---

"Accidental Empires" by Robert X. Cringely

Aren't all people working for computers obstinate and boring people?

I had thought so. And I still sometimes think so even today, though there are exceptions.

The author thinks same as me, too.

At first he states that Steve Jobs is an exception. But it is hard to understand whether he praises Steve or not. In fact, he praises and disparage Steve.

It is same even to say that he abuses Steve with a goodwill.

Steve Jobs has only a style. He is Saddam Hussein. His interest is only attacks. He does not mind any probability of success. He doesn't mind how much will he be damaged. He does not need to win even if he can maintain faith.

He has to yell to the victor "Never tell lies" even if he is defeated

Cringely writes in the such touch.

It seems to be a forcible simile, but it is an essential and vivid insight.

Cringely's theory can be summarized as follows.

The personal computer industry is completely different from the industry of a large-sized computer. So it had better to think that there was no relation in them.

By "the Theory of Moore", the degree of transistor-integration per a unit area of a tip doubles every 18 months. Therefore it is impossible to compare the speed of change of personal computers to that of other industrial products. General industrial cultures cannot survive in such a condition. A founder of PC business should employ a few extremely excellent men, instead to employ many good men.

"Standard" and software are important. There can generally be only two standards. The usability of a computer system changes in proportion to a square root of development costs.

In this theory, The speed of a change of a personal computer would slow down. But the author does not write so. Conversely, he mentions that PC will be microminiaturized and it will not called PC. At this point, I felt an incongruity.

However, even in American books, such an interesting business book with wit and satire is unusual. Various inside stories are studded in this book.

And the translation to Japanese is so appropriate that I never felt any clumsiness peculiar to a translated sentence.

It is over by the time of Windows3.0 release, but I would like Cringery to write the sequel by all means.

---

1.A Dreamer Of Pictures The Man And His Musicry,
written by DAVID DOWNING (1994).

2.The Definitive Story Of His Musical Career,
written by JOHNNY ROGAN(1994)

3.Neil Young, The Ultimate Interview by Nick Kent,
Dec.1995, MOJO, Issue 25,p.48-65, Mappin House, London

These books on Neil Young were published in 1990's.
1 and 3 seem to have been published just before his 50th birthday.
The way of his continuance is different from Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
He doesn't keep his castle.
He always seeks new thoughts and excitements. And he accepts them.
1. compiles a career of Neil Young stubbornly.
I have followed his career closely. However I found, for the first time, that he was troubled by fits of epilepsy when he was young.
2. records the life of Neil Young smoothly. I like this book best.
I bought 3. in Germany. It may be difficult to obtain it in Japan now.
In the reference of the death of Kurt Cobain, Neil Young states that present pessimistic bands have vision and posture to summarize their generation.
I was very impressed with this part.

---

Japanese