AST’s Pen-enabled GRiD Convertible Receives Award of Merit
IRVINE, Calif. — January 7, 1994 — Acknowledging the company's ongoing product excellence, BYTE Magazine Friday honored AST's GRiD Convertible 386 and 486 notebook computers with the 1993 Award of Merit.
The award was granted during a breakfast banquet where select companies were recognized for product design, capabilities and innovation.
The award is one of eight industry awards the GRiD Convertible has received since its 1992 fall introduction.
"There were hundreds of products launched throughout the world in 1993, and only a few met our criteria for Award of Merit," said Dennis Allen, BYTE editor in chief. "Not only did AST's GRiD Convertible help progressively move the market toward pen computing, it has continued the revolution of total mobility."
The GRiD Convertible, a pen-enabled tablet that quickly converts to a notebook computer with a full keyboard, was introduced at fall Comdex 1992. The 486 version was launched in June 1993. The Convertible's design allows the pen to be used as an intuitive navigational tool and functionally addresses major industries with applications including sales force automation, survey and inspection and general data collection.
"We are pleased to have received this recognition from BYTE Magazine," said Howard Elias, vice president of worldwide marketing. "Offering customers unique and innovative products that solve real user problems has always been a hallmark of AST."
The awards process began with nominations from all BYTE editors, including staff, consulting and contributing editors and BYTE licensees around the world.
To be eligible, a product or technology must have been introduced since October 1992 and be likely to ship to users by the end of 1993. Nominated products were selected based on breakthroughs in technology, performance, price or innovative use of existing technology.
Each editor then received a ballot for selecting what he or she believes to be the 10 most significant products of 1993. Awards of Excellence, Distinction and Merit were assigned on the number of votes editors submitted.
A special feature on all award recipients is featured in BYTE's January issue.
Company Background
AST Research, Inc. ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies, develops personal computer products ranging from handheld portables to superservers under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD, Victor and PenRight! brand names.
The company reported record sales of $1.412 billion and record volume shipment increases of 69 percent for fiscal year 1993, ended July 3, 1993. Fiscal year 1994 first quarter revenues, which include the recent acquisition of Tandy Corp.'s personal computer operations, increased to $514.4 million or 80 percent over the comparable prior year period, while unit shipments increased 111 percent to 332,000 units over the same quarter last year.
The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 43 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide. AST's corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, Irvine, Calif. 92718. Telephone: 714/727-4141, 800/876-4278. Fax: 714/727-9355.
CONTACT:
AST Research Inc., Irvine,
Donna Kather, 714/727-7943
or
Lauren Baker, 817/491-5369