MRO
MRO or Microcomputer Recommendation Organization is the name of a fictitious computer advocacy group.
During the 1980's, Jon Reddick and a close group of equally nerdy friends would spend much of their free time programming, playing and tinkering with computers of all makes and models.
Always hungry for new information, they would sometimes spend afternoons going through computer magazines, calling every toll-free phone number and requesting a catalog or printed material. It's important to remember that this was nearly a decade before the internet became mainstream, and only the very earliest days of online bulletin board systems (BBS'es). Occasionally they would reach a company that would only mail to companies, not individuals (and had they had been aware, certainly not to pre-teen kids with no disposable income).
For this reason, the friends decided they needed to create a company that sounded believable, and could make a plausible case for why they needed a computer or software company's publicity materials. It was decided that their fake company would be a non-profit computer and software evaluation and review group, which would explain why we did not have a corporate address or the funds to pay for return shipping.
They chose the name, "Microcomputer Recommendation Organization" largely because the "MRO" acronym seemed to sound good.
From that point forward, when asked, "What company are you with?", all of the friends would promptly reply, "MRO." If drilled further, they would explain in half-truth, that the Microcomputer Recommendation Organization was a non-profit group that evaluated computer hardware and software for review and recommendation. All of this was, essentially, true. They were a group, they didn't make any profit, and they did "evaluate" computer hardware and software (mostly by deciding whether it was fun or not).
Beyond that, they were seldom if ever asked any further, and would almost always be mailed a copy of the company's catalogs and promotional materials.
Personnel
Other Usage
The fictitious MRO entity also once proved useful in a face-to-face encounter. Mark, Jason and Jon had driven together to a regional computer and electronics show in Orlando, Florida. While standing in line at the entrance to the showroom floor, they noticed a sign stating that admission to the event was free for companies, while individuals paid a nominal fee.
The three proudly announced to the ticket booth attendant that they were there representing the Microcomputer Recommendation Organization. After some curious looks and shuffling of papers, they were handed three complimentary paper badges. On the badges was written, "MRO."
Current Status
MRO has not been officially active for more than twenty years, and several other entities now use the initials.
However, some of the founders of MRO did go on to careers involving computer programming, operation and troubleshooting, so it could be said that in some small way, MRO is still in operation around the globe.
