Pronto Computers

Pronto Computers, Inc. was an American computer hardware company established in Torrance, California, in March 1983. The company operated during the formative period of the IBM PC-compatible market and sought to distinguish itself through system engineering, industrial design, graphics capabilities, and business-oriented functionality rather than by treating compatibility as its sole objective. Its founding team consisted of Henry Gasbarro, who served as chief executive officer; Skip Hansen, who led engineering and sales; Doris V. Kaplan, who served as comptroller; and Judy Anthony, who headed product marketing. Pronto introduced its first computer, the System 16, at the spring 1983 COMDEX trade show. The machine used Intel's 8 MHz 80186 processor, a comparatively unusual choice for an IBM-compatible computer because the chip's integrated support functions differed substantially from the architecture of the original IBM PC. The System 16 combined this unusual processor choice with an early tower-style personal-computer enclosure and a graphics subsystem based on the NEC μPD7220 display controller. It offered high-resolution graphics modes, including color and monochrome bit-plane modes, and was designed with business and professional applications in mind. Its industrial design incorporated features that later became more common in personal computers, including a swivel-and-tilt monitor base, adjustable keyboard angle, a compact desk footprint, and sufficient monitor-cable length to permit the tower to be placed away from the display. I.D. magazine recognized the product in 1983 as the best-designed product in the instrumentation and equipment category. The System 16 shipped with 128 KB of memory and could be expanded to 1 MB. Configurations included one or two 5.25-inch floppy drives, combinations of floppy and hard-disk storage, and later SyQuest removable-cartridge drives. These cartridges offered a compact and upgradeable alternative to the conventional fixed-platter hard disks used by many contemporary personal computers. System prices varied by configuration, and the product was sold in versions with substantially different storage arrangements. According to the Smithsonian, approximately 1,000 System 16 units were sold between 1983 and 1987. In November 1983, Pronto expanded into portable computing with the Pronto Transportable Solution. This IBM PC-compatible machine used the same general 80186 platform and was housed in a suitcase-style chassis with a built-in nine-inch monochrome CRT. It included 256 KB of standard memory, an EPROM socket for custom software, and storage options based on floppy disks or SyQuest removable cartridges. The design targeted professional and business users who needed a transportable system rather than a lightweight modern laptop. Pronto also developed a graphics-hardware business. In September 1986, it introduced the HR1200 Series of 16-bit ISA graphics cards for computer-aided design and other demanding visual applications. The range included boards supporting resolutions up to 1280 by 1024 pixels and combinations of 16 or 256 simultaneous colors, with palettes reaching as high as 4,096 colors. Although the cards could operate in older 8-bit ISA environments, their full data-width capability required systems with 16-bit slots, such as IBM PC/AT-compatible machines. The company's product sophistication did not translate into long-term commercial stability. Pronto filed for bankruptcy in 1987, shortly after its initial public offering and in the aftermath of the October 1987 Black Monday financial-market crisis. Its brief existence left a stronger mark on computer design and specialized graphics hardware than its sales scale would suggest. The company is principally remembered for the System 16's pioneering tower form factor, unusually advanced graphics, and ambitious use of the Intel 80186 in professional PC-compatible systems.

Pronto Computers was incorporated in Torrance, California, in March 1983. Its founding group brought together executive, engineering, finance, and marketing experience: Henry Gasbarro became chief executive officer, Skip Hansen became vice president of engineering and sales, Doris V. Kaplan served as comptroller, and Judy Anthony led product marketing. The company's stated objective was to develop and sell computer systems and peripherals for business use. Although its machines could run many programs written for IBM Personal Computers, Gasbarro presented compatibility as a secondary benefit rather than the company's primary design purpose. The company announced its first machine, the Pronto System 16, at COMDEX/Spring in 1983. The computer was an IBM PC-compatible system based on the 8 MHz Intel 80186 microprocessor. The 80186 was not a routine choice for compatibles because its integrated support circuitry did not correspond closely to the support chips used in the original IBM PC, making system design more challenging. Pronto used the processor as part of a broader attempt to produce a more capable professional machine. The System 16 was notable both technically and physically. It was among the early personal computers to use a tower-style enclosure, separating the main computer from the monitor and allowing the larger chassis to be placed on the floor or elsewhere near the workstation. Its design included a swivel-and-tilt monitor base, adjustable keyboard tilt, a compact footprint, and generous monitor-cable length. The enclosure was designed by Joseph D. Ricchio Jr. of Ron Loosen Associates. These choices helped the product receive I.D. magazine's 1983 award for best-designed product in instrumentation and equipment. The machine shipped with 128 KB of RAM and supported expansion to 1 MB. Buyers could select configurations with one or two double-density 5.25-inch floppy drives, a floppy drive paired with a hard disk, or two hard disks. Pronto selected removable SyQuest disk cartridges rather than the enclosed Winchester-style drives common in many competing personal computers. The cartridge approach offered compactness and the prospect of upgrading storage by changing media or drive configurations. In 1984, the company added System 16 models using SyQuest capacities from 23 MB to 56.7 MB. The computer's graphics subsystem used the NEC μPD7220 controller and supported high-resolution bit-plane modes. Color operation could display eight colors from a sixteen-color palette, while monochrome operation could display eight gray levels. Before Pronto offered a color monitor, users commonly viewed the high-resolution output on green-phosphor monochrome displays. In November 1983, Pronto introduced the Transportable Solution, a portable IBM PC-compatible computer that also used the 80186 processor. Its suitcase-style enclosure measured approximately 19.75 by 17.25 by 8 inches and incorporated a nine-inch monochrome CRT, available with amber or green phosphor. The unit included 256 KB of RAM and an EPROM socket for custom software stored on chips ranging from 16 KB to 64 KB. Storage options included dual 5.25-inch floppy drives and SyQuest removable cartridges in 5.6 MB or 23.3 MB configurations. Its design addressed professional mobility in an era when portable computers were generally heavy, specialized, and far less integrated than later laptops. Pronto subsequently broadened its activities from complete systems into specialized graphics hardware. In September 1986, it released the HR1200 Series, a family of four 16-bit ISA graphics cards intended particularly for computer-aided-design applications. The cards offered combinations of 1280-by-1024 or 1024-by-768 resolution and 16 or 256 simultaneous colors. The 256-color versions selected colors from a 4,096-color palette. The cards could fit older 8-bit ISA slots, but only systems with 16-bit slots, including IBM PC/AT and RT PC systems, could use their full data width. Despite its technically ambitious products, Pronto remained a small company and had a brief commercial life. The Smithsonian records sales of approximately 1,000 System 16 units between 1983 and 1987. Pronto filed for bankruptcy in 1987, shortly after its initial public offering and in the period following the Black Monday stock-market crash. The company's legacy rests primarily on the System 16's industrial design, early tower configuration, unusual 80186 implementation, and high-resolution graphics capabilities, rather than on market scale or longevity.

• 1987

  Bankruptcy

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  Pronto filed for bankruptcy after its initial public offering and following the Black Monday market crisis.

• 1986

  HR1200 graphics cards released

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  Pronto introduced four high-resolution ISA graphics cards for demanding applications including computer-aided design.

• 1984

  Higher-capacity removable storage offered

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  System 16 configurations began using SyQuest removable cartridges with capacities from 23 MB to 56.7 MB.

• 1983

  Company incorporated

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  Pronto Computers, Inc. was incorporated in Torrance, California, in March 1983.

• 1983

  System 16 announced

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  Pronto presented the System 16 at COMDEX/Spring, introducing an 80186-based IBM PC-compatible system with advanced graphics and an early tower form factor.

• 1983

  System 16 wins design recognition

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  I.D. magazine named the System 16 the best-designed product in the instrumentation and equipment category.

• 1983

  Transportable Solution introduced

  [1]Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org

  Pronto launched a suitcase-style portable computer based on the 80186 processor.

Professional and business-oriented computer hardware emphasizing engineering, industrial design, high-resolution graphics, and expandable storage rather than basic IBM PC compatibility alone.

• Desktop IBM PC-compatible computer · 1983

  Pronto System 16

  Pronto's first and best-known computer, introduced in 1983. The System 16 used an 8 MHz Intel 80186 processor, shipped with 128 KB of RAM expandable to 1 MB, and offered floppy, hard-disk, and later SyQuest removable-cartridge configurations. Its graphics subsystem used the NEC μPD7220 controller and supported high-resolution color and monochrome bit-plane modes. The machine's tower enclosure, adjustable keyboard and monitor arrangements, and cable flexibility made it an early example of design-led professional personal-computer hardware.

• Portable IBM PC-compatible computer · 1983

  Pronto Transportable Solution

  Introduced in November 1983, the Transportable Solution placed an 80186-based computer, a nine-inch monochrome CRT, and the main electronics in a suitcase-style chassis. It included 256 KB of RAM and an EPROM socket for custom software. Buyers could choose dual floppy drives or SyQuest removable storage in 5.6 MB and 23.3 MB versions. The product was aimed at professional users who needed to move a complete business computer between locations.

• ISA graphics cards · 1986

  HR1200 Series

  A family of four 16-bit ISA graphics cards launched in 1986 for computer-aided design and other graphics-intensive work. The range combined 1280-by-1024 and 1024-by-768 resolutions with either 16 or 256 simultaneous colors. The 256-color boards used a 4,096-color palette. Although physically compatible with some 8-bit ISA systems, the cards required 16-bit environments to exploit their full data path.

• 1986

  Enter the professional graphics-card marketProduct launch

  Background

  Pronto sought additional opportunities in professional graphics and computer-aided design as specialized visual computing became more important.

  Action taken

  The company launched the four-board HR1200 Series of high-resolution 16-bit ISA graphics cards.

  Aftermath

  The range broadened Pronto's portfolio beyond complete computers, but the company filed for bankruptcy the following year.

  Source

• 1984

  Expand System 16 removable-storage capacityOther

  Background

  The original System 16 used compact removable SyQuest disk cartridges as an alternative to conventional Winchester-style hard disks.

  Action taken

  Pronto added System 16 configurations using SyQuest cartridges with capacities from 23 MB to 56.7 MB.

  Aftermath

  The expansion reinforced the System 16's positioning as an upgradeable professional workstation.

  Source

• 1983

  Prioritize professional design over basic compatibilityStrategy

  Background

  Pronto developed systems that could run many IBM PC applications, but company leadership described IBM compatibility as a secondary design goal.

  Action taken

  The company emphasized business requirements, distinctive industrial design, unusual 80186-based architecture, graphics performance, and expandable storage.

  Aftermath

  This strategy produced technically distinctive products, especially the System 16, but the company remained a small participant in the rapidly expanding compatible-PC market.

  Source

1. 1Pronto Computersen.wikipedia.org