Ken Olsen

Kenneth Harry Olsen was an American engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) with Harlan Anderson in 1957. A pivotal figure in the history of computing, Olsen is widely recognized for his pioneering role in the development and popularization of the…

Key facts

Role: Co-founder, President, CEO, and Chairman of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)
Nationality: American
Born: 1926
Died: 2011

Notable quotes

There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. (Widely attributed, though often taken out of context regarding business vs. personal computing)

The best computer company is the one that lasts the longest.

Every time we tried to do a computer for general purpose use, it never worked.

I'm an engineer, I like to solve problems. And I don't like to solve them with committees.