The History of Pearson Electronics

1976
Humble Beginnings
Our story begins with Victoria Pearson and Cyrus Alden, two ambitious college dropouts with a passion for innovation, found Pearson Electronics in Victoria's garage. Armed with Cyrus’s knack for engineering and Victoria’s vision for the future, the duo creates their first product, the Pearson, a clunky but revolutionary personal computer.

(Victoria Pearson's 1976 home, featuring the original logo)

1977
The Birth of the Personal Computer Era
Pearson Electronics launches the Pearson II, a smaller, more user-friendly computer that quickly gains traction among tech enthusiasts. It featured two floppy drives, but this design was ultimately abandoned due to its gimmicky nature, high production costs, and lack of practical use. Victoria, ever the visionary, focuses on being the brains of the company, while Cyrus becomes the charismatic face.
1980
The Pearson Visionary Experiment
Pearson Electronics launches the Pearson Visionary, a compact computer with a graphical user interface and mouse support. Despite its groundbreaking tech, the Visionary is too expensive and complicated, failing to catch on with consumers. The project was shortly discontinued.
1982
The PearDOS Debacle
Pearson Electronics accuses Macro Corp of stealing features from their PearDOS for Macro’s Doorway OS. Macro's CEO, Gilbert Doors stated in a controversial press release: "Good ideas are meant to be shared. Ours just happen to be better." Being the smaller company at the time, Pearson Electronics loses the legal battle and is forced to redesign PearDOS, delaying progress. Though a setback, it inspires their eventual rebranding to CalOS in 1990.

(Graphic featuring 1982 logo)

1984
Pearson Electronics Goes Public
Pearson Electronics becomes a publicly traded company, making Victoria and Cyrus instant tech celebrities. Their groundbreaking keynote presentations, featuring Victoria's dramatic flair, become legendary. The first Caldenrosh debuts later that year, followed by a slightly more expensive color version in 1985 (aptly named the Caldenrosh Color). It was hailed as the computer that brings technology into the mainstream.

(Caldenrosh promotional poster, featuring 1984 logo)

1985
Victoria’s Departure
A clash between Victoria’s creative ambitions and the board’s corporate demands leads to her ouster, leaving the company in the hands of Cyrus and more business-oriented executives. The Caldenrosh XL, a commercial flop, marks the beginning of a challenging era for Pearson Electronics.
1990
The Caldenrosh Crash
In an effort to stay relevant, Pearson releases the Caldenrosh 64X, a high-performance workstation with cutting-edge graphics capabilities, its design based on the original idea for the Caldenrosh. Although the product was beloved by a niche audience, including video gamers, graphic designers, and computer programmers, and was the most durable Caldenrosh, it was costly to manufacture and failed to gain traction, underperforming in sales due to its high price and pretentious advertising.
1991
Struggling For Relevance
Without Victoria’s vision, Pearson continues to struggle. The Caldenrosh Super is released, but its unusually different design and unfamiliar mechanics alienates users, and resulted in mediocre sales numbers. In a desperate attempt to convince people to buy it, Pearson added the tagline: "Take a chance. Maybe you'll like it?" Cyrus, frustrated with the company’s direction, takes a sabbatical to focus on independent projects.

(1991 Caldenrosh Super commercial)

1996
Launch of Pearson.com & Victoria's Return
After years of lackluster performance, Pearson Electronics acquired SpiderWeb, a small website development company founded by Victoria Pearson as part of its effort to modernize and reconnect with customers. Using SpiderWeb’s expertise, Pearson launched its first official website that year. The site not only provided detailed product information and support but also introduced an online store, making Pearson one of the early adopters of e-commerce.

The website was an instant success, and this move marked Victoria Pearson’s unexpected return to the company as CEO. Her first move? Reuniting with Cyrus Alden to develop a groundbreaking new product that aimed to redefine the company’s future. While success wasn’t immediate, Victoria’s reputation with Pearson set the stage for a dramatic comeback that reignited hope among loyal fans who saw Victoria’s return as a chance for Pearson Electronics to turn things around.

(Pearson.com 1996 commercial, featuring old logo)

1998
The eCal Revolution
Pearson Electronics reveals the eCal, a colorful and minimalist computer designed to appeal to the everyday user. It’s a massive hit, signaling the company's return to dominance. Victoria’s famous line during the launch—"It’s not just a personal computer; it’s THE "Pearsonal" computer."—becomes a cultural phenomenon. The eCal’s debut firmly reestablishes Pearson Electronics as a tech industry leader.

(Pearson eCal promotional poster)

2000
The Portable Leap
Seeing the growing need for portable tech, Pearson Electronics shifts focus from desktop computers to laptops with the release of the CalBook. The CalBook brings the power of Pearson desktops into a portable design, offering a slim build, long battery life, and the new CalOS Mobile Suite.

Victoria Pearson called it "...a computer for the future—where work and life don’t have to stay at a desk." This decision helped Pearson succeed in the laptop market and prepare them for the next era of portable technology.

(Pearson CalBook promotional poster)

2001
Changing the Game
Pearson Electronics unveils the eDeck, a sleek, portable media player that also combines entertainment and communication. The eDeck sets a new standard for consumer technology and cements Pearson Electronics as a leader in mobile device innovation.

(eDeck 2001 commercial, featuring 2001 logo)

2004
Technology Has No Borders
Following the success of the CalBook and eDeck, Pearson Electronics announces its first major international expansion, bringing its products and stores to Europe and Asia. The move is seen as a bold step in Pearson’s global growth strategy, with Pearson stores opening in major cities like London, Tokyo, and Paris.

(Pearson Store in Tokyo)

2007
Revolutionizing Communication
The first eFace debuts as a revolutionary smartphone, introducing the mobile-friendly eOS, a version of CalOS optimized for eFace phones. It becomes Pearson's most successful product launch ever. Victoria’s presentation is legendary, introducing the concept of a device that combines a phone, a music player, and an internet browser.

(Original eFace announcement at 2007 keynote)

2011
The Loss of a Visionary
In October of 2011, Victoria Pearson passed away unexpectedly, leaving the tech world in mourning. As a trailblazing innovator and one of the most powerful women in tech, her legacy is sure to inspire generations. Shattered by the loss of his best friend and lifelong collaborator, Cyrus Alden finally retires from his COO position and public life.
2012
Carrying the Torch
Three months after Victoria Pearson’s passing, longtime CTO and artificial intelligence hobbyist Leon Starke becomes the new permanent CEO of Pearson Electronics. Under his leadership, the company continues to grow and releases the first phone in the eFace Smart family, praised for its modern features and eco-friendly design.

(eFace Smart 2012 commercial, featuring current logo)

2014
Unveiling the eWrist
Following the rising trend of wearable tech, Pearson Electronics launches the eWrist, their first smart watch designed to integrate seamlessly with the eFace smartphones. While initially met with skepticism, the eWrist gains traction due to its sleek design and customizable features.

CEO Leon Starke described it as "not just a watch, but a computer assistant on your wrist."

(eWatch 2014 commercial)

2015
Pearson's Dive Into Gaming
In an unexpected move, Pearson Electronics partners with longtime competitor Macro Corp to create their first gaming console, the Pearbox. Combining Pearson’s advanced technology with Macro Corp’s gaming know-how, the Pearbox offers a unique gaming experience, with exclusive games and features.

(Pearbox "Reimagining Gaming" 2015 campaign advert)

2017
The Release of Pearly AI
Five years into Starke's tenure as CEO, Pearson Electronics finally launches Pearly AI, an advanced virtual assistant integrated across all modern Pearson devices. Designed to rival other market-leading AI technologies, Pearly becomes a standout feature with its ability to adapt to user habits, provide seamless cross-device functionality, and offer advanced personality.

The release sparks a new era for Pearson Electronics, positioning them as a leader in artificial intelligence. In a popular interview, Leon Starke touts Pearly AI by stating "This is not just a step forward—this is the future. Artificial intelligence isn’t just a trend; it’s a revolution. Pearly is the beginning of a new era of interconnected living."
Its success boosts sales across the company’s ecosystem and reinforces Pearson’s reputation for revolutionizing modern AI.

(Pearly on the 2017 eFace Pearly and Pearly Micro)

2018
Introducing Pearson Abode
Pearson Electronics enters the smart home market with Pearson Abode, a voice-controlled assistant. Powered by Pearly AI, Abode lets users control smart devices, play music, manage tasks, and even connect with other Pearson products like the eFace and eWrist.
The product becomes a huge hit online, with demand soaring to levels almost as high as the original eFace, thanks to its Pearly integration.

(Pearson Abode 2018 commercial)

2020
The P1 Chip Is Revealed
Pearson Electronics debuts the P1 chip, a custom processor powered solely by Pearly AI for the eCal and CalBook lines. Designed for seamless integration with CalOS, the P1 boosts performance, enhances energy efficiency, and introduces advanced AI features like real-time processing and predictive multitasking. The release earns praise for redefining productivity and innovation in Pearson devices. Cyrus Alden was invited to co-host the keynote, but refused to attend.

(Inside the Pearson P1 chip)

Our Digital Future...
Recently, Pearson Electronics has shared an ambitious vision for the years ahead, focusing on innovation and new technology. The company announces plans to introduce subscription models for their products, offering personalized updates, cloud features, and exclusive tools to meet users’ needs.

Plans were also announced to expand Pearly AI into more areas, including smart home devices, appliances, and public systems like kiosks and transportation hubs. With government collaboration, these innovations will seamlessly connect to portable Pearson devices like the eFace, creating a smarter, fully integrated environment that extends far beyond the home.

Looking even further into the future, Pearson teases their entry into AI robotics, imagining intelligent companions and helpful tools to make everyday life easier. Pearson also plans to pair this idea with virtual reality, though this transition may take decades to fully develop.

"We’re not just making devices. We're shaping the future of artificial intelligence and easier living for the average person. Pearson is thrilled to share our vision for the future as we continue to grow and innovate. We invite you to join us on this journey to build an easier and more advanced world." says Starke, leaving the world eager to see what’s next for Pearson Electronics and the future of technology.

(Pearson Electronics headquarters in Neovista Heights, California)

"The story of Pearson Electronics is not just about technology but about the vision, passion, and collaboration that turned a garage dream into a global phenomenon."
- Victoria Pearson, 2009