Eagle Computer: The rise and fall of an early PC clone
Eagle Computer was a leading producer of CP/M computers in the 1980s, but it fell after its CEO, Dennis Barnhart, died in a car accident on the day of its IPO. The company's success was largely due to its IBM-compatible computers, such as the Eagle PC 2, which featured a high degree of compatibility at a good price. Despite its initial success, Eagle Computer went out of business in 1986, just three years after its IPO, due to a combination of factors beyond the tragic loss of its CEO.
- ▪Eagle Computer sold 12,000 computers a month at its peak in 1983, with sales doubling every quarter under the leadership of Dennis Barnhart.
- ▪The company's first IBM-compatible computer, the Eagle 1600, received mixed reviews due to its inconsistent compatibility with IBM PCs.
- ▪Eagle Computer's follow-up models, such as the Eagle PC 2 and the Turbo XL, featured improved compatibility and received generally good reviews.
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Eagle Computer: The rise and fall of an early PC clone Dave Farquhar Retro Computing June 8, 2026June 8, 2026 5 CommentsWhen it comes to 80s computer brands, few flew as high as Eagle Computer flew in 1983. The aptly named company was selling 12,000 computers a month and had been doubling sales every quarter under the leadership of a talented CEO. Then Eagle lost its CEO, Dennis Barnhart, in a crashed Ferrari on the day of its IPO, June 8, 1983. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons Eagle Computer fell, because there was more to it than just the tragic story involving its CEO.History of Eagle ComputerEagle had been a leading producer of CP/M computers, entering the market somewhat accidentally.
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