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YOUR COMMENTS
PBS values and welcomes your comments about Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires. In the days immediately following the original broadcast of the program, PBS received more than 1,500 of your e-mails about this program. The following are a sample of those comments that we have received.
The absolute best program on modern computing history. more, more.... Tim McDuff Indianapolis, IN. I have just seen 'Triumph of the Nerds' and I am very disappointed that PBS would chose to present so one-sided a view of computer development. Completely overlooked were the contributions and accomplishments of the 'nerds' at Commodore Business Machines who developed a GUI for the lowly 'Commodore 64,' a machine with an incredible sales record. This machine paved the way for the Amiga computer which took video and multimedia to the masses before the phrase 'multimedia' was even bandied about. (I remember being at an Amiga club meeting where people were wondering what the IBM ads for 'multimedia' were all about.) Amiga computers had superior software for desktop publishing and video before their competitors and, although they did not have a business software selection of any depth, they did have a wide range of software and a GUI operating system that was the envy of anyone who ever used MS DOS or Windows 3.1.
A fair history of the times, and the 'Nerds,' is not complete
without the story of the Amiga.
I am a 23 year-old computer programmer and I think the shows are very well produced and very informative. I really liked the show that focused on IBM and Microsoft. I also had no idea that XEROX had any role in the PC industry. My girlfriend is a Graphic Art Major and we sometimes have heated arguments about Apple and IBM. After seeing the show tonight I can see where she is coming from. By the way Steve Jobs is a very bitter man. Anonymous Newton, NC How unpredictable and strange everything is.....I hope the history of computers and Internet will not be teached in future as a clear story of "progress". Your program showed how a story could only be made afterwards (and you made a funny and entertainting one too). If I was a history teacher, TOTN would be a must for the kids!
Also, the program reminded me of how near I was to be a nerd. As
a 13-year-old, I wanted to buy a Sinclair ZX(?) I had seen in a tech magazine. I couldn't find one.
Instead of it I (or my parents) bought me a guitar...12 years old
later I bought my first computer, a tiny Macintosh. I thought the broadcast was excellant. I am a police officer who is in charge of our computers at work. I had gone to college in 1974 and attempted to study computers. In those days COBOL was what I was trying to learn. I am looking forward to a re-broadcast so I can tell my friends about it.
Keep up the good work As a computer/electrical engineering student and research assistant, I always find it fascinating to hear stories of those that really created the jobs I will do for a living. This show was great at giving that information to me. It was humorous, informative, witty, and of course entertaining. (I can't wait until the next show ten year's from now... ) Thom Moore Melbourne, FL I'm afraid that we're being tortured here in Honolulu--our PBS station is showing "Triumph of the Nerds" over three weeks, one hour at a time. It's wonderful torture, though. I missed the first hour due to forgetfulness, but luckily a PC user group member called me to remind of the second show. I'm off to Comdex tomorrow morning to mingle with 200,000 other Nerds.
Keep it up, PBS! More! More! Wow! A programme about computers, without all that techno/industrial music in the background coupled with strange visual montages! The programme is informative, yet digestible. The biggest nerd I reckon on the show was Steve Jobs, he kicks all other nerd butts. Paul Cartwright Perth,Western Australia I just have to say that BOB CRINGELY is the most brilliant writer I have ever seen. I was intending on watching a rushed, 1-hour or less, non-informative program on computers but what I saw was truly awe-inspiring. BOB and the rest of his crew deserve an EMMY for their achievments. john yergaw london, ontario I am a nerd! and I am proud to say it. I got all of the questions right on that computer quiz. I am so happy to see that there is Finally a page where I can communicate with other nerds. I have to go now !!! Love A Faithful Nerd, Peggy Flemington, New Jersey I liked the program. It took me down memory lane. I have been involved with computers for the last 25-30 years. With Windows 95 on every new home computer, I feel the neophytes won't have the same appreciation as they who worked with EDLIN. Elinor Zetina Baltimore, MD Well done. I found this program very informative and enlightening. I knew virtually noithing about the history of the PC, but now I know. I wish to congratulate the producers, this show is well made. I hope to see the sequel soon, if there is one. I am thinking the Internet would make a great subject. Thank you. Ron Stedman This show was really great! Even my wife who could care less about computers was glued to the screen. The really scary thing is I remember most of this.
Great Job!
The problem is that although months ago when this special
was in production, it was surely true that in fact "Apple
is (was) in trouble."
BUT - now Apple is in fact coming back, and appears to
many actually stronger than ever. Indeed in the long run,
Apple Computer may benefit from the last several years of
adversity.
Whatever happens to Apple however, my comment is about
the program - not about trying to guess what will happen
to Apple Computer in the future.
It would seem that commenting on the demise of a company
like Apple before that demise is actually fact is both
unwise, and in fact unfair. Indeed, one of Apple's problems
for many years has been in the "rumors" and so on of
Apple's soon-to-be-fact death. Of course no such thing has
happened. But persistent rumors have continued.
In addition, persistent untruths have also been
perpetuated, and were also evident in your program.
Apple is not in fact a niche computer maker, but still
very much main stream.
To be blunt, I am appalled at your the comments
that were made about Apple Computer having 'lost'
the GUI war. Why wasnât the fact that the legal system
has really little clue about technology mentioned.
Indeed many people see Microsoftâs predatory tactics
as a long term threat to the viability of computer
software at low costs.
The real point I want to make is that no one can
predict with any accuracy the long term outlook of
Apple or any other computer software or hardware vendor.
Certainly from a journalistic viewpoint, verbal
relegation of Apple to a niche role is premature at
best, and totally misleading at worst.
I expect more from PBS.
jim dymond
I think that this program is so important , it
is probably one of the way we can make sure that
people don't get afraid of the internet but learn
how to use it as the communication tool it was
meant to be.
Keep up the very good work , thank you for making
this program available !
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