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

Three part documentary that shows the insight look at the history of computers, from its rise in the 1970s to the beginning of the Dot-com boom of the late 1990s.

Writers:

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

Stars:

Robert X. Cringely, Douglas Adams, Sam Albert

Cast

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

Storyline

Three part documentary that shows the insight look at the history of computers, from its rise in the 1970s to the beginning of the Dot-com boom of the late 1990s.

---

Plot Keywords:

computer equipment | personal computer | nerd | industry | corporate warfare | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

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.

---

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.

---

Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #7.46 (2011)

User Reviews

Best computer history documentary

This 2 parts documentary tells the history of the PC and how it developed from big limited box to small advance GUI based machine. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Xerox P.A.R.K researchers all speak about the PC. With the excellent host of Bob :)

Very well made. A must see if you love computers.

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

Runtime:

150 min

Color:

Color