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YOUR COMMENTS: CONTINUED
Very very cool show. Air it again soon! It's an
inspiration to see how REAL change in the computer
world came not from the Giants IBM, XEROX and the
others, but from some dudes without schooling but
with passion and vision working out of a garage.
A fantastic show, the best PBS production I have ever seen, and can't wait to get my own copy. Now for some comments. One item that nearly caused me to pass a cow, was the section showing the computer at palo alto. The first GUI, I have known for some time that both Apple, and Micorsoft had "borrowed" the idea from Zerox, but when I actually seen the images, it nearly blew me off my chair!! Wow, Xerox had it right 25 years ago, 1971, I had no idea how how close they were. Wow. Now, I'm afraid I must point out what I felt was missing. The segment that was discussing the race IBM was in to get a 'PC', failed to mention the other hardware that was being considered. As I understand the story, IBM seriously considered OEM'ing the Atario 800. This PC as well as the Commodore, TRS-80, TI zx, and a few other pc's not mentioned during the program, in my opinion had a very large role to play in the history of home computing. It was these machine's that non millionaire nerds could afford to take home and grow on. Likely people who today are doing much of the work in IT shops these days, keeping current business systems running, like myself.
All in all, a #1 hit show, brilliant.
The show? Fasinating and well put-together. I saw "The Gate of Heavenly Peace" the night before and I can't think of two more positive and enriching nights of television I've ever had back to back. You are to be congratulated. Danny Sullivan San francisco CA
I found this program both interesting and controversial. Having been one of those original Mac purchasers, I can only say that it remains in my opinion, one of the best computers ever made. I still use my Mac. I've used both systems and marvell at how Microsoft has grab market share while attempting to imitate the "look and feel" of the Mac. The company I work for uses both PCs and Macs, and until Windows 95, I would have doubted Microsoft's ability to rid the world of the Mac, but it is a definite challenge to Mac's previous superior operating system status. I look forward to living through one of the most facsinating times in our history, and look forward to seeing how computers evolve into the next century. Tom Skoko Miami, Florida
this was a great program. I hadn't thought of myself as a nerd until I realized how much I identified with these people. Thank You. kristine young topeka ks
I thought the show was outstanding, superb, and I loved it. It gave me an understanding of computers that I didn't have before, not being a programmer myself but only a user of computers. The show helped me understand my work -- I am editor of Link-Up magazine, a bimonthly publication covering the Internet and online services. The show also helped me understand my husband, who is a programmer.I thought the host of the show was wonderful, the photography was great, and most of all I loved the interviews. I would say the interviews were the best feature. Please do something like Triumph of the Nerds again! Maybe about the Internet. Loraine Page King George, Virginia
Thoroughly enjoyed your site. Itās content, layout, presentation, and even shockwave, were all very well written. If I may suggest one minor improvement: On the page "http://www.pbs.org/nerds/", your writers have assigned the same color for both viewed and un-viewed links (link & vlink). Having different colors makes navigating easier.
Thank you for your consideration, and continued success.
Excellent show. I was watching something else when it started. My original program went to commercial so I started channel surfing (only this time the old fashioned way, with a TV clicker). I came across your program and was riveted. I always wanted to know the true story. I started working for an Apple dealer as a technician in 1985. I was almost there at the beginning so I remember everything after the introduction of the Mac Plus. My wife and I watched all but 10 mins of the program. Thank you for putting it on.
The Mac may be my platform of choice but Bill Gates is my role model.
I just want to congradulate the people who created this broadcast. It is by far the most interesting piece I have seem on television since ROOTS. I just turned it on for a few minutes to see what it would be like because it had received an excellant review and i could not imagine anyone being able to make this subject matter interesting. Within minutes I was so fascinated, I could have been viewing the best of Spielberg. My husband and I are "not" computer buffs, but middle aged folks who recognize the necessity, if not pleasure of some degree of computer literacy. We will now view our at times very difficult learning curve through what we learned last night on PBS. Thank you for a remarkable experience. I think you proved that even a "old dog" like the television can be taught "new tricks". Babette Thompson Philadelphia, PA
I was channel surfing last night when I caught "Triumph of the Nerds" just as it was starting. Lucky for me I turned it to PBS, because I was treated to one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen; maybe even the best. The depiction of the PC's early history was done especially well. Great show!!! Gary Kieller Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)
It is one of the best programs on PBS. It is well documented and presented in a very entertaining way. In " Identify these nerds" section: It states that Bill Gates' major was in law, but I was told that his major was in mathematics in Harvard University. Henry Poon New York, NY
First of all, TWO THUMBS UP on a show the big 3 should be jealous about! One of the few times I hated to get out of my seat for fear of missing something! It has to be THEE best show I've ever seen on where this computer technology boom all started! It really helped me reflect (as a computer nerd myself) on a few things. For instance, it helps alot to better understand where we're going if we have a better understanding of where we've been. This show really helped bring this all to the forefront for me. I thought I knew alot about where it all started, but your show has proven me wrong. In this age of the internet and doubling processor technology every 3 months, it was a great relief to see it always wasn't like this, people (like me) worked really hard to get us where we are today. And to them we owe alot. More than we can ever repay. I'd just like to say "Thank you" for bringing this out to the public in one of the best shows I've seen PBS bring out! And once again, TWO THUMBS UP on he best show I've seen on TV this year! Jim Mitchell Lake Orion, MI
All in all a excellent show. But too bad you had to: 1) Rename the book title to the very lame "triumph of the nerds" 2) Had to dumb it down from the book. And I dont mean technically dumb it down. (The book is not technicall either.) I mean the cutie and simplistic approach. "this old computer/house" approach 3) Lost the edge (and insight) of the book and made it much 'nicer'. Daniel Culbertson Santa Monica, CA
What a great show!!!! this was very edudational, But more than that it was INSPIRING!! wow! I am a computer tech at a small software company, and this show was all I told people about all day. The OWNER of the company is ordering the tape, and is going to make the entire company watch it, to help newer people learn about our industry. Thank you for such an excellent and well done program. Bill Hartnett
My husband and I watched your program last night and stayed up way too late. We were fascinated by the details of the PC revolution. Both of us use PCs at home and at work, and I teach Microsoft software as part of my job. I would be very interested in you continuing with a program looking at the upcoming conflict between the mainframes and the PCs, and what you would predict for the future. Thanks for a job well done. Vicky Sandvig Lusby MD
Absolutely fantastic show! I was captivated from beginning to end. Your interviews with Jobs, Woz, Sculley, the Mac development team and the PARC developers was masterful and the honesty that came from them was refreshing. This is a must see for everyone who has credited Microsoft with all the technical advances of the last 10 years. This is an award winner. Please repeat this show as much as you can. Anonymous St. Louis, MO
I really enjoyed hearing Jobs, Gates, et al remember the "good ol' days."
I would have liked to have heard more on:
But, all in all, a great program. It musta been 'cause
I found myself watching it instead of Game 4 of the NBA
finals!
I absolutely LOVED the show - I thought I knew a lot about the PC and its history, but you certainly showed me a few things that I didn't know. If I had thought of it, I would have recorded the show, but I was so caught up in the story that it simply slipped my mind until the show was already half-way over. Just think of it - if those guys hadn't pursued their passion to create the PC - I probably would not be posting these comments over the internet. The show also gave me insight into the not so obvious, but possible future of computing as we know it today. My personal view is that we will have a cross between Oracle's vision, Mac & PC hardware, Microsoft, and any vendor that adopts the new standards.
The hardware and software will adapt to each other in whatever combination are
demanded.
This was an excellent program!!! Its presentation filled the air with anticipation and suspense. I loved the chess game approach to describing the history of the industry. I never though being a computer geek could be so exciting!! I can't wait to see this program again. Charles S. Boyd Hollyweird CA
I have only watched the beginning of the broadcast, but I was disappointed in a number of ways. My attention came to this broadcast as the result of a discussion on the community history of computing that people have been "speaking" on the Internet. A colleague asked me to tape the broadcast for her, which is how I came to know of it and to observe the beginning. What struck me is how much of the viewpoint about these nerds seems to come from a pre-existing position. I don't trust the historical perspective or the objectivity (and certainly not the can't get a date view) of this portrayal. Considering the portrayal of Cringely as the consumate slob isn't helpful -- is he a nerd? A nerd wannabe?
But what stopped me was flagrant historical innacuracy. Grace Hopper's
revolutionary language was not Cobol, which did not precede Fortran (and probably
not Basic, either). The language that Hopper brought to the Cobol committee as
her contribution was called Flow-matic (question for next year's computer
contest: what were the names of the contributions from IBM and Honeywell?) And
Flow-matic wasn't Hopper's first programming language. (Q: What was it called,
and when was it first publicly discussed?) This contorted mangling of
well-documented portions of the history of computing does not signal much
veracity of much else being presented.
I just happend to be channel surfing last night and came accross your program. I think this was the best program I have ever seen on TV. I am a 26 year old man who has been working in the computer industry for 5 years. I work at Ziff Davis Publishing in Foster City. We test all computer products from all the major vendors here at our lab. I am definitely going to get the 3 part video of the program Triumph of the Nerds. Thank you so much for showing VERY high quality programing on PBS. I will be watching the program teus. night about the Internet.
Thank You Again!!!!!!
An outstanding account of computer history. The best documentary type program that I have ever seen on this subject. James Howell Peoria, Il
This is one of the finest pieces of work ever accomplished by PBS. And I thought the history of Rock and Roll was brilliant as well. Keep up the outstanding work. Will you be re-aring this anytime soon? Mark Brotherton San Francisco, CA
I was really expecting something less superficial. There are certainly more than 5 significant nerds still alive. What about Gary Killdal's mysterious death? Why not include links to other nerds, like Jim Warren's Gov-Access mailing list?
PBS sure didn't do it this time, indeed who will?
Humorous, insightful, ... a great show. Who would believe that such a bunch of geeks could accomplish (copy, steal) so much. I was'nt aware of the "XEROX" connection. Hard to believe that 2 of the largest players (Xerox/IBM) could have dropped the ball on such a huge potential product/market.
Hope it airs again...maybe another show?
Simply outstanding! As a computer professional, I found the program to be extremely interesting and useful. I have taught at the college level and have relayed some of the stories that you brought out in the program. My students have always found this type of information to be of great human interest. Strange for a group of folk who are learning about computers to be concerned with the human aspects of this business. Keep up the good work. Stephen A. Fedoriska Colorado Springs, Colorado
Bitter bitter bitter. Why are all the developers of the personal computer either bitter or paranoid. Jobs made like a 100 million dollars and he has disgust for Apple? Gates is worth 8 billion dollars and he is worried about not being number one.
Money is the root of all evil.
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