content: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                          
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                          
                                          
                                      FORM 8-K
                                          
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
  
       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                          
                                          
                                          
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                                          
                                          
                         FEBRUARY 3, 1997 (JANUARY 30, 1997)
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                 AST RESEARCH, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                      DELAWARE
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                          
                                          
                                          
             0-13941                                  95-3525565
     (Commission File Number)             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
       16215 ALTON PARKWAY
        IRVINE, CALIFORNIA                                 92718
  (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                   (714) 727-4141
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
                                          
  
  
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
  On January 30, 1997, AST Research, Inc. ("the Company") announced that
  Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.("Samsung") has proposed to commence negotiations 
  with respect to the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of common 
  stock of the Company not currently owned by Samsung, or its affiliates, at a
  price of $5.10 per share. Samsung currently owns approximately 46 percent of
  the outstanding shares, and owns options which, if  exercised, would result
  in ownership of approximately 49 percent of the outstanding shares.  Pursuant
  to the terms of a Stockholder Agreement between the Company and Samsung,
  Samsung's ability to purchase shares and engage in other transactions with the 
  Company is subject to certain restrictions. The Company's board of directors
  has formed a special committee, consisting of three independent directors, to
  evaluate Samsung's proposal, and to consider other options that may be 
  available to the Company.  A copy of the press release is attached to this 
  report, and is incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  On January 30, 1997, the Company also announced that Hyeon-Gon Kim and Hee Dong
  Yoo resigned from the board of directors and that Samsung appointed Yong-Ro Song
  and Ho Moon Kang as replacements.  In addition, the Company reported a net loss
  of $68.0 million ($1.18 per share), and $417.7 million ($8.22 per share), for
  the quarter and year ended December 28, 1996, respectively.  A copy of the press
  release is attached to this report, and is incorporated herein by this
  reference.
  
  
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit
  Number    Description
  
  99.1      Press Release dated January 30, 1997 announcing that Samsung has
            proposed to commence negotiations with respect to the acquisition
            by Samsung of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
            Company not currently owned by Samsung or its affiliates.
  
  99.2      Press Release dated January 30, 1997 announcing the Company's
            fourth quarter results and changes to its board of directors.
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                      AST Research, Inc.
                           _______________________________________
                                         (Registrant)
  
  
  
  
                                By /s/ WON S. YANG
                                   Won S. Yang
                                   Senior Vice President
                                   and Chief Financial Officer (Acting)
  
  
  Date:  February 3, 1997
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text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                          
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                          
                                          
                                      FORM 8-K
                                          
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                          
                                          
                                          
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                                          
                                          
                         FEBRUARY 3, 1997 (JANUARY 30, 1997)
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                 AST RESEARCH, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                      DELAWARE
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                          
                                          
                                          
             0-13941                                  95-3525565
     (Commission File Number)             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
       16215 ALTON PARKWAY
        IRVINE, CALIFORNIA                                 92718
  (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                   (714) 727-4141
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
                                          
  
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
  On January 30, 1997, AST Research, Inc. ("the Company") announced that
  Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.("Samsung") has proposed to commence negotiations 
  with respect to the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of common 
  stock of the Company not currently owned by Samsung, or its affiliates, at a
  price of $5.10 per share. Samsung currently owns approximately 46 percent of
  the outstanding shares, and owns options which, if  exercised, would result
  in ownership of approximately 49 percent of the outstanding shares.  Pursuant
  to the terms of a Stockholder Agreement between the Company and Samsung,
  Samsung's ability to purchase shares and engage in other transactions with the 
  Company is subject to certain restrictions. The Company's board of directors
  has formed a special committee, consisting of three independent directors, to
  evaluate Samsung's proposal, and to consider other options that may be 
  available to the Company.  A copy of the press release is attached to this 
  report, and is incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  On January 30, 1997, the Company also announced that Hyeon-Gon Kim and Hee Dong
  Yoo resigned from the board of directors and that Samsung appointed Yong-Ro Song
  and Ho Moon Kang as replacements.  In addition, the Company reported a net loss
  of $68.0 million ($1.18 per share), and $417.7 million ($8.22 per share), for
  the quarter and year ended December 28, 1996, respectively.  A copy of the press
  release is attached to this report, and is incorporated herein by this
  reference.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit
  Number    Description
  
  99.1      Press Release dated January 30, 1997 announcing that Samsung has
            proposed to commence negotiations with respect to the acquisition
            by Samsung of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
            Company not currently owned by Samsung or its affiliates.
  
  99.2      Press Release dated January 30, 1997 announcing the Company's
            fourth quarter results and changes to its board of directors.
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                      AST Research, Inc.
                           _______________________________________
                                         (Registrant)
  
                                By /s/ WON S. YANG
                                   Won S. Yang
                                   Senior Vice President
                                   and Chief Financial Officer (Acting)
  
  Date:  February 3, 1997