20) The Best Seller of Assembly Kit
The microcomputer assembly kit [TK-80], launched by NEC in 1976
The invention of microcomputer consequently brought about
the personal computer era, and microcomputer assembly kit products were launched
in this transition period.
Particularly, the microcomputer assembly kit [TK-80], which was launched by
NEC in 1976, became very popular in the Japanese market. This kit included
all the components necessary to assemble a microcomputer, consisting of a
CPU, memories and input/output LSI’s. In addition, it included a keyboard
as an input apparatus, LED display device as an output apparatus and a printed
circuit board. Purchasers were to connect all the components using soldering
irons, nippers and other tools, following the instruction.
It is interesting to know the background in the commercialization of the assembly
kit. Atsuyoshi Ouchi, then a board member in charge of electronic devices
operations, told me the story. When some team members proposed to commercialize
the microcomputer kits as assembled products, the device division opposed
to this proposal for the reason that assembly know-hows and quality control
system were not ready yet, and that they would not be able to handle the troubles,
such as soldering. Hearing this argument, Ouchi came up with an excellent
idea to sell the component kits, not the finished product. The idea ended
the argument.
NEC started selling the assembly kits at the price of \85,000 through their
300 microcomputer shops called ”Bit-in” all over Japan, and NEC sold 60,000
kits in four years. At the same time, NEC organized “Microcomputer Club”,
and about 10,000 persons joined the club in the first one month. This movement
led to a so-called “microcomputer boom” in Japan. ( Provided by NEC)
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