Jack Tramiel Czy Idek Tramielski? 8 Kwietnia 2012 R

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Jack Tramiel Czy Idek Tramielski? 8 Kwietnia 2012 R POLSKI ODKRYWCA JaCK TraMiel CZY IdeK TraMielSKI? 8 kwietnia 2012 r. zmarł w Monte Sereno w Kalifornii Jack Tremiel, legendarny założyciel i prezes firmy Commodore. Miał 83 lata. To jeden z najbardziej tajemniczych i twórczych wynalazców polskiego pochodzenia WITOLD IwAńCZAK rodził się w Łodzi 13 grudnia 1928 r. I choć są tej chwili. Zmarł najprawdopodobniej na ments. To poważnie ograniczało politykę źródła, które podają, że urodził się 1927 lub tyfus, ale jest też wersja, że został uśmierco- marketingową firmy ze względu na ceny U1929 r., to jednak on sam twierdził, że przy- ny zastrzykiem podczas jednego z niemiec- chipsetów dyktowane przez ich dostaw- szedł na świat w 1928 r., m.in. w wywiadzie, jaki kich pseudoeksperymentów medycznych. cę. Kolejnym posunięciem Tramiela było został zamieszczony w piśmie „Bajtek” na początku Pod opieką aliantów Tramielski pozostał więc kupienie firmy MOS, produkującej 1987 r. Nie znalazłem natomiast jego wypowiedzi w obozie dla uchodźców jeszcze dwa lata, konkurencyjne chipsety, co w połowie na temat spekulacji, jak naprawdę się wówczas próbując wrócić do normalności. internet lat 70. zaowocowało wyprodukowaniem Jack Tramiel nazywał. Jedne źródła podają, że jego prawdziwe pierwszego komputera Commodore – PET. imię i nazwisko to Jacek Trzmiel, a inne – że Idek Emigracja Jack nie chciał ryzykować z budową włas- Tramielski. Ważne, że był Polakiem żydowskiego W 1947 r. wyemigrował do Stanów Zjednoczonych nego komputera od podstaw, dlatego próbował pochodzenia, i tego się nigdy nie wyparł. i trafił do Nowego Jorku. – Za podróż zapłaciła kupić firmę Apple Inc. Cena była jednak za wysoka. organizacja żydowska, która w Ameryce na drobne Hitem firmy Commodore stał się kolejny model Okres wojny wydatki dała mi 10 dolarów – wspominał, dodając: komputera – VIC-20, który wyprodukowany był już Gdy Idek Tramielski miał niespełna 10 lat, wybu- – Tam, wśród emigrantów, czułem się jak w Polsce, w milionach egzemplarzy. Ostatecznie jednak firma chła wojna i niebawem trafił on z całą rodziną ten sam język, ten sam zapach pikli i śledzi. Pra- zasłynęła z produkcji modelu Commodore 64 – cował w sklepie jako mechanik. Zmienił też komputera nazywanego przez Tramiela pierwszym swoje nazwisko na bardziej rozpoznawalne „dla mas, a nie klas”. Urządzenie, które pojawiło dla Amerykanów i dość szybko nauczył się się w 1982 r., sprzedało się w liczbie 22 mln sztuk S N języka angielskiego. Świadczy o tym fakt, że i uważane jest za najpopularniejszy w dziejach już w 1948 r. wstąpił do armii amerykańskiej, komputer domowy. Zyskało taką popularność OMMO C gdzie jego zadaniem było naprawianie sprzę- dzięki doskonałym posunięciom marketingowym: edia tu biurowego – głównie maszyn do pisania. możliwie najniższej cenie sprzedaży i nastawieniu M I K I Po kilku latach służby, w 1953 r., odszedł Commodore 64 na gry komputerowe. W z wojska i otworzył na Bronksie w Nowym Niestety, po poważnej kłótni z udziałowcami Jorku sklep z maszynami do pisania. w 1984 r. Jack Tramiel odszedł z firmy i założył nową – Niestety, interes się nie kręcił, więc Tramiel Technology Ltd. Wraz z nim odeszło wielu wyemigrował do Kanady i założył fachowców od gier i innych inżynierów. W 1984 r. w 1955 r. własną firmę zajmującą Tramiel wykupił stojącą wówczas na granicy upad- się naprawą maszyn do pisania. ku firmę Atari. Wprowadził wówczas na rynek nowe Nazwał ją Commodore Portable modele komputerów – Atari 800XL i Atari 65XE, Typewriter, gdyż chciał, by a nieco później – Atari ST. Warto wiedzieć, że dzięki jego firma nosiła wojsko- zastosowanym w jego komputerach rozwiązaniom wą nazwę, a ponieważ technicznym (np. złącze MIDI) oraz znakomitemu nazwy stopni wojsko- oprogramowaniu użytkowemu (m.in. Calamus, wych „General” i „Admi- DEGAS, Cubase) komputery te były wykorzystywane ral” były już zajęte, zde- do DTP oraz przez muzyków. Wśród tych ostatnich cydował się na koman- można wymienić tak wybitnych twórców, jak Mike Commodore PET 2001 dora (Commodore). Jego Oldfield, Jean-Michel Jarre czy Czesław Niemen. umiejętności dostrzegli szefowie firmy Sears Roe- Rodzina do łódzkiego getta, gdzie pracował ponad 5 lat buck i zaproponowali Tramielowi stworzenie nowej W połowie lat 90. Jack Tramiel sprzedał Atari firmie w fabryce odzieży. W sierpniu 1944 r. wraz z ojcem maszyny do pisania własnej konstrukcji. Zaskoczo- JTS i przeszedł na emeryturę. Osiadł wówczas wraz zostali przewiezieni do niemieckiego obozu kon- ny Jack zgodził się. Zbudował maszynę na czeskiej z żoną Heleną w Monte Sereno. centracyjnego Auschwitz w Oświęcimiu. licencji, od tej pory charakterystyczne logo firmy Jack Tramiel miał trzech synów: Sama, Leonarda Lekarz obozowy – dr Josef Mengele uznał ich za – znak „C” – pojawiło się na maszynach, które i Gary’ego, z którymi wspólnie pracował w firmie, zdolnych do pracy i odesłano ich do obozu Hanno- podbiły rynek kanadyjski i amerykański. oraz kilkoro wnucząt. Aktywnie działał w Lidze Prze- ver-Ahlem. Obóz ten został wyzwolony w kwietniu ciwko Zniesławieniom, walczącej głównie z antysemi- 1945 r. przez amerykańską 84. Dywizję Piechoty. Biznes tyzmem. „Jestem szczęśliwym człowiekiem” – dekla- Tramielski odzyskał wolność po latach prawdzi- Od 1970 r. firma Commodore produkowała kal- rował w ostatnich wywiadach łodzianin, współtwór- wego piekła na ziemi, niestety, jego ojciec nie dożył kulatory, bazując na chipsetach Texas Instru- ca historii komputerów i informatyki. q 34 NIEDZIELA NR 20 • 13 MAJA 2012.
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