If you like Computer History
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I really enjoy reading about the early days of how real people took ideas and components and made them into the computers we use today. I'm reading the fantastic book, Fire in the Valley: The Birth and Death of the Personal Computer 3rd Edition[^]. Written By Two Journalists This one is written by journalists who were writing about the nascent computers as they were coming into existence. The professional distance is very good because you get more of the stories from every angle. For example, I never knew this about Gary Kildall's part in computer history:
Quote:
Gary Kildall Kildall wrote the first programming language [(CP/L)] for Intel’s 4004 microprocessor, as well as a control program that he would later turn into the personal-computer industry’s most popular operating system [(CP/M)].
Kildall was a genius. Have You Read It? Have you read this great book? It's very well-written and a great story about how the computer has come to us in its present form. I've read a number of books to discover those early days (many written by the inventors/creators themselves): 1) iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Steve Wozniak[^] 2)
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I really enjoy reading about the early days of how real people took ideas and components and made them into the computers we use today. I'm reading the fantastic book, Fire in the Valley: The Birth and Death of the Personal Computer 3rd Edition[^]. Written By Two Journalists This one is written by journalists who were writing about the nascent computers as they were coming into existence. The professional distance is very good because you get more of the stories from every angle. For example, I never knew this about Gary Kildall's part in computer history:
Quote:
Gary Kildall Kildall wrote the first programming language [(CP/L)] for Intel’s 4004 microprocessor, as well as a control program that he would later turn into the personal-computer industry’s most popular operating system [(CP/M)].
Kildall was a genius. Have You Read It? Have you read this great book? It's very well-written and a great story about how the computer has come to us in its present form. I've read a number of books to discover those early days (many written by the inventors/creators themselves): 1) iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Steve Wozniak[^] 2)
I love Woz. He's a teddy bear.
Real programmers use butterflies
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I really enjoy reading about the early days of how real people took ideas and components and made them into the computers we use today. I'm reading the fantastic book, Fire in the Valley: The Birth and Death of the Personal Computer 3rd Edition[^]. Written By Two Journalists This one is written by journalists who were writing about the nascent computers as they were coming into existence. The professional distance is very good because you get more of the stories from every angle. For example, I never knew this about Gary Kildall's part in computer history:
Quote:
Gary Kildall Kildall wrote the first programming language [(CP/L)] for Intel’s 4004 microprocessor, as well as a control program that he would later turn into the personal-computer industry’s most popular operating system [(CP/M)].
Kildall was a genius. Have You Read It? Have you read this great book? It's very well-written and a great story about how the computer has come to us in its present form. I've read a number of books to discover those early days (many written by the inventors/creators themselves): 1) iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Steve Wozniak[^] 2)
It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember enjoying "The Soul of a New Machine", by Tracy Kidder. It covers the efforts of Data General to create a new minicomputer to compete with the DEC Vax.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember enjoying "The Soul of a New Machine", by Tracy Kidder. It covers the efforts of Data General to create a new minicomputer to compete with the DEC Vax.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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I love Woz. He's a teddy bear.
Real programmers use butterflies
His book is really great too. I think he really modernized the idea of building a "personal computer" or "desktop computer" because he is really the first one to hook up a keyboard (old typewriter) to a monitor (television screen) and enable the ability to type and see the character display on screen. He talks about that in the book and his book is really a great read.
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It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember enjoying "The Soul of a New Machine", by Tracy Kidder. It covers the efforts of Data General to create a new minicomputer to compete with the DEC Vax.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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His book is really great too. I think he really modernized the idea of building a "personal computer" or "desktop computer" because he is really the first one to hook up a keyboard (old typewriter) to a monitor (television screen) and enable the ability to type and see the character display on screen. He talks about that in the book and his book is really a great read.
I'll have to buy it then. I already was considering it when you posted the link. =) Like I said, he's a teddy bear. I adore the man.
Real programmers use butterflies
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It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember enjoying "The Soul of a New Machine", by Tracy Kidder. It covers the efforts of Data General to create a new minicomputer to compete with the DEC Vax.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember enjoying "The Soul of a New Machine", by Tracy Kidder. It covers the efforts of Data General to create a new minicomputer to compete with the DEC Vax.
Keep Calm and Carry On
I also read it when it came out and definitely second your recommendation.
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The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. -
I really enjoy reading about the early days of how real people took ideas and components and made them into the computers we use today. I'm reading the fantastic book, Fire in the Valley: The Birth and Death of the Personal Computer 3rd Edition[^]. Written By Two Journalists This one is written by journalists who were writing about the nascent computers as they were coming into existence. The professional distance is very good because you get more of the stories from every angle. For example, I never knew this about Gary Kildall's part in computer history:
Quote:
Gary Kildall Kildall wrote the first programming language [(CP/L)] for Intel’s 4004 microprocessor, as well as a control program that he would later turn into the personal-computer industry’s most popular operating system [(CP/M)].
Kildall was a genius. Have You Read It? Have you read this great book? It's very well-written and a great story about how the computer has come to us in its present form. I've read a number of books to discover those early days (many written by the inventors/creators themselves): 1) iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Steve Wozniak[^] 2)
raddevus wrote:
Reading the title alone of that second entry made me throw up in my mouth a little. Personally, I'd skip any book that lazily borrows marketing material and such tripe. "Insanely Great"? Yeah, don't bet your life on this one's impartiality. Being written by someone who was "part of the original Mac team" is working against that book, not in its favor. IMNSHO, of course.
