Dual Technology Corporation ![]() Logo (1998) |
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Country: Taiwan Industry: Notebook Computers Founded: 1982 Defunct: ~2000 Fate: Website went down in late 2000, seemingly just went defunct Address (former): No. 8, Lane 97, Wu-Kung Rd., Wu-Ku Industrial Park, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan, ROC Website: dual.com.tw, Dual Australia |
Dual was a Taiwan-based Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) that manufactured laptop computers from 1991 until around 2000, when it seems they went out of business. The company was founded in 1982 and sold mainly telephone and computer accessories until their expansion into the laptop market. They also sold LCD monitors.
Dual placed a focus on modularity in their SKD and PMD Series laptops. Later models, including the AIO, ERA, and VDA Series used all-in-one (3 spindle) designs, many with magnesium case construction.
Each of Dual's three letter series names actually stood for something, and I've managed to dig up what they all were! Here's a list:
I've as of yet been unable to find concrete info on what exactly happened to Dual. Their last product launch was in Spring 2000, and their website was gone by the end of that year. One company history page on the Dual site linked them to Nankang Tire, a Taiwanese tire manufacturing company which is still in business today. The Chairman of Dual was named as being "honorary president" of Nankang Tire in a 2014 article, so I guess making tires ended up being a lot more profitable than making notebook computers.
Should be complete from the SKD-4000 onwards, but I'm missing any info on what they made before that (their first laptop was released in 1991).
![]() Dual DU-3000 1992 |
![]() Dual SKD-4000 (SKD 1) ~June 1993 |
![]() Dual SKD-4000 II (SKD 2) ~March 1994 |
![]() Dual SKD-4000 III (SKD 3) ~November 1994 |
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![]() Dual SKD-5 ~February 1995? |
![]() Dual PentiMedia (PMD-5000) ~July 1994 |
![]() Dual PentiMedia II (PMD-5500) 1995 |
![]() Dual PentiMedia 3 (PMD-5640) ~January 1996 |
![]() Dual SKD-4100 ~January 1996 |
![]() Dual PentiMedia 3+ (PMD-5700) ~July 1996 |
![]() Dual PMD-6000 (PMD 6) ~April 1997 |
![]() Dual AIO-6000 Series ~September 1997 |
![]() Dual MVA-6600 February 1998 |
![]() Dual ERA-1000 March 1998 |
No Image April 1998 |
![]() Dual MVA-6690 July 1998 |
No Image August 1998 |
![]() Dual ERA-2000 October 1998 |
![]() Dual MRA-2000 October 1998 |
![]() Dual MRA-3100 ~April 1999 |
![]() Dual VDA-9900 May 1999 |
No Image May 1999 |
![]() Dual VDA-9570/ERA-3170 October 1999 |
No Image March 2000 |
Index < Laptop Portal < Dual