing word processors and she worked on gathering such productivity data for Wang WPS. This was used to convince customers like First National Bank of Chicago that over a fixed time period, purchasing WPS would "pay for itself" (due to productivity improvements).
Dr. Wang mentions that his wife Lorraine would give speeches at annual "Wang Achiever" meetings highlighting the role of women in Wang Laboratories. In particular, she would talk "about their (women's) role in the dramatic turnaround of word processing sales".
Ravi: It is really wonderful to see how Dr. Wang and his wife Lorraine encouraged women staff at Wang Laboratories with some women taking on challenging salesperson roles and achieving good results, in the 1970s.
Wang had gained entry into Fortune 1000 companies with its word processing products (WPS and successor products; as mentioned earlier Office Information System (OIS) was the successor to WPS and was introduced in 1977). To consolidate this foothold it had in the Fortune 1000 companies and to increase recognition, for the first time, Wang Labs. launched a national (USA) television advertising campaign. Wang writes that IBM advertised on television but no other computer companies did so, at that time.
TV advertising was expensive and Wang had to double its advertising budget to accommodate the 3 month TV campaign that "consisted of a few strategic showings of a single ad".
Wang writes about the "security blanket syndrome" among managers who made computer purchasing decisions which was captured by the sentence: "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM."
Ravi: I heard about this 'nobody getting fired for buying IBM', around the second half of the 1980s when I entered into the international software industry environment.
Wang writes that to get cautious managers to buy Wang computers, ".. we had to demonstrate that the decision to buy Wang was prudent, and this in turn required that we establish Wang as a well-known name in the marketplace". The way to do that was through this TV ad campaign.
Wang writes that the advertising campaign was managed by a Boston advertising company called Hill, Holliday, Connors and Cosmopulos. I checked on the Internet and found a wiki page for the company, now named Hill Holiday, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_Holliday .
Wang writes, "It (the ad. campaign) centered on one ad that played on the David and Goliath motif, David being Wang and Goliath obviously being the world's largest computer company." The advertising firm wanted to run the ad during the Super Bowl but as that time was too expensive, settled for the pregame show. Wang writes, "To our delight, we discovered that the network ran the ad as the last advertisement of the pregame show, or in other words, as the first ad during the Super Bowl".
I think this is the ad. video: Wang Computers 'David & Goliath' Commercial (1977), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7pBAt2kWqA , 35 secs.
From above video's description: "Nobody's hungrier than Wang."
Wang Computers commercial with a David & Goliath theme. Spot aired in December, 1977.
The boardroom boss is actor Michael Vale - the "Dunkin' Donuts Guy."
----
The ad. campaign raised awareness of Wang computers brand name with Wang name recognition going from about 4.5 percent before the campaign to around 16 percent afterwards, among businessmen polled.
Wang writes that the TV ad "bought an entry pass" to business offices for Wang salespeople. Wang salespeople who would earlier be often told by businesses they were trying to get an entry into, that they had never heard of Wang, after the TV ad campaign, would often be told: "Wang? Oh, I saw the TV ad. Let me put you through to our office manager."
A related extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Laboratories#Going_after_IBM
Wang was one of the first computer companies to advertise on television, and the first to run an ad during the Super Bowl in 1978. Their first ad literally cast Wang Laboratories as David and IBM as Goliath, several years before the famous 1984 Apple Computer ad.[40] A later ad depicted Wang Laboratories as a helicopter gunship taking aim at IBM.[41]
[References:]
40. McKibben, Gordon (Jan 28, 1990). "IN QUEST OF A REAL SUPER SUNDAY AD AGENCIES BREAK THE BANK TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON VIEWERS". Boston Globe. p. 77.
41. Braswell, Sean (19 March 2015). "Wang Goes 'Gunning' for IBM". OZY. OZY Media. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
--- end extract from wiki ---
Wang writes that sales soared after the campaign, leading competitors like DEC, Data General and Prime to also advertise on television. Wang also mentions that eventually Apple too advertised on television. Perhaps that's an acknowledgement of the famous 1984 Apple TV ad, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(advertisement) , which Dr. Wang would have seen before the Lessons book was written/published in 1986.
Another ad video of those days: Wang Computers 'Giant Killers' Commercial (1978), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuX-6761KTQ , 33 secs.
As per https://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-Types-Companies-Realize-Memorabilia/dp/B0086U6P6Y , the below "My word, a Wang?" ad. picture was printed in a magazine in 1978.
Above pic courtesy: https://twitter.com/NeckarValue/status/1288145137114251269/photo/1 .
Wang writes, "By 1978, within two years of our introduction of the CRT-based word processing system, we were the largest worldwide supplier of such systems."
Some reference info. is provided below:
New York Times (NYT) article: Wang Labs: Healthy Survivor, https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/06/archives/wang-labs-healthy-survivor-intelligent-printer-is-set-machine.html , 6th Dec. 1978 by Peter J. Schuyten, provides the following interesting info.:
- Wang Labs. then had 7 percent of $600 million word-processing market. Wang Labs. revenue then from word-processing market was around $60 million.
- Wang Labs. total revenue for fiscal 1977 was $134 million and net income was $9.12 million. For fiscal 1978 total revenue was $198 million and net income was $15.59 million.
- The NYT article quotes Amy Wohl, market research analyst, saying "recently", that since 1976 when Wang Labs. introduced (CRT-based) word processing systems, "the company has installed more of those systems than any other vendor in the business".
Ravi: Sales for fiscal 1976 as per the Wang company Annual Report shared earlier was $96.9 million and earnings was $6.17 million. So we see healthy growth in sales/revenue and income/earnings for Wang Labs. in the period from 1976 to 1978.
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Part 3 (final part) of this post series can be read here: https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/10/chinese-american-computer-pioneer-wang.html .
Readers may want to see my related posts listed below:
*) Some general quotations of An Wang from his book: Lessons: An Autobiography, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/06/some-general-quotations-of-wang-from.html , 30th June 2021.
*) My Wang VS computers software development work including over 30 months of assignments at Wang US & Europe centres in 1980s, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/03/my-wang-vs-computers-software.html , 11th March 2021.
*) Some info. on John Chambers and his association with Wang Laboratories, based on Web articles, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/01/some-info-on-john-chambers-and-his.html , 30th Jan. 2019
[I thank Lessons book authors & publisher, computerhistory.org, history.computer.org, Wikipedia, Wang Laboratories company (for brochures & manuals/datasheets), wang1200.org, wang2200.org, Chryosran22 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJITkKaO0qA ), Debut Vintage ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlLP8jhkktc ), retr0mak ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=med9jOQ3j-w ), digitron.in, pcmag.com, nytimes.com and 'From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog' book author & publisher, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s)/screenshots/pics (except Wikipedia extracts and extracts from Wang Labs. brochures and manuals/datasheets, most other extracts are small extracts) from their websites/videos/documents on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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