“The Triumph of the Nerds” by Robert Cringely Report

Purpose of the Documentary

The three-part documentary by Robert Cringely expounds on the history of personal computers, their evolution, and the geniuses behind their success. Some people that founded these giant technology companies are Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft Company and Steve Jobs, who invented Apple. Surprisingly, the successes of the giant technology companies depended on the integration of technology with smaller companies, such as Xerox and Adobe. According to Cringely, the idea behind the development of Windows 95, which seemed like a revolution in the technology industry, was a borrowed idea from Xerox, a research technology company (3:02). Windows 95 consisted of the GUI and MS-DOS, an upgrade for the Microsoft Company. However, Xerox’s development of the graphical user interface (GUI) started in 1971, and by 1973, the company had invented some computers that incorporated the use of GUI. Later on, in 1995, Bill Gates borrowed incorporated technology into Windows 95.

One of the biggest steppingstones in the technology market in the late twentieth century was the development of the GUI, which enabled the integration of many user-friendly features in the computer. According to Cringely, the GUI offered various display benefits, such as a mouse pointer, icon display of commands, and an Ethernet connection option (23:12). Integrating these elements was too expensive for Xerox. Apple and Microsoft took advantage of this technology by adding it into their technology. Nonetheless, Apple bought a majority share in Adobe, a company that utilizes GUI technology for the quality printouts, which Apple incorporated into Macintosh PC. Microsoft also integrated it into Windows 95. The GUI was the future for the development of personal computers.

Findings and Analysis of the Documentary

The documentary highlights the possible future of internet-based technology, which has become a reality in the new age. Larry Ellison notes that personal computers will be replaced with an internet-based technology, which is agreeable (45:09). This fact is true in the new century, and almost everything is done online. For instance, online payments rule out queuing in the banks and the automated teller machines (ATM) such as Apple Pay. According to Li, 27% of Apple users use Apple Pay. People barely use printing services as one can easily share the documents through the internet. There are also streaming utilities, such as Netflix, which require the internet. The services in personal computers are slowly becoming internet-based.

On the other hand, the reason for disagreeing with some sentiments in the video is that Apple has progressed into a pioneering technology giant. According to Cringely, Apple’s evolution in the world was diminishing as most inventions did not generate revenue (35:36). For instance, the Macintosh unveiling of 1984 barely made sales as expected, and other companies such as Microsoft propelled in their inventions. However, Apple is currently the pioneering company in smartphone technology, with more than 78 million sales by 2021 (Li, 2021). Additionally, it is leading in the tablet invention and headphones through the acquisition of Beats in 2014. Moreover, Apple leads in the production of accessories such as Airpods, the best Bluetooth earphones globally, and the Apple Watch. Evidently, since 1996, Apple has grown immensely to be one of the best technology companies in the world.

Moreover, the social and ethical concerns involved in the evolution of personal computers for Apple and Microsoft are the lack of originality for an invention and disputes in leadership for Apple. The lack of originality emanates from using GUI technology from Xerox to develop personal computers and companies taking credit for this invention. A case in point is how Gates felt threatened by Apple’s high sales of Macintosh, which incorporated Xerox’s idea of GUI and incorporated it into the MS ODS to create Windows 95 in 1995. Microsoft’s “invention” sparked a legal issue between the two companies where Apple felt as if Microsoft stole their idea (02:19). However, the GUI was none of their inventions. Additionally, Steve Jobs founded Apple, but his ideas were overruled by the Board of Directors, making him sell his shares and leave the company in 1985. It is a social and ethical issue that Steve, a company he founded because of feeling “attacked” by his Board of Directors, and Apple suing Microsoft for an unoriginal invention.

Interesting Facts from the Documentary

1. Steve Jobs left the company he founded, which is unlikely for many people in the technology industry.
2. When Steve Jobs left his company, it immediately grew into a giant technology company.
3. Windows 95 integrates the GUI technology from Xerox
4. Steve Jobs barely saw Bill Gates as a competitor when he was focused on the development of the Macintosh.
5. The Macintosh Superbowl advert of 1984 was a multi-million-dollar commercial that did not generate the expected revenue for Apple.
6. Xerox is a technology research center and not a technology-producing company.
7. John Warnock, a former researcher at Xerox, became the founder of Adobe.
8. Apple sued Microsoft for the Windows 95, believing Microsoft stole their GUI idea.
9. Ed Roberts, the first personal computers inventor, became a medical practitioner.
10. Steve Wozniak went from developing technology to teaching children about computers.

References

Cringely, R. (2018). The Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires (1996) – Part 3. Daily Motion.

Li, Y. (2021). Apple Inc. Analysis and Forecast Evaluation. Proceedings of Business and Economic Studies, 4(4), 71-78.