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Genisys

Genisys (short for Genius Systems) is a Dutch company founded on May 30, 1986 by Richard Kay. A British Dutchman with many contacts and ideas, but not the financial means. Fortunately, the Amro bank saw plans to start a computer company to become a cheap alternative to IBM computers.

The company got off to a flying start. Many orders were placed thanks to PC-Privé projects. In the first 4 months even 1000 IBM PC compatible computers were sold. These were assembled in Alkmaar and the parts came from Hong Kong, Japan and the United States.

However, Richard Kay wanted to grow the business too fast, which was a near-impossible task as computer prices fell rapidly.

The models

  • The Competitor, a budget IBM PC clone for less than Fl. 1500, =
  • The Rival, an optimized system from Fl. 2500, =
  • The Challenger, an IBM PC AT clone from Fl 4000 (an IBM 5170 cost Fl 11000, =)
  • The Conqueror with 80386 processor
  • The Mobile, a portable PC from Fl. 2395
  • The Traveler, a laptop with 8088 or 80286
  • The Rascal, a compact computer with Italian design from Fl. 1895, =
  • The Connector, a network station (terminal) from Fl. 995, =

In September 1986, the Dutch oil company Transol from Ridderkerk took a 50% stake in Genisys shares to support growth. Richard Kay also wanted to conquer the international market.

Genisys becomes G2

In March 1987 disaster struck. Customers were waiting (too) long for their cheap IBM clones and had to wait weeks and even months for a computer. On March 20, 1987, with a debt of 7 million guilders, the bankruptcy was declared.

“It just wasn’t possible, we ate for hundreds of guilders in exclusive restaurants, a month and a half ago everyone got an expensive car. It has mainly been a matter of mismanagement, ”said a representative

The HCC, the largest computer club in the Netherlands, has established itself as a consumer association for poor deliveries and support and collected all complaints.

Transol made an effort to restart everything and took full ownership of the company. Richard Kay stayed on for marketing and PR. The company was renamed to G2 computers.

However, the problem was not gone. IBM had become a lot more cautious about releasing systems and were mainly concerned with their new, non-replicable, PS/2 line. Not only was G2 computers afraid of this, but many companies became very nervous about what the future would look like.

G2 lives!

Still, in September 1987, G2 computers presented a new product line and seemed to have risen from the dead. Just like Tulip and Philips, G2 computers tried to gain a share of the Dutch market.

In February 1988, founder Richard Kay went to court to reclaim the names Genisys and The Rival from Transol / TVI. Whether this was successful is unknown to me.

In December 1988, G2 computers entered into a partnership with the Taiwanese company Ling-Yih. The strategy remained the same: purchasing components in the Far East and America and then assembling the PC clones in an old factory warehouse in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. The strategy change was to keep a continuous flow of incoming components and outgoing, assembled computers.

In 1991 the then still successful G2 computers moved from Alkmaar to Maarssen. On average, 10,000 computers and custom computers were built there. The staff were even treated to a ski vacation.

The definitive end

In 1992 things suddenly deteriorated again and only 8,000 computers were made and the company was only at a loss. This resulted in G2’s final bankruptcy on January 17, 1993.

Sources

(Dutch only)

Desktop Computers

Genisys The Rival PCII
G2 Model A Plus 286