History (1997): Two Exabyte Founders Form Ecrix

What do Exabyte, the 8mm success story, Datasonix, another venture with a less happy ending, and the start-up Ecrix have in common?

Answer: 1/ the letter x found in each of the three firms’ names, 2/ HQs for all 3 companies in Boulder, CO, and above all 3/ Juan Rodriguez and Kelly Beavers, who helped to found all 3 companies as industry veterans.

The failure of Datasonix, a producer of minuscule Pereos tape drives that were far too expensive for most PC users’ tastes, has not daunted them.

And while we’re on the subject, recall that Datasonix sold Exabyte the backup software that managed Pereos.

Both men are now starting over with Ecrix, a modified form of the French verb “ecrire” (to write} with the addition of an “x” for good luck,” according to president and CEO Beavers.

The company was formed to develop a new tape drive, yet another whose identity and specs are still classified as secret. “It will become an industry standard from a lowly 1V top device to serving the biggest of HPCs,” was all COB Rodriguez had to say.

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 109, published on February 1997.

Note: In September 2001, Ecrix was acquired by Exabyte.