Commodore International

The Commodore 64, released in 1982, is the best-selling single personal computer model of all time, with estimates ranging from 12.5 to 17 million units sold. It cost $595 at launch and could do things that machines costing three times as much couldn't. For millions of people, the C64 was their first computer. An entire generation learned to program by typing BASIC listings from magazines.

The Amiga, which Commodore acquired in 1984, was even more remarkable. It had preemptive multitasking, stereo sound, and advanced graphics years before the Macintosh or Windows caught up. Video professionals, musicians, and game developers swore by it. NewTek's Video Toaster on the Amiga produced the effects for Babylon 5 and SeaQuest DSV.

Commodore squandered both products through atrocious management. CEO Irving Gould and managing director Mehdi Ali slashed R&D budgets, failed to market the Amiga effectively, and made a series of disastrous strategic decisions. The company that owned the best-selling computer and the most technically advanced personal computer went bankrupt in April 1994. The brand has been bought and resold multiple times since; none of the revivals have amounted to anything.