Why haven't many european computer companies hit the mainstream. Speaking from a British perspective I can only think of a few that hit the mainstream then failed, for example Sinclair, Acorn, Tiny, Time, Amstrad ect.
So what happened?
Many major computer companies are Americain or asian based, though do have bases in europe, so we have the brains to do it.
Re: European computer companies
There are so many reasons that this happened, although from my point of view the ones that were most prominent were:
1. The fact that when companies like Acorn used exclusively (? or largely?) british labour, they were quickly undercut, and made to look expensive.
2. Although computing reduced the impact of large distances in business to a great extent, not being located within or around the hotbed of innovation that was silicon valley meant that many ideas reached British companies too late for them to remain on the forefront of technological capability.
3. Largely related to (2), Microsoft happened.
1. The fact that when companies like Acorn used exclusively (? or largely?) british labour, they were quickly undercut, and made to look expensive.
2. Although computing reduced the impact of large distances in business to a great extent, not being located within or around the hotbed of innovation that was silicon valley meant that many ideas reached British companies too late for them to remain on the forefront of technological capability.
3. Largely related to (2), Microsoft happened.