Scientific Data Systems (SDS)

Founded in 1961 by Max Palevsky and others from Packard Bell and Bendix, SDS was an innovative company. Their machines, aimed mainly at scientific and academic markets, were faster and less expensive than comparable offerings from others. By about 1967, they had a range of computers that could deal with both business and scientific applications.

The firm was purchased by Xerox in 1969 and re-named Xerox Data Systems (XDS). Several disastrous management decisions, and a declining market for this type of machine, forced Xerox to close the division, with significant financial implications, in 1975.