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Other World Computing (OWC) is a Woodstock, Ill.-based computer hardware company that has provided hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 [1] and features an online catalog of computer, iPod, iPhone, and iPad enhancement products through its e-commerce website www.macsales.com. As a member of the Apple Developer Program, OWC also provides U.S.-based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net.

History

1980s

In 1988, At age 14, Larry O’Connor began LRO Enterprises, a printer ribbon re-inking business, in his family’s barn. A year later, LRO Enterprises reorganized itself into LRO Computer Sales and begins selling computer memory chips via America Online. The company also moved into its first facility in Woodstock, Ill., acquiring 1,200-square feet and hiring its first employees.[2]

1990s

In 1992, LRO Computer Sales shifts focus solely to computers by offering hard drives to its customers. In 1993, LRO Computer Sales incorporated in the state of Illinois under the name New Concepts Development Corporation (NCDC). The company then moved into a 2,500-square-foot office space, which expanded to about 6,500-square feet over the next eight years. In 1994, O’Connor renamed LRO Computers Sales “Other World Computing” (aka OWC), which operates as a DBA of NCDC.[3] OWC shipped its first OWC-branded acceleration products in 1995 followed by the introduction of the Mercury G3 ZIF upgrade line in 1999.

2000s

OWC expanded and introduced the Mercury Classic Elite line of external storage solutions and was the first company to offer an iPod case - “The Pod Protector.” The company OWC also launched the Mercury On-The-Go 60 gigabyte (GB), 2.5" portable FireWire drive, the largest 2.5" portable FireWire storage solution available at that time and the Mercury Elite FireWire/USB 2.0 Combo Storage Solution.[4]

In 2003, OWC released the Mercury Elite-AL line of external storage solutions; the Mercury Extreme product line with a G4/1.33 GHz processor upgrade, the fastest Macintosh processor to that date; an extra high-capacity NuPower replacement battery compatible with PowerBook G3 FireWire (2000/Pismo) and PowerBook G3 Lombard (1999/Bronze Keyboard) models; and the OWC Neptune line of external 7200RPM FireWire storage solutions. OWC launched FasterMac.net, a Macintosh-only Internet service that provided nationwide 56K dialup access throughout the U.S. specifically for Macintosh computer users in 2003.[5]

In 2004, the company also began offering an iPod battery replacement program and introduced the miniStack line of drives to complement Apple’s Mac mini. In 2006, OWC introduced the first Dual-HD external FireWire drive RAID available up to 1.5 TB and becomes the first third party company on the market with memory modules and upgrade kits for the Intel based Mac Pro that met Apple specifications and first to introduce a Quad Interface external hard drive combining FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA connection options in one product - the OWC Mercury™ Elite-AL Pro Quad Interface.[6]

In 2007, Axiotron and OWC Unveil the ModBook.[7] OWC also introduced the OWC Mercury Rack Pro line and the OWC Blu-ray Internal and External Drive Solutions. In April 2009, OWC expanded its storage line with the debut of the new Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2, a Plug and Play desktop hardware RAID storage solution.[8]

2010s

Other World Computing debuted on the inaugural Inc. 5000 "Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Companies" List in 2007 with a "Computer and Electronics Top 100" category ranking of 78 and a 3,378 overall ranking, and has been named to the list every year since then..[9] Also in 2010, OWC unveiled the Mercury Extreme SSD line of 2.5" SATA Solid State Drives. The Data Doubler, for adding a second internal drive to MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac computers was also introduced as was the OWC Slim eSATA ExpressCard Adapter, which adds a Plug&Play, high speed, flush fitting eSATA port to Mac and PC notebooks.[10]

Products

Upgrade Kits

Do It Yourself upgrade kits for iMac, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro

  • Data-Doubler for Macbook/Macbook Pro and Mac mini[11]

The Data-Doubler is an installation kit that allows customers to add a second 9.5mm or smaller 2.5in SATA Hard Drive or Solid State Drive to the optical drive bay of their system. The optical drive can then be repurposed as an external drive.

Hard Drives

SSD: OWC designs and manufactures SSDs based on Sandforce/LSI technology, and has a broad product line including:

  • Mercury Electra 3G[12]
  • Mercury Electra 6G[13]
  • Mercury Enterprise Pro 6G[14]
  • Mercury Extreme Pro 6G[15]
  • Mercury Accelsior_E2 PCIe SSD[16]
  • Aura Pro[17]

HDD: OWC sells SAS/SATA drives from HGST, WD, Toshiba, and Seagate

Memory Upgrades

OWC “MaxRAM Memory is a line of memory upgrades tested and certified against specific Apple products (Power Mac G3/G4, PowerBook G3/G4, iBook, eMac, Mac mini, iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro).

Batteries

NewerTech NuPower batteries is a line of replacement batteries for specific Apple products (PowerBook G3/G4, iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro).


Financial information

In 2011, OWC hit $88.3 million in annual sales revenue.[18]

Environmental record

In 2008, OWC moved into a new 37,000 square-foot corporate headquarters designed to Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) standards. In October 2009, OWC's wind turbine went online generating the electricity needed to run the OWC corporate facility with energy to spare. With the turbine, OWC became the first technology manufacturer/distributor in the U.S. to become 100 percent on-site wind powered.[19]

In 2010, the company was awarded Platinum Level Certification by the LEED program for attaining the highest level of green building design and operation. Fewer than 300 of the 14,000 LEED projects are certified Platinum. OWC also was awarded Energy Star Designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was recognized by the EPA for achieving more than 100 percent on-site power generation.

References

  1. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/Service/index.cfm?page=bios.html
  2. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  3. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  4. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  5. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  6. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  7. ^ http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=36&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=75&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=2&cHash=...
  8. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  9. ^ http://www.inc.com/profile/other-world-computing
  10. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/timeline/
  11. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/drive_bracket/datadoubler
  12. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_State
  13. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_Electra_6G
  14. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_6G/Enterprise
  15. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_Extreme_Pro_6G
  16. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/PCIe/OWC/Mercury_Accelsior/RAID
  17. ^ http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_1.8
  18. ^ http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120602/ISSUE02/306029950
  19. ^ http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/10/exploring-other-world-computings-super-green-headquarters.ars
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