Modern Computer Corp. Logo (1990)
Country: Taiwan Industry: Notebook Computers Founded: 1984 Defunct: Yes, around 1997 Fate: Unknown, assumed dissolved Key People: Hsi K. Ma (Founder, CEO until August 1992)

Welcome to the Modern Computer Corp Homepage on MacDat!

Modern Computer Corp (later known as Microstar Computer Corp) was a Taiwan-based original design manufacturer (ODM) that manufactured laptop computers. The company was founded in 1984. According to one source, the company filed for bankruptcy in March of an unspecified year, but reopened in August of the same year. I don't know when this was, but they're out of business now.

Modern Computer Corp laptops are most commonly seen sold under the NoteStar and Walkom names, both of which were trademarks of Modern, meaning they were directly operated by them. They were also sold to resellers/vendors, including Sager.

Are they MSI?

Ok, so - Modern changed their name to Microstar Computer Corp in around 1993/1994. Due to this, many places online state that these laptops were made by MSI (Micro-Star International, the motherboard manufacturer). They are both Taiwanese companies, but after multiple hours of searching, I have not found any evidence that they were the same company. MSI was founded in 1989 and has its own history going back to then, none of which includes laptops. I don't know exactly when MSI began manufacturing laptops, but it wasn't during this time in the 90s. I can't find any evidence that they were ever called Modern (or had a division with that name) or that they filed for bankruptcy in the 90s. I believe they are two separate companies that happened to share a similar name.

Model List (Non-exhaustive and unfinished)

Sorted roughly by age.

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Page last updated: 04/10/2025
Update Reason: added to model list

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