Product Description

This account describes what can happen to a business venture in the fierce world of Silicon Valley when its timing is wrong, its technology too speculative and its market not yet ready. Computer scientist Jerry Kaplan auctioned his award-winning computer company "GO" in July 1994, after six fast-paced years in the start-up game accruing a value of $60 million. This book presents each stage of the "GO" venture, from the birth of the idea to the start-up game and war with Microsoft, and on to the final showdown.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #920430 in Books
• Published on: 1997-01-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 322 pages

Customer Reviews

A compelling insight into the technology business
Jerry Kaplan & Mitch Kapor's 1987 cross country flight seeded the idea of pen-based, hand-held computing that eventually meant Palm, iPaq & Treo would be household names.

Kaplan's book, however, tells of a battle to raise finances to make these dreams come true - battles that force the company to change partner's & direction with alarming regularity. What is clear, however, is the belief that pen-computing would change the way we use machines & that it was possible to take-on the might of Microsoft.

The name Silicon Valley Adventure doesn't note the Wall Street games that had to be played to keep the company & the people, for whom Kaplan seems to have unwavering loyalty, afloat. For GO, effective handwriting recognition on small machines was unattainable but they started a process that spawned a revolution.

A truly fascinating insight into the business of computing.

Absolutely Fabulous!!!
This book has humour, moral, action, story and everything in between needed to drag you in Silicon Valley-David-against-Goliath battlefield story. Kaplan brings the 300 pages long real-life adventure in your home. After reading it you will start to look differently to your work, the money and the fun you have from it. Jerry Kaplan is together with Po Bronson "the best of breed" computer industry story teller. Only my grandma could make it this good, but than you need to be four years old again! Enjoy

Compelling tale of an Hi-Tech start-up
Being in the process of starting a Internet start-up, I really enjoyed this book, 'cause it provides a fascinating and true story of life in the Hell of uncertainess. I also enjoyed similar titles from Po Bronson and Micheal Wolff