Rating: 
Summary: Accidental Empires
Review: Accidental Empires follows the rise of the tech industry. It is written by Robert X. Cringely (not his real name), one of the original founders of Apple computers, and gives a firsthand perspective of the industry. Accidental Empires is written in a humorous tone, and reveals many of the character flaws of the leaders of the tech industry, proving, in essence, that they're just a bunch of nerds. Accidental Empires is an above average book and I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: History of Computing for People Like Us
Review: Accidental Empires is the suggestive title of a journey into the story of computing starting from its humble beginnings during the early seventies and ending just before the Internet revolution. It is by all means a fascinating account of the people and events that shaped the marketplace and gave it a direction and turned it into a multibillion industry. I still find it hard to believe that the first computer available on the market came in unassembled parts and the user had to put it together and the end product had no harddrive, no OS, and no applications to run. And this happened only 25 years ago...
As a journalist for Infoworld, Cringely leads us with a firm hand and clear passion for disentangling the intricate dependencies and relationships that reign in the computing industry. His book is a well informed account of the evolution of operating systems, hardware, networking, and print technologies starting from the day these were just wild ideas. Although the lecture may sound a little too technical and hence a bit complicated, this book is easy to follow. Through Cringely's talent we get a (funny but very plausible) portrait of the people, their desires, shortcommings, and in most cases genius and totally obsessive personalities.
Apart for the obvious animosity that the author nurtures towards Gates and Jobs whom he claims to be to various degrees true sociopaths, one with ambition to dominate the world, the other one to be accepted and loved, I find the whole overview to be an objective and informative account of the fascinating and tumultuous evolution of computing as we know today. Overall, Cringely argues that despite the incredible brainpower, no founding geek was ever capable of truly assessing the enormous impact the creation of personal computing, a user friendly OS, and networking technologies would have on our world and their pockets (this is to confirm that one can excel in many things but not all things). At the same time, it is simply stupefying to read about the incredibly ill advised strategic decisions that established companies, such as IBM and Xerox, made. For more info on the 200 billion dollars misstake, turn to the IBM files.
Along with The Sillicon Boys, this is the best book on the history of computing for the layman I've read so far, I don't hesitate to give it five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: This is NOT a funny book
Review: Crigenly tells the compelling story of the uprising of a small company becoming a million dollar businesss. He is very informative on the histroy of the computers in a different tone and style of writing that is easily understandable.
Rating:
Summary: No one comes off well, well barely anyone.
Review: Cringley, as they say, must be either suicidal, or have balls the size of an elephant. There's only one person who comes off looking good in this book, and that's Steve Woznaik (maybe Bob Taylor as well, but his is a peripheral story as far as the book's concerned). Just about everybody else faces Cringley's wrath, and sparks do fly.It's a very well written book, an enjoyable read that flows past efffortlessly, in a very conversational mood. What else would you expect from a gossip columnist. But Cringley does know his stuff, he goes through every myth about the "whiz-kids" and shatters just about every one of them. And there is a perverse pleasure in reading the low down and dirty on people larger than life. Even Cringley's version of pop-psychology (which can be very penetrating and illuminating at times) is amusing.You'll probably laugh yourself through this book, partly because you're relieved these guys aren't infallible, and partly because you're amazed they made it at all. And along the way you'll pick up little tid-bits of techno-lore to throw around.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: I bought this book after seeing Cringely on 'Triumph of the Nerds' on PBS. Like this show, 'Accidental Empires' deals with the computer industry - specifically the PC revolution centered on Microsoft, Apple, and Silcon Valley. Being a computer nerd myself, I found the book both educational and entertaining. Cringely comes across as very knowledgeable and humorous. He writes with a very easy to read style that makes the pages fly by. I would recommend this book to anyone that is curious about the history of software and computers, or is simply interested in the people drove the industry to where it is now.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh out loud funny
Review: I started reading this book while curled up on the couch next to a friend who was trying to watch a soccer match. He finally told me to stop snickering or leave the room. I had to leave the room. _Accidental Empires_ is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time and as someone who works as a consultant for one of the companies roasted in its pages, I have to say that the passage of time has not made its commentary any less true. Also insightful, well-written, witty, etc.
Rating:
Summary: hilarious, biting, an easy read
Review: If you aren't in the IS profession, Robert X. Cringely is/was a pseudonym for the best gossip columnist in the industry. He's been in it so long he's familiar with most of the burial places. Cringely paints a picture of an industry dominated by people who were driven more by ego than by materialism: they had something to prove. In most cases it is hard to fault his analysis. His statements and conclusions about industry personae and events square with everything I've been able to verify. Cringely is excellent at explaining technical concepts to a non-technical audience using analogies, which are often riotously funny as well as helpful. This and the generally bouncy pace of the book will enable it to appeal to you even if you don't consider yourself a techie.
Rating:
Summary: This is NOT a funny book
Review: Now, I've read a lot of books and taken something from all of them, good or bad. However, I would have to say this is the only book I ever regret having read. Being in the business and half decent at my work (ego driven dictator in Cringley speak), I found the 300 odd pages of his ranting and raving against anyone with talent and vision a little hard to swallow. Don't get me wrong, it's a fascinating story, but ruined by his poorly camouflaged bitterness at his own failings as an engineer. And no, I'm not Steve Jobs.
Rating: 
Summary: Daised and Confused
Review: Robert X. Cringley manages to describe all the factors that explain the existance of the computer industry, he gives the who,what,when,why,and the how. Accidental EmpiresIs a very descriptive book written by a good author but for those of you who wish to find out about the computer industry the shorter way, then just watch, The Pirates Of Silicon Valley. It will explain things much quicker, and you can eat some popcorn while you watch. Now don't get me wrong this was a good book but, one would rather watch the movie than read the book. If you aren't a history fanatic of the computer industry than don't read this book it will confuse you. For you nerd out there read this book you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: National Inquirer into Computerdom
Review: The book begins by claiming that personal computers and spreadsheets made leveraged buy-outs, and looting company pension plans, possible (p.4). But the PC was only a means to an end, not the end in itself. Look up Credit Mobiliere, and the many scams in late 19th century railroads (the high-tech dot-coms of that day). Look up the changed laws, and accounting methods, from the late 1970s for fixing these deals. RXC claims it "happened more or less by accident" - not true; they met a need. The personal computer is to mainframe computers like the personal automobile is to railroad trains. Page 9 notes that Wozniak, Jobs, and Gates were college dropouts who disdained academia. Didn't Edward Land also do this? Page 40 says Noyce expanded production and not prices to grow volume and profits; ever hear of the Ford Model T? Page 43 tells a story about teleprocessing, but RXC doesn't understand the AT&T monopoly and 1200 baud modems of 40 years ago. Page 58 explains the invention of the BIOS. Pages 77-80 explains the difference between basic research and research and development, and what it means. The concept of "metaprogrammer" (nee Chief Programmer in 1966 Poughkeepsie) is discussed on pages 108-110. It gets the job done, but has a great political problem. If control is localized, so is blame. Most projects are decreed by upper management, but blame descends on the lower orders. Need I say more? Page 110 says this is like "collective farming" which didn't work well. Doesn't it work when it is voluntary, but not when imposed from above? Collective farming does away with owner operated units and turns them into wage earners; this is how our agribusiness works today. Did RXC ever personally investigate this? Page 113 tells of the problem in making all decisions at the top. First, it restricts parallel operations by creating a bottleneck. Then it prevents making decisions at the appropriate level. It doesn't distinguish between technical and political or design problems (which must be solved at a higher level). But if only inexperienced programmers are wanted, that creates a self-limiting environment as well. Page 124 says Ross Perot left IBM because he filled his sales quote in January; wasn't there some conflict of interest caused by his second job? Page 128 tells a story about Digital Research in July 1980 that may be incomplete. Page 166 explains the reason for PC-compatible, and why other computer manufacturers foundered. Page 261 tells how Aldus was suckered into not producing a word processor for Windows in 1989. Page 268 tells how Apple's money paid for Microsoft's international expansion. Page 281 explains how Microsoft takes a stab at new technology. Page 303 says Sun "practically gives away system software". Since 1961 the Federal Govt. paid for Multics (and its clones), and ordered this for computer science's on-line needs. What would Sun charge if it had to build it all itself? RXC predicted the death of mainframes on 12/31/99, but I missed reading the obituary notices. There have been great changes since 1999, but not as predicted in this book. Page 307 has other predictions! Page 315 mentions the "software studio" model, but doesn't ask who on Wall Street will put up the venture capital to make "Rocky 1010"? RXC did NOT predict the INTERNET, a kinder, gentler version of Orwell's "1984" that allows Big Brother to spy on activity in your home (p.350)! Page 322 describes the value of being late and over budget. Chapter 17 makes predictions again.
|
