TRIUMPH OF THE NERDS: EPISODE THREE: GREAT ARTISTS STEAL (TV)

Summary

The third of this three-part documentary film about the history of personal computing and the inventors and businessmen who made it possible, hosted by Robert Cringely. On August 24th, 1995, Bill Gates launches the new operating system Windows 95, proclaiming it to be a revolution of computer technology. However, Cringely points out that the ideas behind Windows 95 are not new, and were invented twenty years ago by others and then utilized by Gates and Microsoft. The development of personal computing moved from a text-based interface to one based on pictures, called a "graphical user interface" or GUI. The development of the first GUI began in Palo Alto, California in 1971, where the company Xerox began working on computers as a way to maintain a competitive edge. They established the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, or Xerox PARC, and recruited young programmers and researchers to create a computer focusing on ease of use. In 1973 they constructed a computer that had many of the elements of a personal computer, although it was far too expensive to be practical. Among its innovations were the first GUI, a mouse pointer, an Ethernet connection, and an accurate display of printer readouts, making it far beyond the technology of the time period. However, the management of Xerox was not convinced that the technology could be put to use and did not pursue the project further. Steve Jobs, still profiting from the success of the Apple II computer, visited Xerox PARC in December 1979 and was amazed by a demonstration of their GUI. He realized that all computers would inevitably be using GUIs and immediately set about replicating Xerox's work for Apple computers. His first GUI project, codenamed "Lisa," proved to be inefficient and too expensive. Despite the failure of Lisa, Jobs kept pursuing the project, believing that it would be the key to revitalizing Apple's sales. Apple employee Jef Raskin proposed a new computer, the Macintosh, which would accomplish Jobs' dream of producing an affordable personal computer with a GUI. Jobs took over the project himself and formed a team of young expert programmers and engineers to get the job done. Jobs was noted by the Macintosh development team as being a perfectionist and driven by an intense desire for the project to succeed. During the development of the Macintosh, Jobs left the responsibility of running Apple to Pepsi executive John Sculley, who was impressed by Jobs' determination. By early 1983, Apple was experiencing financial trouble due to the success of the IBM PC. IBM sales were driven largely by its software library, and thus Apple needed software of its own to provide incentive for its Macintosh. Jobs signed a deal with Gates, who was profiting from the sale of DOS on the IBM PC, to provide applications for the Macintosh. At that time, Microsoft was not in the business of applications, and Jobs called their early efforts "terrible." At this time, Gates began to realize that GUIs were the way of the future. Jobs was too focused on competing with IBM to consider Gates as a threat. After many delays, Jobs publicly unveiled the Macintosh on January 24th, 1984. It premiered to great fanfare, accompanied by a multi-million dollar advertising campaign, including the now-famous "1984" television commercial. Despite this, by the end of 1984 Macintosh sales lagged far behind the IBM PC; although the Macintosh was easier to use it was far more expensive and didn't include as many applications as IBM's machine. Apple tried to generate sales for the Macintosh by investing a new technology developed by John Warnock, a former researcher for Xerox PARC. He had found a way to create a perfect conversion between images on a computer screen and printouts thereof, eschewing traditional dot matrix printers for new laser printers. He started the company Adobe to market this new technology, and Jobs soon took notice. He bought a controlling interest in Adobe and incorporated the technology into the Macintosh GUI, thus giving birth to the desktop publishing business. However, by 1985 Macintosh sales were still insufficient. When the Apple board backed Sculley's company strategy over Jobs', he took it as a personal attack and left the company, disappointed with the way that his company turned out. After Jobs' departure, Apple experienced a surge in profits. By 1987, the Macintosh was selling over a million units every year, enough to provide meaningful competition to IBM. Gates realized that the Macintosh and its GUI posed a threat to Microsoft. He oversaw the development of their own GUI in 1984, designed to function in tandem with DOS. Apple believed that Microsoft's GUI, called Windows, was stealing ideas from their own interface and sued them. The ensuing court battle lasted six years, and eventually the judges ruled in Microsoft's favor, setting a precedent for computer copyright law. In 1990 Gates unveiled Windows 3, cementing Microsoft's position as the chief provider of a user-friendly GUI whilst the Macintosh fell by the wayside. With the unveiling of Windows 95, Microsoft combines the Windows GUI with the DOS operating system, supplanting DOS entirely and setting a new standard for the industry. However, the advent of the Internet proves to be a challenge to the personal computer industry, as no one can predict what form it will take. Gates works to expand his media influence, making connections with film and television. People like Larry Ellison believe that the PC is outmoded and will be replaced with an entirely Internet-based technology model. Jobs sold his stock in Apple but now is investing in companies like the animation studio Pixar. Apple's influence in the computer world is fading, while Steve Wozniak spends his time teaching computing to children. Ed Roberts, inventor of the very first personal computer, works as a medical doctor. The form of future computer technologies continues to be a great unknown for those in the industry. This selection from the Alan Gerry Cable Collection has been made available by the Gerry Foundation, Inc.

Details

• NETWORK: PBS
• DATE: June 12, 1996 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:56:21
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:74386
• GENRE: Public Affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Public Affairs/Documentaries
• SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1996
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• John Gau … Executive Producer
• Stephen Segaller … Executive Producer
• Cheryl Downes … Associate Producer
• Paul Sen … Director
• Cyndee Readdean … Researcher
• Robert X. Cringely … Writer, Based on the book "Accidental Empires" by
• Nitin Sawhney … Music by
• Robert X. Cringely … Host
• Bob Taylor … Guest
• John Warnock … Guest
• Larry Tesler … Guest
• Adele Goldberg … Guest
• Bob Metcalfe … Guest
• Steve Jobs … Guest
• Bill Atkinson … Guest
• Andy Hertzfeld … Guest
• Chris Espinosa … Guest
• John Sculley … Guest
• Steve Ballmer … Guest
• Bill Gates … Guest
• Jeff Raikes … Guest
• Dana Muise … Guest
• Larry Ellison … Guest
• Steve Wozniak … Guest
• Ed Roberts … Guest
• Jef Raskin