User reviews

"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.

Greetings again from the darkness. After countless projects spotlighting Steve Jobs and Apple, it's about time the tech-nerdy Texas entrepreneurs behind Compaq get their moment on the silver screen. Filmmaker Jason Cohen turns his camera on Rod Canion, Bill Murto, and Jim Harris … none who have the persona or magnetism of Mr. Jobs … and tells the story of how they took on Goliath IBM at a time when most wouldn't dare.

Taking us back to 1981, the 3 friends (and Texas Instruments co-workers) quit their jobs to start a new company – only they have no real plan on what that company should be or even what industry it should be in. There is a re-enactment of a conceptual drawing of a mobile computer on a diner's paper placemat … a drawing that helped them secure a big investment from Ben Rosen at a time when Venture Capitalism was non-existent for technology companies (yep, 35 years ago).

Those early days of a slow developing Silicon Valley featured more hobbyists and non-commercial efforts than anything going on these days. Mobile computing was not really even a product category when Compaq stuck a handle on their case … the visuals of businessmen toting them through airports is comical. This was truly the beginnings of the home computer era, and even the tech start-up. The film serves as a historical perspective of the times, while also documenting how Compaq fits into the evolution of the personal computer.

It's pretty easy to draw comparisons to the great and powerful IBM ignoring the "little guys" to the 1970's when GM and Ford overlooked Honda and Toyota. It's always easy to chuckle at the arrogance of big corporations, and when Compaq computers were more compatible with IBM software than IBM computers were, it's a real head-scratcher. The dawn of "clones" were more than a thorn in the side of Big Blue (IBM), and eventually it got worse for them. Head-to-head advertising campaigns of IBM's Charlie Chaplin vs. Compaq's John Cleese further emphasized the contrast between those out of touch with those who clearly understood the market.

Normally a movie that spends much of its time interviewing such down to earth guys as Canion, Murto and Harris, would feel like it's dragging, but the historical significance is such that contemporary comparisons to Dell, Google, Apple and Facebook keep it briskly on track. Though the electronic background music seems out of place, many viewers will enjoy watching a true story where the nerds win!

I was astonished that there was no mention of networking or the role it played in the proliferation of PCs. Digital Equipment Corporation was a leader in networks, power workstations and service in 1998, when Compaq acquired them for $9.6 Billion. Again no mention of this although they said "Compaq merged with HP in 2001" although Compaq's strengths in servers, business consulting and services acquired from Digital, where a major factor in the merger.

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.

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

Silicon Cowboys was very well-received at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. Whereas the narrative of the era is usually the competition between Apple and IBM, this film based on a book by Compaq's founder, refocuses the narrative on the competition between IBM and the PC clones led by Compaq. The film's David vs. Goliath narrative arc is absorbing and entertaining. It presents a highly entertaining history that avoids getting lost in technical detail that would overwhelm and confuse non-tech geeks. They focus on intriguing accessible concepts such as the Compaq's introduction of the concept of first portable PC – weighing at 28 pounds - as the predecessor to the modern laptop and eventually the tablet and the smartphone. The filmmakers were able to dig up tons of entertaining archival footage and conduct extensive interviews with most of the major players in the 1980s clone wars. The editing and the music are fabulous. The period music and look evokes the nostalgia for the 1980s. Highly recommended for those who want to try to understand a technological revolution that they may have lived through, but didn't fully understand at the time.

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!

I found this to be an extremely interesting documentary about a company that I grew up knowing a lot about. Compaq Computers was founded about 10 minutes from where I grew up, and I went to school with several of the children of the executives that are featured in this film.

Even though I was young when they started, I remember vividly when Compaq first made their big splash by creating the portable PC - it was huge news that a local company was taking on IBM and succeeding. There was a buzz in the area, especially as they started expanding and hiring more and more people... and expanding into a huge complex nearby.

While I had a pretty good understanding of the overall story of the rise of Compaq, this movie gave me a much more intimate look inside at how the story played out. You see exactly how these gentlemen took what seems like a simple idea and were able to create one of the fastest growing companies of all time, and the sacrifices that had to be made to achieve it.

I never thought I would like a documentary about a business, but here I am. Not only a history of Compaq but of the history of the PC industry.

Three friends dream up the Compaq portable computer at a Texas diner in 1981, and soon find themselves battling mighty IBM, for PC supremacy. Their improbable journey altered the future of computing and shaped the world we now know.

I always love these documentaries about tech companies and the Internet and so forth. Having grown up in the 1980s, this feels like such an integral part of my life. I was more computer literate at 14 than I am now at 36... I could build computers, diagnose problems, and now I wouldn't try.

And Compaq is an important part of that story. Doors were opened for other companies (such as Dell) and really ended the way we think about PCs. I do not equate IBM and PC, and almost never have, due in part to Compaq. Whereas we have never seen this same thing happen to Apple... which strategy works best?

Really good documentary, notionally about Compaq, but also about managing companies through growth, changing corporate cultures, and the development of the PC industry generally.

Really good research before they filmed. LOTS of footage of the facilities, company gatherings, the factory, ads, and more. And interviewed simply everyone.

Then edited together very well. Hardly any infographics, no voiceover, told very seamlessly by the voices of the interviewees.

I started this in the hope that it might provide some interesting technical stories. But no, it's all human interest : "how did you feel?" "what was your motivation?" "what was it like to grow so fast?"

Fine, I guess, if that's your thing. But don't expect to learn anything actually technical. There's nothing here that hasn't been discussed to death in a thousand stories of the 80s.