User:MaryGaulke/sandbox/Western Digital History#1970s

Alvin B. Phillips founded Western Digital in 1970 as General Digital.{{cite news |title=Where in the World Wide Web Is Al Phillips? |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/processors/where-in-the-world-wide-web-is-al-phillips |accessdate=2 January 2019 |work=IEEE Spectrum |date=1 May 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Farrance |first1=Rex |title=Timeline: 50 Years of Hard Drives |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/127105/article.html |accessdate=2 January 2019 |work=PCWorld |date=13 September 2006}} The company initially manufactured computer chips, particularly calculator chips, with start-up capital provided by several individual investors and industrial giant Emerson Electric.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Robin |title=Western Digital shakes up data storage |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/wd-shakes-up-data-storage/ |accessdate=3 January 2019 |work=ZDNet |date=28 June 2018}} One year later, the company adopted its current name{{cite web |title=Western Digital Corp. History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/western-digital-corp-history/ |website=Funding Universe |accessdate=3 January 2019}} and introduced the WD1402A, the first single-chip universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART).{{cite news |title=Chip Hall of Fame: Western Digital WD1402A UART |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/silicon-revolution/chip-hall-of-fame-western-digital-wd1402a-uart |accessdate=3 January 2019 |work=IEEE Spectrum |date=30 June 2017}} Later that decade, the company debuted a 4K RAM chip.

In 1975, Bowmar Instruments, Western Digital's main calculator chip customer, filed for bankruptcy;{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=William D. |title=Bowmar Will Ask Reorganization |newspaper=The New York Times |page=55 |date=February 11, 1975 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/11/archives/bowmar-will-ask-reorganization-calculator-maker-says-step-will.html}} Western Digital in turn declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1976.{{cite book |title=The Competitiveness of Clusters in Globalized Markets |date=2016 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |location=United Kingdom |isbn=9781317682271 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Competitiveness_of_Clusters_in_Globa/lr5YCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1976+%22western+digital%22+bankruptcy&pg=PT205&printsec=frontcover |accessdate=19 October 2020}} The company reorganized and reemerged in 1978.{{cite book |last1=Hoover |first1=Gary |title=Hoover's Handbook of American Business 2002 |date=2001 |publisher=Hoover's Business Press |location=Austin, TX |isbn=1-57311-072-8 |page=1514 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hoover_s_Handbook_of_American_Business/23WyAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=western%20digital%20bankruptcy |accessdate=19 October 2020}}

Western Digital introduced several products during the late 1970s, including the MCP-1600 multi-chip, microcoded CPU. The MCP-1600 was used to implement Digital Equipment Corporation's LSI-11 system.{{cite journal |title=Western Digital adds MCP-1600 Micro |journal=Computerworld |date=26 November 1975 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nMHHJQxdDHYC&pg=RA1-PA26 |page=26 |accessdate=3 January 2019}} The processor was also used in several single-chip floppy disk drive controller chips, including notably the FD1771.{{Cite journal |last=Michalopoulos |first=Demetrios A |title=New Products: Single-chip floppy disk formatter/controller |journal=Computer |volume=9 |issue=10 |page=64 |date=October 1976 |doi=10.1109/C-M.1976.218414}}"The FD1771 is a single-chip floppy disk formatter/controller that interfaces with most available disk drives and virtually all types of computers."

In the early 1980s, the company began making hard disk drive controllers. Kathryn Braun became the head of the company's storage products unit in 1982 and has been credited with driving tremendous growth of the division over the following 15 years,{{cite news |last1=Huffstutter |first1=P.J. |title=Western Digital Executive Gives Kingdom for a Life |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/aug/21/news/mn-15230 |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=21 August 1998}} increasing its income from $15 million to more than $2 billion. In 1983, engineers at the company created a prototype in just two weeks of a controller for the IBM PC/AT. The PC/AT controller debuted the next year as the first Winchester hard drive controller card. Subsequently, the company shifted its focus to creating components for the growing market of personal computers. In 1985, the company created the first Enhanced Small Device Interface controller board, which enabled PCs to use faster hard drives with larger capacities. Storage controller products generated almost 90 percent of the company's income in that year.

Image:Paradise-VGA-1MB-89.png bus, circa 1989]]

In the later part of the decade, Western Digital worked to position itself as an OEM hardware supplier and purchased several hardware companies. These included graphics cards (through its Paradise subsidiary, purchased 1986, which became Western Digital Imaging),{{cite news |title=Acquisition Completed by Western Digital Corp. |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1986-12-05/business/fi-663_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=5 December 1986}}{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=Suit Says Western Digital Violated Graphics Patents |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-06/business/fi-304_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=6 July 1990}} core logic chip sets (by purchasing Faraday Electronics in 1987),{{cite magazine |author= |title=Briefs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ux0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false |magazine=Network World |date=11 May 1987 |page=10 |access-date=16 January 2019}} and controller chips for disk and tape devices (by purchasing Adaptive Data Systems Inc. in 1986).{{cite news |last1=Feibus |first1=Michael |title=Western Digital Set to Acquire Pomona Firm |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-17/business/fi-21445_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 July 1986}}

In 1987, Western Digital announced it would buy the hard drive production assets of PC hardware maker Tandon in order to broaden further Western Digital's range of PC equipment products.{{cite news |last1=Olmos |first1=David |last2=Bates |first2=James |title=Western Digital Will Buy Tandon's Hard-Disk Manufacturing Business : Seen as Move to Broaden Computer Products Line |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-08/business/fi-27606_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=8 December 1987}} The company joined the Fortune 500 the next year and signed a lease in preparation for its move to Irvine, California, in 1990.{{cite news |last1=Flagg |first1=Michael |title=Irvine Co. Signs Western Digital to $60-Million Lease |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-01-22/business/fi-25010_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=22 January 1988}}

File:Western Digital Tidbit 60 front.jpg

File:Western Digital Caviar280.JPG

In 1990, Western Digital debuted its first 3.5-inch Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) drive in its Caviar line. Three years later, the company progressed to "Enhanced IDE", which exceeded 528MB-throughput and allowed users to attach optical and tape drives to the unit.

Despite the success of the Caviar line, the company struggled during this period, as did the computing industry in general. During a 15-month period in 1990 and 1991, the company lost $172 million and downsized some properties and staff. Four of the six major disk-drive manufacturers also reported losses during this time.{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=Tough Times Challenging Western Digital Chairman |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-19/news/mn-1039_1_western-digital |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=19 January 1992}}

Charles A. Haggerty, an executive at IBM, became the company's president in 1992;{{cite news |last1=Markoff |first1=John |title=COMPANY NEWS; I.B.M. Executive Is Named President of Western Digital |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/27/business/company-news-ibm-executive-is-named-president-of-western-digital.html |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=27 May 1992}} he later became CEO. In 1998, Braun, the highest-paid female executive in Orange County, retired as the company's president and chief operating officer.

Also in 1998, Western Digital started a new partnership with IBM. This agreement gave Western Digital the rights to use certain IBM technologies, including giant magneto-resistive (GMR) heads.

Image:Hard disk Western Digital WD740 1 (dark1).jpg

In 2003, Western Digital acquired most of the assets of bankrupt, formerly market-leading magnetic hard drive read-write head developer Read-Rite Corporation.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Tony |title=Western Digital buys up Read-Rite assets |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/07/24/western_digital_buys_up_readrite/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=The Register |date=24 July 2003}} Within seven months, the acquisition added to the company's earnings, nine months ahead of schedule.{{cite news |title=Read-Rite buy pays off for Western Digital |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2003/08/25/daily40.html |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=San Francisco Business Times |date=28 August 2003}} In the same year, Western Digital offered the first 10,000 rpm Serial ATA HDD, the Raptor, with a capacity of 37 GB. While the company designed the Raptor for enterprise applications, it also became popular with gamers. The Raptor X followed in 2006, with a capacity of 150 GB and a transparent window showing its inner hardware.

In 2006, Western Digital introduced its My Book line of mass market external hard drives that feature a compact book-like design.{{cite news |last1=Ngo |first1=Dong |title=My Book Premium Edition review |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/my-book-premium-edition-review/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=CNET |date=15 June 2006}} Later additions increased its capacity to 1 TB and then 2 TB.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Tony |title=Western Digital ships 1TB RAID-able external HDD |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/03/wd_expands_mybook_line/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=The Register |date=3 October 2006}}{{cite news |last1=Melanson |first1=Donald |title=Western Digital rolls out 2TB My Book external hard drives |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/07/24/western-digital-rolls-out-2tb-my-book-external-hard-drives/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Engadget |date=24 July 2007}}

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In 2007, Western Digital acquired thin-film media maker Komag.{{cite news |last1=Auchard |first1=Eric |title=Disk drive consolidation as Western buys Komag |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-komag-westerndigital/disk-drive-consolidation-as-western-buys-komag-idUSN2838944920070629 |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Reuters |date=28 June 2007}} Also in the same year, the company announced it had created a hard drive with a record-setting density of 520 GB per square inch with the use of perpendicular recording and tunneling magneto-resistive technology.{{cite news |last1=Fallon |first1=Sean |title=Western Digital Announces Record Breaking Hard Drive Density |url=https://gizmodo.com/312156/western-digital-announces-record-breaking-hard-drive-density |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Gizmodo |date=17 October 2007}} Western Digital also started to produce the energy-efficient Green Power (GP) range of drives.{{cite news |last1=Rothman |first1=Wilson |title=Western Digital Launches Efficient GreenPower Drives, From 320GB to 1TB |url=https://gizmodo.com/281251/western-digital-launches-efficient-greenpower-drives-from-320gb-to-1tb |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Gizmodo |date=23 July 2007}}

File:Two Western Digital VelociRaptor 1 TB SATA 10,000 rpm 3.5-inch HDDs.jpgs in IcePack mounting frames]]

In 2008, Western Digital announced a new generation of its 10,000 rpm SATA WD Raptor series of hard drives. The new drives, called WD VelociRaptor, featured 300 GB capacity and {{convert|2.5|in|mm|adj=on}} platters enclosed in the IcePack, a {{convert|3.5|in|mm|adj=on}} mounting frame with a built-in heat sink.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Mark |title=Western Digital Velociraptor Is New "Fastest Hard Drive Ever" |url=https://gizmodo.com/382013/western-digital-velociraptor-is-new-fastest-hard-drive-ever |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Gizmodo |date=21 April 2008}}

In 2009, Western Digital shipped the first 2 TB internal hard disk drive.{{cite web |url=http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39603775,00.htm |title=Western Digital launches 2TB hard drive |date=January 27, 2009 |accessdate=January 27, 2009 |publisher=ZDNet}} A few months later, the company entered the solid-state drive market with the acquisition of SiliconSystems.{{cite news |last1=Hruska |first1=Joel |title=Western Digital goes solid state, acquires SiliconSystems |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/03/western-digital-goes-ssd-acquires-siliconsystems/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Ars Technica |date=30 March 2009}} A few months after that, the company announced the first 1 TB mobile hard disk drive.{{cite news |last1=Murph |first1=Darren |title=WD ships industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/wd-ships-industrys-first-2-5-inch-1tb-hard-drive/ |accessdate=16 January 2019 |work=Engadget |date=27 July 2009}}

In October 2009, Western Digital announced the shipment of the first 3 TB internal hard disk drive, which has 750 GB-per-platter density with SATA interface.{{Cite web |title=WD's New 3TB Drive Packs More Storage Than 32-Bit Can Handle |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/10/western-digitals-3tb-drive-brings-more-than-32-bit-can-handle/ |website=WIRED|access-date = January 22, 2016 |language=en-US}}