Pirates of Silicon Valley

1. Name and describe briefly the principal technologies identified in this film.

The film "Pirates of the Silicon Valley" discusses various world changing technologies such as… The Apple I, The Apple II, The Lisa, The Macintosh, MS-DOS, Windows

2. Identify the technological, economic, and social consequences of these technologies.

The technologies discussed in the film may seem to bring nothing but success and innovation, yet in reality many consequences resulted from these inventions. With the success of the Apple I, Apple II, and Macintosh PCs became a common part of everyday households. Although this may seen to be an advantage, reality is that the computers would soon start to consume more time in a person’s life.

3. Which of the principal technologies are in wide use today? Which have fallen...

The technologies that are widely used in today’s daily life are Macs and Windows OS. Most of the users today have difficulties in deciding whether to buy the apple computers with their operating system built-in, or a normal computer and buy a operating system to install.

4. Compare and contrast the leadership styles of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Bill Gates uses a democratic leadership style in decision-making. His positive attitudes encouraged the members of his team to work to the fullest. Though he listens to advice from his team, he is not very good at sharing his own ideas and thoughts as the computer genius of the team.

5. Compare and contrast the technological vision of Microsoft and Apple.

If Bill Gates had failed, then the Windows systems that are widely used in today’s life would never have existed, IBM wouldn’t have not won the competition against Apple, and OS would’ve have never developed to what they are today. As we know, computers without operating systems are pretty useless, thus computers would have never reached the popularity it has today.

7. What was gained by the rivalry between these two men and their firms? What was lost?

Both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs managed to achieve their own computer companies. Their rivalry made them the world's richest people. Their innovation of the computer has further developed human capabilities and efficiency. For example, for the first time people were able to write without papers.

8. How would our world differ if Bill Gates had failed? If Steve Jobs had failed?

If Bill Gates had failed, then Windows system that are widely used in today’s life would never been existed, IBM will not win the competition to Apple, and will broke soon or later; computers without operating system are pretty useless. The Apple would become the most famous computer seller.

9. Explain the metaphor behind the “1984” commercial.

With the girl in bright cloth representing Apple and the Big Brother representing IBM, Apple’s competitor, Apple is trying to show that their company is unique, original, and better and IBM is plain with no individuality.

10. Compare and contrast command-line and graphical user interfaces. Illustrate with specific examples.

Command-line interface is a user interface between the computer operation system and the user. When each command is prompt onto a specific line, information is given back by the system. An example of CIL would be MS-DOS in windows operating systems.

11. Where are command-line and graphical user interfaces still in use? Illustrate with specific examples.

Command-line interfaces (CLIs) are still used today in situations which require precision and control. CLI’s today are mainly used by IT administrators and other power users as their work requires precise control, efficiency and speed.

12.What does the film have to say about intellectual property?

The film proves to show that your intellectual property can never be completely secure. As displayed at various points in the film, your ideas, creations and innovations can easily be stolen and altered. Such as the moment where Bill Gates had revealed Windows, which was initially the software of the Macintosh, altered to fit Microsoft's vision.