To Be Determined: Study Journal #2

September 22

Triumph of the Nerds (Part 1): Great things don't just happen by chance. Hard work and sacrifice are required to make something truly great.
During the advent of personal computers, everyone had a greater sense of community and sharing. It's too bad that today people want to guard every bit of information possible and strike down all those around them.
Is the definition of success really measured by money? Shouldn't it be the knowledge that you have made a difference, even if you aren't the one getting the recognition for your accomplishments?

September 24

Triumph of the Nerds (Part 2): IBM was a big mainframe computer company until the era of personal computers arrived. Good thing they recognized what the future had in store and changed gears and got in the game.
It's sad that the original inventors of new concepts such as the QDOS end up being cast aside while others make millions off of their ideas.
I always wondered how reverse engineering was legal. I didn't know about the "clean rooms" using people who have never interacted with the original product. I guess there is a lot of legal jargon that I am still missing out on, but I still don't like reverse engineering. It sounds like a cheap way out of designing something new and original.

September 29

Triumph of the Nerds (Part 3): Why couldn't companies realize what they had at the time? XEROX had the first GUI system with a mouse and keyboard and they just blew it off! Narrow-mindedness and no desire to change can really cripple even the best of companies or people.
"Good artists copy. Great artists steal." - Steve Jobs. Too bad they didn't steal more of the software ideas from IBM so that they would be more sellable. There is only so much you can do with a text editor and a simple paint program.
It's a good thing that Bill Gates wanted to create a GUI interface to challenge the Macintosh. With no competition, Apple would have become complacent and we probably wouldn't be anywhere near what we have now.
It's funny to see Steve Jobs' reaction to Microsoft launching Windows. He sure isn't happy about losing out on another chunk of the market share.
What is my definition of success? If I have enough to provide for my family by doing something that makes society a better place, then I feel that I have been successful. Money helps, but also knowing that advancements have been made by using something I have done is a great feeling.

October 1

To Be Determined