Product Description

This history covers modern computing from the development of the first electronic digital computer through the dot-com crash. The author concentrates on five key moments of transition: the transformation of the computer in the late 1940s from a specialized scientific instrument to a commercial product; the emergence of small systems in the late 1960s; the beginning of personal computing in the 1970s; the spread of networking after 1985; and, in a chapter written for this edition, the period 1995-2001. The new material focuses on the Microsoft anti-trust suit, the rise and fall of the dot-coms and the advent of open-source software, particularly Linux. Within the chronological narrative, the book traces several overlapping threads: the evolution of the computer's internal design; the effect of economic trends and the Cold War; the long-term role of IBM as a player and as a target for upstart entrepreneurs; the growth of software from a hidden element to a major character in the story of computing; and the recurring issue of the place of information and computing in a democratic society. The focus is on the United States (though Europe and Japan enter the story at crucial points), on computing per se rather than on applications such as artificial intelligence, and on systems that were sold commercially and installed in quantities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130286 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 459 pages

Review
"Paul E. Ceruzzi has written an authoritative guide that will stand as a landmark." - David Howell, Personal Computer World "Ceruzzi rarely fails to grasp the essence of the hundreds of developments he includes in his narrative." - David K. Allison, Public Historian "The story is engrossing and clearly told." - Science Technology and Society

From the Author
A narrative history of computing since 1945.
I wrote this book in response to a question that people often ask me: Is there a single volume that gives a full history of the invention and spread of digital computing since the Second World War? I could not honestly say there was, so I decided to write this book.

The essence of my argument is that the "computer" was invented and reinvented several times in the past 50 years--each time transformed into something else. The first transformation was from a device that solved complex mathematical problems (the definition of "computer" that dictionaries still give) to a machine for business data processing. That was followed by a transformation to an interactive device, then to a personal device, and most recently to a window to a world wide communications network. No doubt the future will bring further transformations, as the process shows no signs of slowing down.

The book examines the people and companies that played key roles in making these transformations: UNIVAC and IBM for the first, Digital Equipment Corporation for the second, Intel for the third, and so on. I devote a lot of attention to the founding and early years of Microsoft, and its relationship to MITS, the company that produced the Altair personal computer; to DEC, which wrote early software for small computers; and to Digital Research, which produced early personal computer operating systems.

With everything seeming to operate now in "internet time," all of this history may seem as prologue to tomorrow's developments. But at least I will have given the reader a sense of the foundations on which all that will be based.

About the Author
Paul E. Ceruzzi is Curator of Aerospace Electronics and Computing at the National Air and Space Museum.

Customer Reviews

Insightful!
Paul E. Ceruzzi, curator of the National Air and Space Museum, describes the development of computing, starting with its earliest history. He examines the beginnings of commercial computing from 1945 to 1956 and traces the history of computer hardware and software, dividing these developments into five- to 10-year time periods. His book emphasizes technical development, rather than personalities or business dynamics, a focus that contributes to its fairly dry, academic style. With this caveat, we at getAbstract.com recommend the book primarily to those with a technological bent, such as professionals in operations and computer sciences, and academics in the field. However, if you are interested in the subject, you'll love this. Ceruzzi provides an informative and comprehensive saga including extensive footnotes and a bibliography that runs about 80 pages.

This book has an essential flaw
Any history of modern computing that starts with ENIAC is flawed. The first working, fully programmable general purpose computer was Konrad Zuse's Z3 (Germany, 1941). ENIAC (inspired by Atanasoff's earlier, less general designs) was fully programmable too, but came much later (in 1946). Z3's switches were based on relays instead of tubes like in ENIAC. This is no fundamental difference. There are many ways of implementing a switch. Today we use transistors, of course.

an excellent book on the history of main-line hardware
Though (as in everything) there are lacunae, Ceruzzi has put together a singularly good book which should be a must for anyone interested in the history of computing. While the author does not seem to be interested in software nor in operating systems, his recounting of the machine developments is excellent.