The Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires (TV 1996)

Writers:

Robert X. Cringely (book), Robert X. Cringely (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert X. Cringely, Douglas Adams, Sam Albert

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert X. Cringely	...	Himself (host / interviewer)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Douglas Adams	...	Himself (author)
Sam Albert	...	Himself (former IBM executive)
Paul G. Allen	...	Himself (co-founder, Microsoft)
Bill Atkinson	...	Himself (designer, Macintosh Development Team)
Steve Ballmer	...	Himself (vice-president, Microsoft)
Dan Bricklin	...	Himself (VisiCalc inventor)
David Bunnell	...	Himself (founder, PC World and Macworld magazines)
Rod Canion	...	Himself (co-founder, Compaq)
Jim Cannavino	...	Himself (former head, PC division, IBM)
Christine Comaford	...	Herself (CEO, Corporate Computing International)
Eddy Curry	...	Himself
Esther Dyson	...	Herself (computer industry analyst)
Larry Ellison	...	Himself (founder and president, Oracle)
Chris Espinosa	...	Himself (manager, Media Tools, Apple)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

computer | corporate warfare | nerd | business | computer disc | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS: Triumph of the Nerds

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Triumph of the Nerds

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oregon Public Broadcasting

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Part 1 refers to the First West Coast Computer Faire where the Apple II was introduced. The Faire was in April 1977, not 1978.

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Quotes

Steve Jobs: The problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste, and what that means is, and I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way.

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Connections

Spin-off Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview (2012)

User Reviews

Sociopaths, egomaniacs and hippies.

And we have THEM to thank for all of this.

Your humble author can't help but wonder how Bob Cringely got the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Paul Allen and others in front of the cameras for an honest look inside the slightly twisted minds that begat the personal computer.

At 3 hours in length, "Triumph of the Nerds" isn't just a PBS miniseries. On home video, it becomes an epic. And why shouldn't it be? The personal computer has an impact on our lives equal to that of the light bulb and the automobile. But in the case of the PC, most of the people responsible for its creation and worldwide influence are still alive. These are flesh and blood humans, not fading historical sketches like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.

"Triumph of the Nerds" was originally produced as a 20-year retrospective on the personal computer. But the PC will be 25 years old in the year 2000. I can't wait to see Bob Cringely's follow up.