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2024-09-17T23:24:50Z

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{{Infobox company
| name = Northgate Computer Systems
| logo = File:Northgate Computer Systems logo.svg
| type = Incorporated
| industry = Computer Hardware
| fate = Dissolved
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1987}}
| founder = Arthur "Art" Lazere
| defunct = {{End date|2005|04|25}}
| hq_location_city = [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]], [[Minnesota]]
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website =
}}
[[File:Omnikey102p3248.jpg|thumb|A {{Circa|1989}} model Northgate OmniKey/102]]
[[File:OmniKey ULTRA.JPG|thumb|A c. 1993 model Northgate OmniKey/ULTRA-T]]
'''Northgate Computer Systems, Inc.''', based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States, was a mail-order [[personal computer]] company, founded in 1987 by Arthur "Art" <ref>{{Cite news |last1=Quinlan |first1=Tom |last2=Coursey |first2=David |date=8 July 1991 |title=Developers enthused and wary |volume=13 |pages=8 |work=[[InfoWorld]] |publisher=[[InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.]] |issue=27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iVAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=art+lazere&pg=PA8 |issn=0199-6649}}</ref> Lazere.<ref name="pcmag">{{Cite web |title=Northgate |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/northgate |website=PC Magazine Encyclopedia |publisher=[[PC Mag]] |page=}}</ref>

The 1990s were a golden era for mail-order PC business. Consumers were fed up with high prices for [[IBM]], [[Compaq]] and other brand-name PCs sold through dealers so they opted to purchase their computers from a catalog. This was a revolutionary idea at the time, because people wouldn't be able to see or touch their computer before buying it. Aside from [[Dell]] and [[Gateway, Inc.|Gateway]], popular brands of mail-order PCs were Northgate and [[Zeos]].

The company was known for its quality systems and keyboards; in particular, its line of OmniKey keyboards was highly praised.<ref name="pcmag"/> The keyboards were particularly valued for their tactile response and durability, and along with [[Model M keyboard|IBM's Model M PC keyboards]], were considered some of the best in the industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tommy |date=13 December 2006 |title=Avant Prime: Rebirth of the Legendary Northgate OmniKey Keyboard |url=https://lowendmac.com/2006/avant-prime-rebirth-of-the-legendary-northgate-omnikey-keyboard/ |website=[[Low End Mac]]}}</ref> As such, the company's keyboards were often purchased by users of other manufacturers' PCs.

==History==
* 1987 - founded by Arthur Lazere<ref name="pcmag" />
*1989 - 386 Systems available.
* 1990 - Announced [[i486|486]] systems using [[IBM]]'s [[Micro Channel architecture]] and merger talks with CPT.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Laurie |last2=Burnson |first2=Patrick |date=8 January 1990 |title=Northgate to Offer 486 with MCA; Executives Say They're Also Negotiating a Possible Merger With CPT |volume=12 |pages=5 |work=[[InfoWorld]] |publisher=[[InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.]] |issue=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=northgate+merger+cpt&pg=PP5 |issn=0199-6649}}</ref>
* 1992 - Discussed a merger with [[Everex|Everex Systems]] but these talks ended and a 51% stake was bought by investor group Marjac Investments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 1992 |title=Company News |volume=141 |pages=66 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issue=49022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/09/business/company-news-997592.html}}</ref>
* August 1994 - A [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|chapter 7]] petition was filed against the company by creditors.
* September 1994 - The company filed for a conversion to a [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|chapter 11]] reorganization plan.<ref>PRNewswire via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NORTHGATE+COMPUTER+SYSTEMS,+INC.,+ANNOUNCES+CHAPTER+11+CONVERSION-a015739607 NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC., ANNOUNCES CHAPTER 11 CONVERSION]</ref> [[Mylex]] was owed $4.6 million, $113,000 was expected to be paid from liquidation from Northgate's inventories.<ref>TechAgreements [http://www.techagreements.com/agreement-preview.aspx?num=472874&title=Mylex%20-%20Annual%20Report%201994 Annual Report 1994/PROVISION FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE]</ref> The landlord of their Eden Prairie building also canceled their lease and they were planning to move to Minneapolis.<ref>PRNewswire via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NORTHGATE+ANNOUNCES+LEASE+TERMINATION+AND+UPCOMING+MOVE+TO+NEW...-a013290325 NORTHGATE ANNOUNCES LEASE TERMINATION AND UPCOMING MOVE TO NEW LOCATION]</ref>
* December 22, 1995 - Announced a reorganization plan with its creditors which paid 19 cents on the dollar to cover $16 million in unsecured debts. The funding would be from a percentage of computer sales up to a maximum of $3.75 million.<ref>Saint Paul Pioneer Press via HighBeam Research [https://web.archive.org/web/20121104211955/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17937528.html Reorganization Plan Gives Minnesota's Northgate Computer Systems 2nd Chance]</ref>
* 1997 - Northgate was purchased by Lan Plus.<ref name="allbusiness.com">Business Wire via AllBusiness.com [http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/company-structures-ownership/6058841-1.html Mcglen and Lan Plus Announce New Company Name -- Northgate]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Welch |first=Rod |date=5 January 2001 |title=Lighton has 100 keyboards; Lan Plus has Omni Key Keyboards. |work=[[THE WELCH COMPANY]] |url=http://www.welchco.com/sd/08/00101/02/01/01/05/101849.HTM}}</ref>
* October 2000 - Lan Plus begins merger with Mcglen Internet Group.<ref>Business Wire Sept. 10, 2001
via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mcglen+Announces+Continued+Purchases+of+Its+Stock+by+Lan+Plus+CEO.-a078019228 Mcglen Announces Continued Purchases of Its Stock by Lan Plus CEO]</ref>
* April 16, 2001 - Mcglen and Lan Plus announces that the merged company will be operating under the Northgate name.<ref name="allbusiness.com" /><ref>Business Wire Aug. 16, 2001 via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Lan+Plus+Announces+Worldwide+Launch+of+First+AMD+Athlon...-a077246195 Lan Plus Announces Worldwide Launch of First AMD Athlon Processor-Based Integra All-in-One; Industry Shows Support in Launching New PC and Entertainment Device]</ref>
* September 10, 2001 - Lan Plus and Mcglen expect to complete the merger by October under the name Northgate Innovations with Andy Teng as chairman and CEO.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mcglen+Announces+Continued+Purchases+of+Its+Stock+by+Lan+Plus+CEO.-a078019228 Mcglen Announces Continued Purchases of Its Stock by Lan Plus CEO]</ref> However the completion of the merger wasn't announced until March.<ref>Business Wire March 15, 2002 via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mcglen+Internet+Group,+Inc.+and+Lan+Plus+Corporation+Complete+Merger%3B...-a083784890 Mcglen Internet Group, Inc. and Lan Plus Corporation Complete Merger; New Company to be Named Northgate Innovations, Inc.]</ref>
* September 20, 2002 - Announced a "Volunteer Training Program" with local technical schools to provide real-world computer manufacturing experience.<ref>PRNewswire via The Free Library by Farlex [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26029364_ITM Northgate Innovations Teams With Local Technical Schools to Provide Real World Training and Experience]</ref> Their principal executive offices are now in [[City of Industry, California]].<ref name="NORTHGATE-INNOVATIONS-INC-Sep-2003-10-K/A">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1005/118518503000225/filing-main.htm |title=NORTHGATE INNOVATIONS INC, Form 10-K/A, Filing Date Sep 19, 2003 |publisher=secdatabase.com |accessdate =May 15, 2018}}</ref>
* 2003 - Announced a trial with [[7-Eleven]] to sell Northgate Computer branded PCs through their stores.<ref>BNET [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_Feb_7/ai_97344291/ Northgate Innovations and 7-Eleven Inc. Announce News Release Clarification]</ref>
* 2004 - Name changed to Digital Lifestyles Group to focus on the "teen computing and digital lifestyle" market with a new "hip-e" brand.<ref>PR Newswire Association [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-28-2004/0002200997&EDATE= Northgate Innovations Changes Name to Digital Lifestyles Group to Reflect New Vision, Strategy And Product Line]</ref>
* 2005 - On April 25 an announcement on their web site stated "Northgate Computers will close its operations to all customers. Northgate will no longer supply any type of warranty services inclusive of technical phone support."<ref>Jigsaw [http://www.jigsaw.com/id22562/northgate_innovations_inc_company.xhtml Northgate Innovations Company Information and Contacts]</ref><ref>akama [http://www.akama.com/company/Northgate_Innovations_Inc_a637d22469.html Northgate Innovations, Inc.]</ref>

After Northgate went out of business, Creative Vision Technologies picked up the line of keyboards, marketing them under the Avant brand.<ref>[http://www.lets-talk-computers.com/guests/creative_vision/keyboard/ October 15, 2005 - Avant keyboards] Let's Talk Computers</ref> However, CVT was acquired by Ideal System Solutions in 2011 and the product is no longer listed.<ref>[http://tcbmag.com/Industries/Human-Capital/Tracking-the-Pulse-of-Minority-Owned-Businesses?page=2 Fran Howard (February 25, 2013), Tracking The Pulse Of Minority-Owned Businesses - Woman With a Plan, Ideal System Solutions] Twin Cities Business</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Minnesota Corporations}}
[[Category:American companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Companies based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota]]

Northgate Computer Systems - Revision history

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