Silicon Cowboys (2016)

Or how the underdog took on the big company and what happened next. If you are only interested in the slightest in what went on behind the scenes during the computer wars (let's call them that). Compaq took on the giant that is IBM, something that not really many had done. There had been knockoffs of IBM computers, but Compaq tried to go head to head with a colossus.That does sound insane, doesn't it? But innovation can go a long way. And good ideas do prevail ... well sometimes they do. Sometimes they are only recognized years after the fact. So Compaq came up with the portable PC. This may sound weird with technology far ahead at this point in time. But really this was innovative, and in a time when no one dared to go out of the norm and do something revolutionary. So Kudos to Compaq and the founder ... and if that whetted your appetite, the documentary is delivering on uncovering what went on back then

I think you probably needed to be around during the time that this documentary is set in to fully appreciate how great this show is. If you weren't, it is still a fascinating look into the past to help the younger folks hopefully appreciate much of what they have today, and just take for granted. I was a young adult when all of this was taking place, and had the privilege of owning one of the Compaq "portable" computers. I'll always remember a lady at the airport asking me why I was carrying my sewing machine on my trip (since most people had never seen a portable computer at the time) she had no idea it was actually a computer.I couldn't stop watching this show, as it took me back down memory lane and made me remember how much fun those golden days were of getting a PC that had a 'turbo' button on them. Great job on this documentary. Well worth the time to watch it!

Entertaining, intelligent 77 minute documentary about the surprising rise of Compaq computer – the almost off-handed 1981 brainchild of three young Houston friends – to become a serious rival to the seemingly untouchable giant, starchy, old-school IBM. If there's not a lot of emotion or deeper levels to the doc, there's certainly a likable humanity to these not-so-corporate types who succeeded while creating the kind of relaxed, egalitarian company culture we now see as commonplace in the computer world, but at the time went against everything about how you were supposed to run a 'serious' company. Maybe not a film to run out and buy, or one that will call out for multiple viewings. But I was never bored, and I was happy to get a look at this recent piece of modern business and cultural history.

"Silicon Cowboys" is a new documentary from Jason Cohen and Steven Leckart and it's about some modern history that most of us just take for granted. It's all about the rise of the Compaq computer company as well as the death of IBM in the PC market…hardly the stuff to excite everyone. Most folks don't really care about the history of computers—they just want their iPhones and PCs to work. But if you are like me, a bit of a geek as well as a retired history teacher, then seeing this film is a must.The film begins in 1981. Three friends are all working for a computer industry giant at the time, Texas Instruments. The three would love to start their own company but they aren't even sure what that company would sell! They'd talked about opening a Mexican restaurant but finally settled on going into the personal computer business. Little did they know that the world would drastically change based on this choice.Up until this time, the IBM Corporation had near sole possession of the personal computer industry. While a few tiny companies sold computers for home use, all the computers used by companies were IBM mainframe, mini and microcomputers. So, the notion of this new company, Compaq, fighting to get into the microcomputer market must have seemed ludicrous. But somehow, these guys succeeded…even if their first 'portable' computer weighed as much and was larger than a sewing machine! How they then managed to eventually beat IBM is amazing and it's just something you'll have to learn when you see this engaging documentary.Okay…I am a geeky history lover. But you, too, may well enjoy this film if you give it a chance—particularly if you are old enough to remember these old days of computing when many folks just thought the home PC would be a fad! The film is well made, always interesting but also works well because most of the people involved in creating Compaq were available to be interviewed and seemed to genuinely like talking about these times.