A Critique of the Hacker Ethic by Steven Levy
I found that Steven Levy makes some very bold claims. I will address those in next week’s Journal. This week, he mentions a long list of people and computers that ends up reading like a computing industry “Hall of Fame.” Many of these have contributed greatly to the way our computers work, how small and how powerful they have become.
Below, I have some impressions as I looked into the biography of each. Levy’s descriptions are colorful, but not very enlightening, as regards their roles in computer history. Some of their situations have changed since then. I have listed some of the more interesting items and impressions from the text and the bios.
Altair 8800 – This machine is considered by many as the first true personal computer. Microsoft’s first project was to develop the language for the computer, Altair BASIC. The 8800 was featured on the cover of Popular Mechanics in 1975, after which the numbers of orders through the mail is cited as the start of the PC revolution.
Apple II – The first of a long line of successful machines. The Apple IIc was the first with a full-color monitor and the computer that introduced me into the new era.
Doug Carlston – His company, Broderbund, is one of the top-grossing software companies in the world today.
John Draper – He got his nickname, Captain Crunch, from the Quaker Oats cereal. Quaker Oats offered a whistle as a premium to entice purchases. John learned how use that whistle to simulate the tones AT&T used to connect to their long distance carrier networks. It is estimated that he placed millions, perhaps tens of millions, of dollars in free long distance phone calls before going to prison for it… that estimate is at retail value, of course.
Bill Gates – I find it interesting that Levy mentions Gates as “cocky,” likely in the sense of being supremely confident in his own abilities to the point of excess. I wonder if Levy considers him the same way today. Many Hackers hold Gates in contempt because of the
Below, I have some impressions as I looked into the biography of each. Levy’s descriptions are colorful, but not very enlightening, as regards their roles in computer history. Some of their situations have changed since then. I have listed some of the more interesting items and impressions from the text and the bios.
Altair 8800 – This machine is considered by many as the first true personal computer. Microsoft’s first project was to develop the language for the computer, Altair BASIC. The 8800 was featured on the cover of Popular Mechanics in 1975, after which the numbers of orders through the mail is cited as the start of the PC revolution.
Apple II – The first of a long line of successful machines. The Apple IIc was the first with a full-color monitor and the computer that introduced me into the new era.
Doug Carlston – His company, Broderbund, is one of the top-grossing software companies in the world today.
John Draper – He got his nickname, Captain Crunch, from the Quaker Oats cereal. Quaker Oats offered a whistle as a premium to entice purchases. John learned how use that whistle to simulate the tones AT&T used to connect to their long distance carrier networks. It is estimated that he placed millions, perhaps tens of millions, of dollars in free long distance phone calls before going to prison for it… that estimate is at retail value, of course.
Bill Gates – I find it interesting that Levy mentions Gates as “cocky,” likely in the sense of being supremely confident in his own abilities to the point of excess. I wonder if Levy considers him the same way today. Many Hackers hold Gates in contempt because of the