Record 1of 2
Title:
Oral History of Syed Iftikar
Date:
2006-11-012006-12-14
Pages:
65 p.
Interviewer:
Gardner, Tom; interviewer, cameraperson
Iftikar, Syed; interviewee
Rosenshteyn, Yan; Cameraperson
Abstract:
After coming to the U.S. from India in the 1960’s, Syed Iftikar obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at U.C. Berkeley, and started at Memorex in 1970. He stayed at Memorex for ten years, providing critical development achievements in several generations of magnetic disk drives, and in 1980 became a co-founder of the company now known as Seagate Technology, as a key designer of the first 5.25” HDD. In 1982, he founded SyQuest, which became a pioneer manufacturer of small magnetic disk drives using removable disk cartridges. Syed Iftikar reviews his triumphs and problems while CEO of SyQuest, a pioneer manufacturer of small magnetic disk drives using removable disk cartridges. After initial market success for its products, SyQuest was impacted by more successful competitive disk drive products from Iomega, and Syed resigned from SyQuest in 1996. He then formed Castlewood Systems, in order to produce a higher capacity disk cartridge drive, which was initially successful in the market. However, after an unexpected quality problem severely impacted sales, he closed the company.
Keywords:
Iftikar, Syed
Memorex
Shugart Technology
Seagate Technology
ST-506
SyQuest
Iomega
Castlewood Systems
Rights:
Computer History Museum
102658066
Title:
Oral History of Syed Iftikar
Date:
2006-11-012006-12-14
Pages:
65 p.
Interviewer:
Gardner, Tom; interviewer
Iftikar, Syed; interviewee
Rosenshteyn, Yan; cameraperson
Abstract:
After coming to the U.S. from India in the 1960’s, Syed Iftikar obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at U.C. Berkeley, and started at Memorex in 1970. He stayed at Memorex for ten years, providing critical development achievements in several generations of magnetic disk drives, and in 1980 became a co-founder of the company now known as Seagate Technology, as a key designer of the first 5.25” HDD. In 1982, he founded SyQuest, which became a pioneer manufacturer of small magnetic disk drives using removable disk cartridges. Syed Iftikar reviews his triumphs and problems while CEO of SyQuest, a pioneer manufacturer of small magnetic disk drives using removable disk cartridges. After initial market success for its products, SyQuest was impacted by more successful competitive disk drive products from Iomega, and Syed resigned from SyQuest in 1996. He then formed Castlewood Systems, in order to produce a higher capacity disk cartridge drive, which was initially successful in the market. However, after an unexpected quality problem severely impacted sales, he closed the company.
Keywords:
Iftikar, Syed
Memorex
Shugart Technology
Seagate Technology
ST-506
SyQuest
Iomega
Castlewood Systems
Rights:
Computer History Museum
102658066
