Sun Remarketing

Sun Remarketing was a United States retail and computer-reselling company founded by Robert L. "Bob" Cook in 1979. The business originally operated as Cook's, Inc. and adopted the Sun Remarketing name in 1983. It built its identity around finding commercial uses and resale markets for discontinued, surplus, used, and damaged Apple computer equipment at a time when personal-computer product cycles were moving quickly and manufacturers were abandoning older systems. The company's best-known business was its work with the Apple Lisa. After Apple Computer discontinued the Lisa in September 1985, Sun Remarketing purchased between 5,000 and 7,000 unsold machines from Apple. During the same period, it acquired approximately 3,500 unsold Apple III computers as well as thousands of used and broken Lisa units from nearby businesses. Rather than simply liquidating the inventory, Sun refurbished and upgraded many of the computers. Lisa systems were fitted with 800-KB 3.5-inch floppy-disk drives and 20-MB hard drives, improvements that made the machines more practical for contemporary users and helped extend the commercial life of hardware that Apple had ceased to promote. Sun also pursued software-based solutions to the Lisa's compatibility problem. It acquired Apple's MacWorks XL emulator and used it to allow Lisa computers to run Macintosh applications. When Apple's Macintosh Plus introduced an enhanced 128K ROM and newer Macintosh software became incompatible with MacWorks XL, Sun sponsored development of a successor emulator, MacWorks Plus. The company packaged the upgraded emulator and modified Lisa hardware as the Lisa Professional, positioning the product as a more capable and affordable way to access Macintosh software without purchasing a new Macintosh system. The company broadened its resale activity in 1988, when it began selling Apple Macintosh models such as the Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II. Its business therefore evolved from a specialist outlet for discontinued Apple systems into a broader Apple-oriented reseller and refurbisher. Sun's activities included hardware resale, upgrades, software distribution, technical documentation, and the development or publication of materials supporting legacy Apple equipment. Its catalogues and do-it-yourself guides became part of the historical record of the Lisa and Macintosh aftermarket. Sun Remarketing was also known locally in Cache Valley as one of the first commercial Internet service providers in northern Utah. This added an early online-services role to a company otherwise primarily associated with computer retailing and legacy-hardware support. The company was bought out by Cherokee Data, an Oklahoma computer wholesaler, in 2006. Public reference material does not establish a continuing Sun Remarketing operation after that transaction. A later company called Cherokee Data Solutions, also known as CDS, is described as unrelated and unaffiliated with Cherokee Data or Sun Remarketing.

Sun Remarketing began in 1979 under founder Robert L. "Bob" Cook. The company was originally named Cook's, Inc. and changed its name to Sun Remarketing in 1983. Its central business was the resale of older Apple hardware and software, serving customers interested in systems that Apple had discontinued or no longer actively supported. The company's historical importance is closely associated with the Apple Lisa. Apple discontinued the Lisa in September 1985, leaving a substantial amount of unsold inventory. Sun Remarketing purchased an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 unsold Lisas from Apple. It also obtained roughly 3,500 unsold Apple III computers and thousands of used or damaged Lisa systems from businesses in the surrounding area. The company refurbished and modernized some of this equipment rather than treating it solely as obsolete stock. Upgrades included 800-KB 3.5-inch floppy drives and 20-MB hard drives, which improved storage and media compatibility. Sun's Lisa strategy also depended on software compatibility. The company bought the MacWorks XL emulator from Apple, allowing Lisa computers to run Macintosh applications. The arrival of the Macintosh Plus created a problem because its enhanced 128K ROM enabled newer software that did not work properly with MacWorks XL. To address this limitation and help sell its remaining Lisa inventory, Sun Remarketing underwrote development of MacWorks Plus. The company combined the newer emulator with modified Lisa hardware and marketed the result as the Lisa Professional. The Lisa resale effort continued through the late 1980s, with Sun selling thousands of consigned systems between 1985 and 1989. In September 1989, Apple reclaimed approximately 2,700 remaining Lisas stored in Sun's warehouse and disposed of them at a landfill in Logan, Utah. This episode later became associated with the broader historical story of the Lisa's commercial failure and Apple's disposal of unsold machines. Sun expanded its activities in 1988 by reselling Macintosh computers, including the Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II. This represented a move from a narrow focus on the Lisa and earlier Apple systems toward a wider Apple resale business. The company also produced or distributed supporting materials, including a catalogue and a Lisa/Macintosh XL do-it-yourself guide, helping users maintain and adapt aging equipment. In addition to computer resale, Sun Remarketing became known locally in Cache Valley as one of the first commercial Internet service providers in northern Utah. The available account does not provide detailed dates, product names, subscriber figures, or financial information for this service. In 2006, Cherokee Data, a computer wholesaler based in Oklahoma, bought Sun Remarketing. Reference material does not document a continuing independent Sun Remarketing business after the buyout. A company called Cherokee Data Solutions, also known as CDS, is specifically described as unrelated and unaffiliated with Cherokee Data and Sun Remarketing.

• 2006

  Acquired by Cherokee Data

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Cherokee Data bought Sun Remarketing.

• 1989

  Apple removes remaining Lisa inventory

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Apple reclaimed approximately 2,700 consigned Lisas from Sun's warehouse and disposed of them at a landfill in Logan, Utah.

• 1988

  Macintosh resale expands

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Sun began reselling Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II computers.

• 1985

  Apple Lisa and Apple III inventory acquired

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Sun acquired thousands of surplus Lisa and Apple III computers and began refurbishing and reselling legacy Apple systems.

• 1983

  Cook's, Inc. adopts the Sun Remarketing name

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name from Cook's, Inc. to Sun Remarketing.

• 1979

  Company founded

  [1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Robert L. "Bob" Cook founded the business that became Sun Remarketing.

A specialist reseller and refurbisher that extended the useful life of discontinued Apple hardware through upgrades, compatibility software, and technical support.

• Refurbished computer system

  Lisa Professional

  The Lisa Professional was Sun Remarketing's enhanced Lisa offering. It combined Lisa hardware with the MacWorks Plus emulator, enabling the computer to run Macintosh applications designed for the Macintosh Plus generation and its enhanced 128K ROM. The product represented Sun's attempt to make discontinued Lisa hardware useful in a changing Macintosh software environment.

• Software emulator

  MacWorks Plus

  MacWorks Plus was a Macintosh compatibility emulator developed with Sun Remarketing's support to overcome limitations of the earlier MacWorks XL software. It was intended to let Lisa computers run newer Macintosh applications associated with the Macintosh Plus generation and was used as a key component of Sun's Lisa Professional package.

• Refurbished computer hardware · 1985

  Refurbished Apple Lisa computers

  Sun bought surplus, used, and damaged Lisa systems and resold selected units after modernization. Reported upgrades included 800-KB 3.5-inch floppy drives and 20-MB hard drives. The business extended the availability of Lisa hardware after Apple had discontinued the product.

• Computer hardware resale · 1985

  Apple III resale systems

  Sun Remarketing acquired approximately 3,500 unsold Apple III computers in 1985 as part of its broader legacy-Apple resale activity. The available reference material does not specify a separate product name, configuration, or sales program for these systems.

• Computer hardware resale · 1988

  Resold Macintosh computers

  Beginning in 1988, Sun Remarketing resold Apple Macintosh models including the Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II. This broadened the company's product range beyond the Lisa, Apple II, and Apple III aftermarket.

• 2006

  Sale to Cherokee DataM&A

  Background

  Sun Remarketing was operating as a computer reseller and had also been known locally for early commercial Internet service in northern Utah.

  Action taken

  Cherokee Data, an Oklahoma computer wholesaler, bought the company.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not document the purchase price, post-acquisition management, or continued use of the Sun Remarketing name.

  Source

• 1988

  Expand from legacy Apple systems into Macintosh resaleStrategy

  Background

  Sun had previously focused mainly on the Lisa, Apple II, and Apple III aftermarket.

  Action taken

  The company began reselling Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II computers.

  Aftermath

  Sun broadened its Apple-oriented retail and resale scope, although the available material does not provide later sales or market-share figures.

  Source

• 1985

  Build a business around discontinued Apple inventoryStrategy

  Background

  Apple discontinued the Lisa and had surplus Lisa and Apple III computers available while businesses and users still possessed older systems.

  Action taken

  Sun acquired large quantities of surplus, used, and damaged Apple equipment and developed refurbishment and upgrade services for resale.

  Aftermath

  The strategy made Sun a prominent specialist in the Apple legacy-computer aftermarket and supported Lisa sales through the late 1980s.

  Source

• Support development of MacWorks PlusProduct launch

  Background

  MacWorks XL no longer supported many applications associated with the Macintosh Plus's enhanced 128K ROM.

  Action taken

  Sun underwrote development of MacWorks Plus and packaged the emulator with upgraded Lisa hardware as the Lisa Professional.

  Aftermath

  The move improved Lisa compatibility with newer Macintosh software and helped Sun market its remaining Lisa inventory.

  Source

• 2006

  Sun Remarketing is bought by Cherokee Data[1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Cherokee Data, an Oklahoma-based computer wholesaler, bought Sun Remarketing. Available reference material does not provide transaction terms or identify a subsequent operating structure for the Sun Remarketing brand.

• 1989

  Apple removes remaining consigned Lisa inventory[1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  In September 1989, Apple took approximately 2,700 Lisa computers that had remained in Sun Remarketing's warehouse and disposed of them at a landfill in Logan, Utah.

• 1988

  Sun Remarketing begins reselling Macintosh computers[1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The company expanded beyond the Lisa, Apple II, and Apple III aftermarket and began reselling Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and Macintosh II computers.

• 1985

  Sun Remarketing acquires surplus Apple Lisa and Apple III inventory[1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  Following Apple's discontinuation of the Lisa, Sun Remarketing acquired thousands of unsold Lisa computers, Apple III systems, and used or damaged Lisa units for resale and refurbishment.

• Sun develops MacWorks Plus and introduces the Lisa Professional[1]Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  After MacWorks XL became incompatible with applications designed for the Macintosh Plus's enhanced ROM, Sun Remarketing supported development of MacWorks Plus and packaged it with upgraded Lisa hardware as the Lisa Professional.

1. 1Sun Remarketingen.wikipedia.org