Halt and Catch Fire..

[Plaz]

I've been watching off and on. Tech is way background on the show, and the manufactured drama is thin. Kind of like listening to a bunch of computer wannabees throwing around a bunch of big words. But they're actors I can't expect much.

I've actually been watching more to catch all the AMC cars in the back ground. Check my avatar.  So far there's been Hornets, Gremlins, Spirits, and the two tone blue 1966 AMC wagon seen in the parking lot in the first two episodes belongs to a local friend.

Plaz

[Plaz]

We didn't get our first computer until 1984 (C=64)

This week's episode had a C64.

when I was little, my dad drove a red, Craig Breedlove special edition AMX.

Ha, very cool. Those guys are starting to be worth some bucks. I bought an old used Javelin right out of high school. All these years later I'm restoring another one. Lots of work to go. Funny I have to come to a computer board to find some AMC familiarity. Other car guys don't know as much. lol

The guy that sold Gordon an empty box, that was a red Eagle

I'd have to go back and look closer but it was either an Eagle or Concord (which looked very similar to the Eagle).
 

I have a sneaking suspicion they're going to see a certain Super Bowl ad that's going to change everything.

Good call.  I remember the apple ad and going.... what? Then watched everyone I knew continue to buy clones and Commodores. Actually in this weeks episode I felt like I was watching them try to invent the ipod decades early before they could even ship their first clone. Didn't feel believable at all. And what?.... not a phone modem in the entire building... come on....  

The show was quirky and interesting (technical, no) for the first few episodes, but they've about lost me.

Plaz

[Plaz]

I don't get your comment regarding the iPod

Ipod kind of a generic reference. Their marketing was one of the first I can recall tying in to personalizing your hardware. What I'm stuck on is the technical bit where they have yet to ship a functional clone, it's on the verge of completions, but wait... "it needs a soul".  In the PC biz since 1984, I can't recall anyone caring if their machine had a soul, or if it was even the least bit personalized. (well maybe some stickers on the monitor). It was all about more apps, more memory, faster clocks and better colors/resolutions.

Besides, early 80's a computer with a soul was baaad. WarGames anyone? "Do you want to play a game".  "Open the pod bay doors HAL".  

Plaz

[Plaz]

We're just coming at it from two different angles. All your references of the time are from sci-fi, marketing and fiction exploring "what computers could be" in the furture. Nothing wrong about that. We both read, watched and marveled over the same material back in the day. It brings us to where we are here today.

On the other hand I'm mulling what a business would be doing in a situation when they're going up against big blue, risking their entire company and fortune in an attempt to market the first ever clone. "Oh wait stop development, we need to make it more.... cuddly." Well it makes better drama tv, but I guess I was hoping more of a docu-drama.

The show isn't about a specific company or machine

And actually it's inspired by the real story of Columbia Data Products.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Data_Products

Plaz

[Plaz]

Yes you're correct Minskey certainly a valid reference, but the only book mentioned by name was Soul of the machine. Your other named references were TV and movies, so I was keyed on that.

The drama and clash of personalities and bizarre behavior is also completely consistent with my own experiences

Yeah been there done that too. You've described it well. Mine was with the radar, satellite field. While not directly computer related, modifying the "latest" CP/M "desktops" (more like large metal cubes) was part of the development. I still tell stories about the place and it's characters 25+ years later.

This last episode, the industrial design drawings look like the Grid Compass. I believe Compaq later had a portable that was of similar "clamshell"

Yeah, with that digital display I agree. Though when they started talking luggable, the first thing that came to mind was the osborne and compaq's. (osborne early CP/M, not clone for the younger folk )

It's an amalgamation.

Absolutely. Though Columbia stands out to me first with the bios to get around IBM's copyrights. They even make the point by bringing in specifically IBM's legal team as Columbia had to deal with. If making an amalgam with Cardiff, then I could go along with some other fictional big bad computer guy.... CBI.. or whatever.
After that part though it does turn in to a big mish-mash of companies and tech mixed with the quirky characters. And actually as I type this I'm reminded how much it feels like the cast of Battlestar Glactica  

Plaz

[Plaz]

eh, never  mind. Enjoy your show.

Plaz