Irwin Magnetic Systems was a computer storage manufacturer founded in 1979 and based in
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor ...
. At its height, the company employed 600 people in Ann Arbor.
The company's primary product line was
magnetic tape data storage
Magnetic-tape data storage is a system for storing digital information on magnetic tape using digital recording.
Tape was an important medium for primary data storage in early computers, typically using large open reels of IBM 7 track, 7-track, ...
systems, particularly the proprietary AccuTrak format. This format was widely adopted by
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation (sometimes abbreviated to CQ prior to a 2007 rebranding) was an American information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced ...
,
HP and other OEM manufacturers, and was also incorporated into
IBM Personal System 2 (PS2) personal computers as an option. In 1989, the company was acquired by
Cipher Data Products, which was in turn acquired by
Archive Corporation a year later. Archive maintained Irwin as an independent brand for a while after the acquisition.
Notable products
* EzTape - Backup/Restore Software
* AccuTrak Plus 120Mb and 250Mb Tape Drives
References
External links
Description of Archive's plans after the takeover
Companies based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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