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{{Short description|US computer manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation
| logo = File:Otrona wordmark.png
| type = Private
| industry = Computers
| founded = {{circa}} {{Start date and age|1981}} in [[Boulder, Colorado]], United States
| founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
| defunct = {{End date|1984|09}}
| fate = Bankruptcy liquidation
| num_employees = 175
| num_employees_year = 1984
}}
'''Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation''' was an early [[Colorado]] manufacturer of business portable [[CP/M]] and [[MS-DOS]] compatible [[computer]]s.<ref name=InfoWorld12111984 />

==Otrona Attaché and 8:16==
The [[United States|American]] company's first major product, the ''Otrona Attaché'', came out in April 1982 and folded up to the size of a fat [[briefcase]] painted off-white with orange trim. When set up for use, the carrying handle swung under the chassis to prop it up for easier viewing. A [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] could be removed from one end, revealing a small 5-inch monochrome [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]] and two 360Kb "half-height" 5.25 inch floppy [[disk drive]]s.{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=1-1,1-6}}<ref name=byte1983_01 />

The system featured a [[Zilog]] [[Zilog Z80|Z80A]] [[microprocessor]] at running 4&nbsp;MHz,{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=1-3}} used the CP/M version 2 [[operating system]]{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=3-1,3-19}} with 64K of RAM{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=1-4}} and, with installation of an [[Intel 8086]] microprocessor expansion card, a modified version of [[Microsoft]]'s MS-DOS operating system.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |volume=5 |number=34 |title=Attache made into 16-bit |first=Paul |last=Freiberger |date=22 August 1983 |pages=1,4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uC8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1}}</ref><ref name=byte1984_07_letters /> The [[Random-access memory|RAM]] can be upgraded to 640Kb and had several programs in [[Read-only memory|ROM]]. It contained a single speaker for sound output (which could be set to give audible feedback when keys were pressed){{sfn|Attache|1983|page=2-44}} and two [[RS-422]] [[serial port]]s for communication.{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=1-2}} It also supported monochrome [[bit-mapped graphics]], and introduced the concept of ''[[desk accessory]]'' programs, such as a calendar, calculator and auto-run timer that could be run without closing a user application.<ref>{{cite book|title=Valet Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_otronaOtroov82_4158042/mode/1up |publisher=Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation |date=November 1982 |first=Mike |last=Hutmacher }}</ref> This innovative application set, known as Valet,<ref name=byte1983_01>{{cite magazine|title=Burnouts, Bargains, and Two Sleek Portables|first=Jerry |last=Pournelle |author-link=Jerry Pournelle| magazine=[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]] | date=January 1983| pages=418–442 |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-01-rescan/page/n427/mode/1up |volume=8 |issue=1}}</ref>{{sfn|Attache|1983|page=3-59}} predated the appearance of similar functionality in the [[Macintosh 128K|1984 Macintosh]].

The brainchild of Ron Lingeman, a gifted H-P alumnus, the Attache was significantly smaller, sleeker, lighter and faster than the [[Osborne 1]] and other portable computers of the time. Unlike the [[Kaypro]], Attache was not [[IBM compatible]]. The Attache was both more capable and more expensive than its competition in many ways. The Attache was meant to run on AC power; batteries were not part of the package but an external battery could be attached.

The 1983 "8:16" model included the 8086 [[coprocessor]] expansion board as a built-in option.<ref name=InfoWorld12111984 /> Compatibility with the [[IBM PC]] was only partial,<ref name=byte1984_07_letters>{{cite magazine | title=Problems with Otrona | type=Letters |magazine =[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]] |date=July 1984 |page=336 |volume=9 |issue=7 |url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1984-07_OCR/page/n341/mode/1up}}</ref> but allowed the popular [[Lotus 1-2-3]] spreadsheet application to run on the Attache.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

==Otrona 2001==
In May 1984, Otrona introduced the "2001" model an IBM PC compatible<ref name=InfoWorld12111984 /> which had an [[Intel 8088]] CPU as its primary microprocessor.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Personal Computer News |title=Small Talk |pages=38–41 |date=December 1984 |issue=89 |url=https://archive.org/details/NH2021_PersonalComputerNews089-01Dec1984.pdf/page/n39/mode/1up}}</ref> This model was meant to be a lighter weight and technologically superior alternative to the mainstream [[IBM]] and [[Compaq]] luggable products of the day. Otrona engaged in a ground up development effort of the more, but not yet fully, PC-compatible ''2001'' computer, incorporating a PC [[BIOS]] written by Steve Gray.

This model's larger CRT was hinged, pivoting upward for easier viewing<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/ComputingNow/ComputingNow1984-11/page/n37/mode/1up |pages=38–41 |title=Oltrona Review |magazine=Computing Now! |date=November 1984 |first=Stever |last=Rimmer }}</ref> while boasting twice the resolution of standard PC's. While retaining its low weight (for the time), it also offered a hard disk option, an Z80A CPU card for CP/M compatibility and, unlike the 8:16 model, provided greater PC compatibility<ref name=byte1984_07_2001>{{cite magazine | title=Otrona's PC-Compatible Portable Easily Converts to Desktop Computer |magazine =[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]] |date=July 1984 |page=46 |volume=9 |issue=7 |url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1984-07_OCR/page/n51/mode/1up}}</ref> with more than twice the speed of a standard PC. Despite the innovative packaging, added features and superior performance, this $3,995 product ended up costing more than anticipated to produce, and never had a chance to succeed as it pushed further the failure of Otrona that filed for bankruptcy shortly after its release.<ref name=InfoWorld12111984 />

Market acceptance of the IBM PC and lagging sales of the not quite PC-compatible 8:16 and 2001 models created a revenue gap that was too deep to overcome. Otrona was caught in a [[catch-22]] in which they could not buy parts needed to generate revenue with the 2001 and could not hit the revenue targets needed to draw on their [[line of credit|credit line]] in order to buy the needed parts.  By this time the banks and [[venture capitalist]]s had invested heavily and taken a hard-edged approach to further investment. Despite the pending success of the 2001, they declined to provide further funding. Otrona had simply not responded quickly enough to the new market conditions created by the introduction of the [[IBM PC]].

== Bankruptcy ==

After seven years of innovation, Otrona announced in September 1984 that it was ceasing production and gave immediate termination notices to its 175 employees. The company initially filed for [[bankruptcy#Chapter 11|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]], hoping to find a way to recover, but refiled a few days later under [[bankruptcy#Chapter 7|Chapter 7]] and its assets were subsequently [[liquidated]].<ref name=InfoWorld12111984>{{cite magazine|title=Otrona Goes Broke |magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |page=22 |date=12 November 1984 |first=Kathy |last=Chin |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_oy4EAAAAMBAJ/page/n23/mode/1up |volume=6 |issue=46 }}</ref>

About 5,000 of the Attache model were sold and can still be found occasionally in auctions and flea markets. The 2001 model barely made a mark at all and probably ranks as one of the rarest of the early PC clones.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book|title=Attaché Portable Computer Technical Manual|publisher=Otrona Advanced Systems Corporation|date=July 1983|edition=1.1 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_otronaOtroanualJul83_10040178/|ref=CITEREFAttache1983}}
* 

==External links==
*[http://www.oldcomputermuseum.com/otrona_2001.html Otrona 2001 description]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101121040859/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1227 Otrona Attache page]
*[http://oldcomputers.net/attache.html Otrona Attache article]
*[http://www.rhod.fr/otrona.html My Otrona Attache]

[[Category:American companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1984]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1984]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]