LGR Tech Tales - The Tragedy of Eagle Computer

This episode covers the unfortunate rise and fall of Eagle Computer Inc, and the infamous fate of its CEO. Join me in LGR Tech Tales, looking at stories of technological inspiration, failure, and everything in-between!
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● Music used is:
"Milinda," "Land-FM," "Swampwalk" by Diode Milliampere
diodemilliamper...
"Twin Shine" by Silent Partner
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[@Grumpydrawer]

That was suprisingly sad, especially how the poor chap died shortly after making millions. Which I would say is the main reason Eagle ended as it did, having lost the leadership which led to their sucess. Just shows how fragile companies can be.

[@Aleph-Noll]

to be fair a lot of the success the business had under his management was bc of cutting corners in the development of stolen IBM software that they were later sued for and stuff like that

[@RavageReeves]

They collapsed due to ibm stealing eagle computers designs/ computers then ibm sued them out of business

[@RavageReeves]

@@Aleph-Noll its the other way around ibm stole eagle computers plans, comouters and software then sued them out of business. Ibm had the money to do this and the courts are rigged

[@RavageReeves]

Eagle computers had the worlds first portable computer. 4 made world wide. Ibm stole this. Mictosoft stole there lotus software and called it excel

[@comady25]

The AVL logo is remarkably modern

[@ZeShirky]

I thought that too haha.

[@obstacle1667]

It looks super similar to the logos that a lot of Electronic Music promotion channels on KZbin use.

[@ink3988]

Yeah, it's pretty

[@chrisfratz]

I was thinking EA

[@unosturgis]

It reminded me of the Angels and Airwaves logo

[@assassinsden7478]

I love these kinds of stories. They satisfy the tech in me, the history buff in me, and my desire to learn new things. Tragic story aside this time, Tech Tales always gives me something worth watching. Thanks, Clint! :)

[@lucetubegplusstillsux2678]

The 80s were like the corporate wild west, people dying left and right, seedy business deals happening everywhere and everyone suing everyone else. Makes for a lot of interesting stories though.

[@SergeantExtreme]

+Lucetube GPlusStillSux Sounds like the corporations of today....

[@tehblackarachnid]

It's due to the fact that in the 80s, stock investing had resurged in popularity after decades of ignoring them due to the great depression. Plus with advance of several new business and techologies it was free range. Plus people like Warren Buffett and Donald Trump made corporate success attractive in a way. Even Oliver Stone's Wall Street which was supposed to show the bad of Wall Street ended up making it EVEN MORE POPULAR. Nowadays Kickstarter is sort of the modern equivalent of fhe a "corporate wild west" and just how out of hand everything is.

[@SergeantExtreme]

Joe Jackson Wrong. Kickstarter is the modern way of taking money from IDIOTS, and giving it to people more deserving. Seriously, supporting a Kickstarter is just as bad as pre-ordering an video game. Only brainless fools do that. /watch?v=ZPXOvNKdvUw

[@lucetubegplusstillsux2678]

Come now there are examples of good kickstarters, particularly games, that worked out fairly well. Lisa: The Painful RPG is the one I think of first, and while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is exactly as it was advertised. There are some key words to avoid guys like the one you linked, particularly how much they oversell it, "Spiritual Sequel" and "Next Generation" or even "Revolutionary" are good signs to avoid the project.

[@SergeantExtreme]

Lucetube GPlusStillSux Yeah, but that's like saying "there are good bets to make in a casino when gambling". The fact remains that in the end gambling is nothing more than throwing your money at the casino in the same way that Kickstarter is nothing more than throwing money to make 1 guy rich. Have you forgotten Mighty No. 9 so soon?

[@WaterflameMusic]

This stuff is really facinating. Thanks for doing tech tales!

[@LGR]

Glad you think so, thanks for watching!

[@TheBrightPixel]

I absolutely love this format of videos from you. Totally showcases all your strengths. Amazing voice-over? Check. Ridiculous passion for subject? Check. Knows how to edit videos perfectly so you never lose interest and by the end you're left wanting more? Check. Double thumbs up.

[@LGR]

Thanks very much!

[@spacecowboy2483]

Indeed, LGR tech tales rank very high in youtube's top content list.

[@DergEnterprises]

The Eagle One, probably the coolest computer name ever. A lot better than Lisa.

[@ProtoMario]

Important lessons to be learned for the future here.

[@LGR]

Aye, one would hope!

[@Jwdwrd]

Check your facts

[@cas9564]

Can we get videos like this on Alienware, AMD, Nvidia, or really anything relating to how the big players in the PC gaming industry got to be where they are? Because seriously dude, these Tech Tales videos are simultaneously interesting and entertaining and I want to see more! Great Job!

[@DynamixWarePro]

+Dennis Claros While you mention AMD, ATI Technologies would make a good Tech Tales since they lasted from 1985 to 2006 when AMD took them over and retired the ATI name in favour of the AMD brand name and there was the Nvidia riverly with ATIs Crossfire and Nvidia SLI as well as ATI Radeon and Nvidia GeForce series of graphics cards.

[@cas9564]

DynamixWarePro Now I want that said in Clint Bassinger's deep sexy voice.

[@birdiemcchicken1471]

I can't remember who said this (It was either Flabaliki or LGR) but apparently Alienware was popular because of the Sims 2.

[@wta1518]

You forgot to mention Intel.

[@Piefav2]

Is just me or does the logo look like the perfect logo for an EDM artist?

[@obstacle1667]

I thought the same thing. Or for an EDM promotion channel.

[@TaxEvasionUS]

Avicii

[@NielsHeusinkveld]

Clint you're doing a great job on these, almost to the point of not being lazy anymore! :-)

[@Fedaykin24]

A number of large corporations have a policy now that if an employee's pay goes over a certain level (here in the UK usually £50 thousand a year) they have to do a defensive driving course. The reason being the employee can now afford a car that is more dangerous to drive due to its high performance.

[@johnsmith6607]

That's funny, sad, and kind of annoying. At least people aren't dying

[@wta1518]

In the US, you just pay some hospital CEO $5000 for a paper cut.

[@dunebasher1971]

I call BS on this policy. OK, one or two large corporations might have it, but it's certainly not widespread. I work for a HUGE corporation in London, and not only does this policy not exist, but £50K is not a particularly remarkable salary. Plenty of senior non-managerial staff are on at least that much (managerial salaries start at around £60K), but more to the point, with housing and commuting costs being so high, most people need to be earning nearer £100K to have enough disposable income to buy a real sports car.

[@Fedaykin24]

@@dunebasher1971 I said a 'number of' not all large corporations. I have worked for more than one corporation where this is policy. So take your accusations of BS elsewhere...

[@iCatchLupin]

Have you watched "Halt and Catch Fire"? It's kind of like an amalgam of Eagle's and several other computer firms ca. 1983's stories, and I think you'd enjoy it. I'd love to see, like, a mini-review of your thoughts on it.

[@LGR]

Yep, looking forward to the third season this year

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

I was thinking the very same thing even before I scrolled down to see the comments. Great show!

[@marco_evertus]

My god, LGR knows how to tell Stories. the quality of production is excellent even better than normal LGR videos. Tragic story aside Tech Tales is my favourite on youtube period.

[@TravisStewart42]

Tech Tales is my favourite series on this channel. Stories like this flesh out things I was vaguely aware of during my childhood in the 1980s, but never knew much about.

[@catraven1497]

This story should be a movie. i would spend 10 bucks to see it :D

[@Hoodie_Harlem]

watch halt and catch fire its kinda like this story lol

[@jacobharvey2946]

Some of the details reminded me of Halt and Catch Fire.

[@ElectroDFW]

Ahh, the good ol' days of 2016...when movies only cost $10. 😄 And going to the theater with other people didn't give you the Plague. Greetings from the survivors of 2020/2021! 😂

[@ardvarkboy]

My dad was a CPA and the first computer he got to do business on was the Eagle II so seeing all that stuff brought back a lot of memories. I used to play around on the machine as well.. well as much as you could there really weren't graphics or anything for games but still found some fun things to do. I never knew what had happened to the company its all a pretty crazy story so thanks for putting this up.

[@IntoTheMindlessAbyss]

Wow.. This was just as sad as Gary Kildall's story. I never even heard of Eagle computers (for obvious reasons) This was very sad, man. I didn't get permission from my mother to go on this feels-trip. What a great lesson that should be valued for any computer company that's starting up. It's very important to not repeat the mistakes of others. I think I'm gonna go look up the Compaq portable now. That looked very appealing to the eyes. lol

[@MaskedGEEK]

How do you get your information? You say it like a TV seasoned pro. I love to hear about computer history and how companies started up and how they finished or got took over. It's truly amazing how many computer companies where out there in the 80s and 90s as they struggled for space on the microcomputer bandwagon.

[@LGR]

Books, magazines, and newspaper archives mostly!

[@jesuszamora6949]

Eagle was a spinoff of AVL... Wonder what happened to AVL... And shit, talk about a downer, their whole world goes to crap with the death of one man. Shows how fragile the world can be, and how fleeting success is. And geez, how goddamn fast was that Ferrari going? God, if I ever get into money, the fastest thing I ever buy is going to be a new computer.

[@floydian06]

These are some of my favorite videos that you do, LGR. They shine a light on many of the forgotten/unknown stories that dot the history of computing, personal and otherwise. Keep it up. Can't wait for the next video!

[@rickonami]

The car crash... Suspicious if u ask me.

[@VengefulNonsense]

+rickonami Agreed

[@orrebiff]

+rickonami jet fuel cant melt steel beams

[@sirknight4981]

+Tjorre B ...or dank memes.

[@SorinelTvOficial]

+rickonami I was thinking the same thing *cough* IBM *cough*

[@sirknight4981]

Tjorre B ...or steel balls

[@happydorkgirl]

Newish subscriber here. This was my first Tech Tales. Goddamned fascinating and well-researched, sir. I especially liked the fact that you showed the actual articles in your presentation. I'm off to watch more.

[@LGR]

Thank you, I hope you continue to enjoy!

[@AzakaSekai]

Sucked to be the man, survived 2 shoot downs but died in a car crash after made millions.

[@Lovi07]

Poor dude survived punching out TWICE in Vietnam and then he dies in a car crash...

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

+Lovi's corner of awesome That is irony (or karma).

[@ectofrost]

Well that's sad. Business sure is ruthless Great video LGR.

[@Locut0s]

Sweeeeet! Another tech tales video! I LOVE this series of yours!

[@jennabrutananadalewski412]

Thank you for another fantastic video. I love all your stuff, but i'm particularly fond of the more historical videos. so they are always appreciated. You also have the most soothing voice on youtube, I swear I could learn how to perform successful brain surgery if you narrated a tutorial on it.

[@Taxcamp]

Great episode! This show is the reason why I subscribed to your channel and I hope there will be even more LGR Tech Tales.

[@SuperHDJ_]

Awesome Tech Tales LGR!! Takes me back in time , like walking into the computer stores in the 80s

[@raafmaat]

These Tech-Tales are the best thing on youtube ^^ please make many more (and yes, i watched all the old ones too xD )

[@raafmaat]

Kandi Gloss whats the channel so i can see if they are any good....

[@BanCorporateOwnedHouses]

In another dimension, the CEO never died, and Eagle would go on to dominate the computer industry...

[@RavageReeves]

Ibm stole there computers and designs then sued them out of business

[@maldorthegreat]

Tech Tales is absolutely my favorite LGR series so far! Keep up the awesome work

[@K3NnY_G]

Ahhh Clint, you've done it again, the subject matter, the writing, the presentation. There isn't a series on your whole channel that isn't just great, but this has to be the one I look forward to most. Amazing job as par usual and please keep up the amazing work! (Also, Interstate 76 review... xD)

[@eIucidate]

+K3NnY_G Me too! I discovered LGR via a Tech Tales video appearing in my feed.

[@j4rp13bot4]

Thanks LGR for existing and doing what you do.

[@LGR]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed!

[@jayxeno]

+Lazy Game Reviews As someone who enjoys computing, but frankly didn't have the funds to get into it until the late 90's, I'm really enjoying these retrospectives. Keep up the good work - hope your move went well.

[@bborkzilla]

The serial port Eagle designed was based on a Zilog Z8530 Serial Communications Controller and went on to become an important part of the amateur packet radio development in the later 1980's.

[@furripupau]

There's an interesting thread on a Ferrari forum about the car involved in this crash, and IIRC Barnhart had already purchased the Ferrari. And it was Sheldon who had come to meet him to look at his Porsche (he was selling the Porsche because he just bought the Ferrari). The two of them decided to try out the Ferrari (I suppose, to see what it would do) and well, Barnhart was killed, and his passenger ended up in the hospital (I don't think he ended up buying the Porsche after this). There is a question of who was actually driving - we'll never know of course. This is the story his daughter posted on the forum after the Ferrari collectors had been saying some wild things about the wreck.

[@Big_Tex]

Ah man, a reminder of that day when your new computer came with shelf full of big heavy binders and shelf-boxes of software. Because you need to read all that to work the thing.

[@alexfooify]

These stories are the reason I'm subscribed to your channel. Keep the good work up! Thanks

[@TheBakedPotato]

I was born in Los Gatos... I didn't know anything interesting ever happened there.

[@nullify.]

Sounds like the plot to Halt and Catch Fire.

[@pummisher1186]

+NegiMudkip Yeah, almost exactly. It's just the elements were shuffled around. I'm assuming this is part of where the show got their inspiration.

[@Kudzu702]

I know you probably do extensive research but im interested to know how much of this stuff you know right off the top of your head. I assume a lot. It'd be pretty fascinating to watch/listen to you sit down and talk to some of these old timer tech guys if you ever got the opportunity.

[@Florescent6Muffin]

this series is such a great chronicle about a time in history that might be written off. I've watched all of these and honestly I can't really look at a calculator the same again after the video you did about their history. This field has some really cutthroat stories and I'm really happy I have the chance to learn about it in such an enjoyable way. My dad is a telecommunications engineer so I even removed l remember seeing some of the brands that bit the dust. I wondered what happened to emachines and Dell after they seemed to vanish, for example.

[@mark33545]

I LOVE tech tales!!!! It's why I subscribed to this awesome frigan channel last year.

[@FyberOptic]

The CP/M versions ran a Z80, like the majority of CP/M machines of the time. So yeah, that particular model would have been in the 4mhz range. Their earlier ones didn't run CP/M, I don't know what they were since I never used one, but they very likely ran something far less powerful.

[@jwaffe]

Great video, also, I just wanted to mention, I really like the music you put in these videos, thanks to this series I found out about Jellica and now Diode

[@LGR]

Excellent! Glad to have turned you onto some new tunes :)

[@R33Racer]

I love these. They ooze quality, thanks Clint!

[@TheSgtbski]

more of these tech tales please

[@CRothgeb]

My dad and the company he owned were pioneers in the multi-image projection field. At one point he was one of the top projectionists in the country using this technique. I remember seeing many Eagle and AVL computers in his warehouse. This brings back memories!

[@guerillagrueplays6301]

So, Clint: have you ever considered loading all your Tech Tales episodes up on a DVD and licensing them to actual computer classrooms? These episodes are some of the most usefully informative from a business/industry perspective I've seen, and could be very beneficial if teachers knew they were available as a resource to show up-and-coming computer techs the pitfalls and wonders of the cutting edge tech industry.

[@LGR]

I haven't given it much thought, especially since they're available for free as it is right now. I'd kinda like them to remain that way. But hey, if there's enough demand, I'd be open to it!

[@guerillagrueplays6301]

Lazy Game Reviews I'm not saying they'd need to be taken offline; merely that a DVD release could be very useful for a classroom setting. If nothing else, I think they could serve well as the basis for a multimedia computer history course :)

[@AnimalFacts]

How about an episode on modems? The "standards" between 14.4 and 56 kbaud could be quite interesting.

[@benbcnz1]

These segments are always so well put-together! I bet you wrote effective papers in school.

[@Billiamiscool]

I ADORE Tech Tales! So interesting and so well made, a fantastic series LGR!

[@JPeiper]

The first PC I ever touched was Eagle PC in 1986 during the summer camp for high school students at KIT(Korea Institute of Technology, now part of KAIST-Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). I like the Eagle PC with slim case and the keyboard slot. Thanks for bringing that old memory, LGR!

[@RUTVonline]

Really neat how LGR makes something as seemingly mundane as the history of a long forgotten computer company so compelling. Great job as usual.

[@mr.nobody6829]

More tech tales please...

[@hypolyxa7207]

How about an episode on Compaq? Watching these tales reminds me that you never hear about them anymore. Same for Nokia.

[@himemsys]

Great video! I love the tech tales and the oddware series. I hope you find more topics soon.

[@anthonyviken1421]

His daughter Leslie was the first girl I had a crush on in the 4th grade at Argonaut school in Saratoga.

[@VoyagerXR]

These are the best part of you channel! Thank you!

[@frankschneider6156]

Excellent video. Your tech tales are even better than your hardware reviews. And what do we learn of all of this ? Never invest in a computer company with an amateurish logo and a professional crash pilot as CEO who believes a Ferrari to be a jet.

[@Stargazer1312]

This isn't even the only tech tales that involves a crashed ferrari

[@allhumansarejusthuman.5776]

It's a sign. Ferrari's are bad for business

[@HSMtruman]

As always, great video Clint. thx for the upload.

[@codenamegamma]

dam, it almost sounded like you where reading a summery of the first season of Halt and Catch Fire. but i guess a lot of companies had that kind of story arch around that time.

[@LGR]

Many did, yep. There were many, many companies that felt the wrath of IBM!

[@thetreblerebel]

I just got done watching Halt and Catch Fire...and totally understand to a degree how the computer and tech business was when I was growing up. It's such a good show. And such a beautiful time period that includes stories like Eagle computers

[@DrMrProfessorPatrick]

Next to LGR Thrifts, this is my favorite feature on the channel. The presentation of these is just so excellent.

[@cabalstone]

Nobody called Dennis Barnhardt 'Denny'. He was 'Barney' to his friends.

[@chadschlesinger]

Clint, you're so fucking good at making these! Adding to the historical record is laudable.

[@GATMachine]

What microphone/audio equipment do you use? You always sound great. When you're on camera I can't see a lapel mic but you still sound great. Apologies if this has been asked before.

[@EJayNine]

Great video LGR, keep them up!

[@skittlezsai5787]

man, I've been needing a new techtales for quite a while. awesome vid

[@eyreland]

Good documentary this one. Sadly the PBS Create Network (and CBC-SRC Canada, SBS-AU, TVNZ-2) do not have enough computer boffin documentaries ...

[@Marc-zi4vg]

What I learned from this : if you're going to buy a classic mid engine sports car, take advanced driving classes first

[@maniakaz]

Is there any relation between Eagle Computer and the Eagle brand that made the ne2000 network adapter?

[@LGR]

Nope.

[@compu85]

+TheKarlOshaughnessy I always thought that show was modeled around Compaq. At least the BIOS part.

[@rlee0001]

+TheKarlOshaughnessy The TV show is officially fiction, loosely inspired in part by several not-officially-identified companies and stories from the 70's, 80's and 90's all mixed together. The only company the writers acknowledge being inspired by was Compaq, with its portable IBM compatible computer. It's entirely possible that inspiration was also taken in part from Eagle, Amiga, Atari, Sinclair, Intergalactic Digital Research, Apple, Microsoft, etc, for a mix of other characters and plot points. I'm pretty sure season two, for example, is at least in part based on Compuserve and 80's-era BBS systems.

[@rumbleroarsbutt]

These videos are great! My favourite series in your channel :)

[@bozaki87]

why did you stop making these? please do some more - i've practically memorized every episode of the tech tales!

[@LGR]

Where did you see that I stopped? The series is ongoing, but they take a long time to make so they have never been frequent.

[@picnicking5884]

That was a very well told, concisely put together story. Thanks for sharing this!

[@cmcomic]

Well edited and written, love you geeky videos keep up with the good work.

[@kvisitstump]

Great video LGR! Also noticed that you've tried to fix the "echo" from the recording (great job on that btw).

[@TheHoagie13]

It's funny that there was a car company, named Eagle, which had a model called "Spirit", in the early 80s. I drove what was basically an Eagle "Vision"('90-'97), but wasDodge's Clone: The "Intrepid" ('93-'97). Dodge did THIS after Eagle's Acquisition.

[@MrStevetmq]

The IBM PC strength was that IBM DID release the hardware specs alowing for clones to happen. This was a double edged In that it allows for rapid growth of the architecture but also cut sales for IBM it's self. IBM tried to mitigate this by keeping the BIOS closed.

[@therealjakeott]

Dude... I think Tech Tales has become my favorite KZbin series.

[@slaquers]

Yes!! Thank you so much for a new hardware episode!! I love your retro hardware reviews and observations...I loved your IIGS one I had a IIGS when I was like 11 it was great at that time even though I had a 486 DX/66 (I had fried my mobo though) I used it a lot and looking back it was a great machine...I'ma get it back one day, was a Woz edition with printer kensington saver and dual drives 3.5/5.25 with the RAM expansion halfway filled...can't find that for under a 1000 these days! Love what you do enjoy your vids

[@Slanderx]

Great Tech Tales ep as always! Thanks!

[@exlibrisas]

Your videos are incredibly professional!

[@thedanespeaks]

yay! Another Tech tales! I love it!

[@ClickToEnlarge]

Fuggin' love these. I'm not sure if it'd be a Tech Tale but the story about Enron and the insane amount of money made and lost is generally a great story if no one has heard of it.

[@SNARC15]

I know Company Man did a great video about Enron but I agree that I'd love to hear LGR narrate something similar

[@RCAvhstape]

So many parts of this story were written into Halt and Catch Fire. I never knew about this but it matches the plot of the TV show pretty close.

[@shadoom]

"Car accident" right after Stock Start? this was no accident...

[@guycrew728]

+Lazy Game Reviews Thanks a Million for doing an Eagle video!!! I have an Eagle 2e from about 1980 and know practically nothing about it. Also, do you know of any good places to pickup some software? I don't even have the boot disc.

[@Drinkabeerandplayagameofficial]

Love this series, always so well done

[@GuitarAudiologist]

Binge-watching LGR while cleaning some SNES games, I noticed that you went from saying (Bye-ohse) to (Bye-oss) within the last couple years. And yeah, there's my Rainman moment for the evening.

[@AdamSmithNES]

Talk about bad luck, holy crap. Great video in any case! Keep the Tales coming.

[@AdamSmithNES]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

You put in an incredible amount of work, for something who is called Lazy Game Reviews, unless it's meant to be ironic, as everything you do is far from lazy, keep up the great work!

[@EladAmon03]

The music mixed with your voice is amazing.

[@garylcroxford]

Another excellent episode. Thanks again mate! :)

[@scottaw1981]

your tech tales are the best, you should do one on 3d Realms all in the Duke voice.

[@Horzuhammer]

Another superb episode. Been rewatching your stuff lately, still haven't found a video I don't like. :)

[@CekalaStudios]

How about you do a Tech Tales based on the Xerox Alto PC? It's rather interesting, as I checked, and both Xerox and their Palo Alto Research Center website, and they have no record of it. Kinda odd... As it's a great concept for the time it was thought of in the early 1970s... It has a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and a GUI, which is surprising for the 70s.

[@mariaer9692]

This was so sad :(