Computing history book: On The Edge
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:26 pm
Yesterday the post man brought me my copy of On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore.
Last night I read just over 100 pages of the 548 page history book and is it ever an interesting story!
I knew Commodore did a lot in the early days of microcomputers, but I didn't realize how much of an innovator Commodore (and the people who worked for her) were.
So far, I've read about how Bill Gates took credit for inspiring the Commodore developers for their innovations, while it was the Commodore developers who told Bill how they wanted him to write and improve his version of the BASIC operating system. Which he then sold to other microcomputer makers, like Tandy and Apple.
I also read about how Commodore makers (Chuck Peddle) helped two kids named Steven and Steve get their first micro kit working... called the Apple I. Later, Apple Corp. took credit for being the show-stoppers at the first computer trade show of it's kind in California. While, in fact, not one news or magazine writer commented on their fledgling Apple II. However, everyone was writing about and praising the Commodore PET as the microcomputer that set the standards for the industry.
Like I said, I'm only through the first 100 pages, but there's so many interesting little stories like this that make this a very entertaining book. I'm really eager to read the rest of it when I get home tonight from the office.
Anyone here who likes reading and learning about the history of this industry should pick up a copy and read the true story for themselves.
It's a very good book!
Last night I read just over 100 pages of the 548 page history book and is it ever an interesting story!
I knew Commodore did a lot in the early days of microcomputers, but I didn't realize how much of an innovator Commodore (and the people who worked for her) were.
So far, I've read about how Bill Gates took credit for inspiring the Commodore developers for their innovations, while it was the Commodore developers who told Bill how they wanted him to write and improve his version of the BASIC operating system. Which he then sold to other microcomputer makers, like Tandy and Apple.
I also read about how Commodore makers (Chuck Peddle) helped two kids named Steven and Steve get their first micro kit working... called the Apple I. Later, Apple Corp. took credit for being the show-stoppers at the first computer trade show of it's kind in California. While, in fact, not one news or magazine writer commented on their fledgling Apple II. However, everyone was writing about and praising the Commodore PET as the microcomputer that set the standards for the industry.
Like I said, I'm only through the first 100 pages, but there's so many interesting little stories like this that make this a very entertaining book. I'm really eager to read the rest of it when I get home tonight from the office.
Anyone here who likes reading and learning about the history of this industry should pick up a copy and read the true story for themselves.
It's a very good book!
