Tiny Computers
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|British computer manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Tiny Computers Limited
| logo = tiny logo.gif
| type = Private
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1991}}{{cite web |title=Company House Data |url=https://companycheck.co.uk/company/02579805/TINY-TECHNICAL-LIMITED/companies-house-data#summary |website=Company Check |access-date=1 June 2025}}
| industry = Computer hardware
| defunct = {{Start date and age|2005}}
| fate = Administration{{cite web |title=Tiny PCs goes into administration |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4719833.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=27 May 2025}}
|
| location =
| location_city = Salfords, Surrey
| location_country = United Kingdom
| locations = 10+ (United Kingdom)
| parent = OT Computers (1996-2002)
Granville Technology Group (2002-2005){{cite web |title=Tiny Computers swallowed up |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1791873.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=27 May 2025}}
}}
Tiny Computers Limited was a British computer manufacturer based in Salfords, Surrey, England{{cite web | url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1565182 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141119034013/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=1565182 | url-status=dead | archive-date=19 November 2014 | title=Company Overview of Tiny Computers | publisher=Bloomberg News | work=Bloomberg Businessweek | accessdate=19 November 2014}} The company was formed in 1991. In 2002, Tiny Computers was bought by Time Computers, after facing administration.
History
Tiny Computers enjoyed great success during the latter half of the 1990s, having retail units throughout the United Kingdom as well as launching in the United States and the Far East. The company claimed to have sold 400,000 units in 2000 and signed a contract worth £40m with Scottish manufacturer Fullarton Computer Industries in August 2001.
Tiny cited reduced air freight fees and a shorter, more efficient supply chain as their reason for choosing a firm based in the United Kingdom over Asian OEMs who had lower base costs.
Innovations
= Home theater PC =
In March 2001, the company released one of the first home theater PCs, called the Takami system.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/17558.html |title=Tiny shows off home entertainment box |publisher=The Register (via Wayback Machine) |date=2001-03-13 |accessdate=14 November 2014 |author=Blincoe, Robert |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010626012947/https://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/17558.html |archivedate=26 June 2001 }} The PC was contained in a flat case with a similar form factor to a VCR, and was intended to be placed under a television rather than at a computer desk as was typical during the 1990s. Bundles including a plasma television and other home cinema equipment were also sold.
Despite its innovative nature, the Takami was not a commercial success, with only 5,000 units being sold during 2001.{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/10/16/tinys_home_entertainment_boxes_disappoint/ | title=Tiny's home entertainment boxes disappoint | date=2001-10-16 | publisher=The Register | accessdate=14 November 2014 | author=Blincoe, Robert}}
File:Screenshot of Tiny Trainer software running on Windows Millennium Edition.png
= Tiny Trainer =
In 2000, in an attempt to make computing easier for those who had little to no experience with PCs, Tiny commissioned e-learning company VSI Communications Group to create a 'virtual mentor' named Tiny Trainer. An interactive animation ran automatically when the PC first booted up and gave users a brief introduction to computers in general, the Windows operating system as well as Tiny's own online services.{{cite web | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/british-computer-maker-bundles-mentortm-to-reduce-support-costs-71538942.html | title=British Computer Maker Bundles Mentor(TM) to Reduce Support Costs | agency=PR Newswire| date=2001-03-05 | accessdate=20 November 2014}}
Tiny Trainer was based on the same technology platform as VSI's Mentor interactive help series, and was tightly integrated with a Tiny specific Windows ME version of Mentor that also came bundled on Tiny's computers.
Sponsorship
Tiny sponsored Wimbledon F.C. shirts between 1999 and 2000.