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I honestly think Hitachi is well-known even for average people (not for IT division though). Not Sony level for sure, but isn't exactly niche. But maybe it's j

I honestly think Hitachi is well-known even for average people (not for IT division though). Not Sony level for sure, but isn't exactly niche. But maybe it's just my bias too.

okl 6y ago
I think so, their name is on a lot of construction equipment.
- pySSK 6y ago
  They also have the Hitachi Magic Wand vibrator, which is commonly known as just Hitachi. The brand was also known for power tools but that's not a part of the company anymore and is being rebranded to Metabo.
  - sangnoir 6y ago
    No - I'm afraid you are mistaken: what Hitachi sold was a "massager" - they were "distraught" to discover it's salacious "alternative" uses as it harmed their brand. Hitachi only agreed to continue selling the product as a joint venture (IIRC) if they removed the Hitachi name from it. So it's rebranded as just the "Original Magic Wand" now - no Hitachi :)
  - drannex 6y ago
    Quick tip: You can find a lot of places selling really solid new power tools at 50-75% off because of the name change. They will usually be sold now as "HPT", Hitachi Power Tools and they have to move the stock before they can sell the newly rebranded tools thus the discount.
- bilg21 6y ago
  They used to make good TV's in the 90s too. First color TV in our house was Hitachi.
  - koreanguy 6y ago
    Japanese take from the European patent office and American patents. 90% of products coming out of Japan the core of the product has origins in the houses of the western patent houses.
TeMPOraL 6y ago
> not for IT division though The only reason I know that company name is because I think they sold hard drives in the past, and/or showed up on my BIOS screen. So maybe IT people know it too.
- fireattack 6y ago
  Oh yeah, ther storage definitely is relatively more famous. I personally knew Hitachi first by their elevators/lifts.
  - TylerE 6y ago
    They also build trains and ... personal massagers.
    - kovvy 6y ago
      The personal massager. After 53 years of sales it's still very well regarded.
- hinkley 6y ago
  Didn’t Hitachi get sued for making a clone of an IBM mainframe? That case set the stage for the PC clone market.
el_dev_hell 6y ago
In Australia, they're known for very well built fridges and aircon units.

I honestly think Hitachi is well-known even for average people (not for IT division though). Not Sony level for sure, but isn't exactly niche. But maybe it's just my bias too.

okl 6y ago

I think so, their name is on a lot of construction equipment.

pySSK 6y ago
They also have the Hitachi Magic Wand vibrator, which is commonly known as just Hitachi. The brand was also known for power tools but that's not a part of the company anymore and is being rebranded to Metabo.
- sangnoir 6y ago
  No - I'm afraid you are mistaken: what Hitachi sold was a "massager" - they were "distraught" to discover it's salacious "alternative" uses as it harmed their brand. Hitachi only agreed to continue selling the product as a joint venture (IIRC) if they removed the Hitachi name from it. So it's rebranded as just the "Original Magic Wand" now - no Hitachi :)
- drannex 6y ago
  Quick tip: You can find a lot of places selling really solid new power tools at 50-75% off because of the name change. They will usually be sold now as "HPT", Hitachi Power Tools and they have to move the stock before they can sell the newly rebranded tools thus the discount.
bilg21 6y ago
They used to make good TV's in the 90s too. First color TV in our house was Hitachi.
- koreanguy 6y ago
  Japanese take from the European patent office and American patents. 90% of products coming out of Japan the core of the product has origins in the houses of the western patent houses.

TeMPOraL 6y ago

> not for IT division though The only reason I know that company name is because I think they sold hard drives in the past, and/or showed up on my BIOS screen. So maybe IT people know it too.

fireattack 6y ago
Oh yeah, ther storage definitely is relatively more famous. I personally knew Hitachi first by their elevators/lifts.
- TylerE 6y ago
  They also build trains and ... personal massagers.
  - kovvy 6y ago
    The personal massager. After 53 years of sales it's still very well regarded.
hinkley 6y ago
Didn’t Hitachi get sued for making a clone of an IBM mainframe? That case set the stage for the PC clone market.

el_dev_hell 6y ago

In Australia, they're known for very well built fridges and aircon units.