On the Edge


Book Description

This book tells the story of Commodore through first-hand accounts by former Commodore engineers and managers. Reliving the early years of an icon in the personal computer revolution turns out to be a fascinating and improbably hilarious journey. This gripping tale of ambition, greed, and inspired engineering gives readers a front row seat at the dawn of the personal computer. Engineers and managers relate their experiences through personal first-hand accounts, vividly recalling the most important moments of Commodore's entry into computers in 1976 until its demise in 1994. The Commodore years are tumultuous, owing to their volatile founder, Jack Tramiel. He pushes his team to extreme limits, demanding that they almost kill themselves to meet his lofty expectations. Against all odds, his engineers deliver more color, more character, and more value than either Apple or IBM. While other companies receive more press, Commodore sells more computers. They cut a path of destruction through the competition, knocking out Sinclair, Tandy, Texas Instruments, and Atari and almost mortally wounding Apple. Unfortunately, Tramiel's cut throat tactics also prove to be his undoing. He uses up his managers and employees like disposable ink cartridges, producing the highest employee turnover rate in the industry.




The Commodore’s Story


Book Description

The changes which brought the city of Miami of today are delightfully described in this book of personal reminiscences, written by one of Florida’s earliest settlers in collaboration with his life-long friend, Vincent Gilpin. Ralph Munroe first went to Biscayne Bay in 1887. Soon after that time he and his friends built his home, The Barnacle, in Coconut Grove, where he has lived ever since. From this center his influence has been felt for almost fifty years—during the vivid and exciting period of early exploration and settlement,—during the slow development which led up to Flagler and the railroad,—through the boom, the disastrous hurricanes against which the Commodore’s warnings went unheeded, down to the present time. No one interested in southern Florida or in the sea can afford to miss this picturesque story of a Biscayne Bay pioneer who is today so widely and affectionately known. One of Florida’s earliest lovers, the Commodore has been unswervingly devoted to the best interests of the region and has been close to the most significant incidents of its growth. Beautifully illustrated throughout with photographs from Ralph Munroe’s private collection, the earliest on the Bay.




Commodore


Book Description

Filled with first-hand accounts of ambition, greed, and inspired engineering, this history of the personal computer revolution takes readers inside the cutthroat world of Commodore. Before Apple, IBM, or Dell, Commodore was the first computer manufacturer to market its machines to the public, selling an estimated 22 million Commodore 64s. Those halcyon days were tumultuous, however, owing to the expectations and unsparing tactics of founder Jack Tramiel. Engineers and managers with the company between 1976 and 1994 share their memories of the groundbreaking moments, soaring business highs, and stunning employee turnover that came with being on top in the early days of the microcomputer industry. This updated third edition includes additional interviews and first-hand material from major Commodore figures like lead engineer Jeff Porter, engineers Bob Welland, Michael Sinz, Hedley Davis and Electronics Arts founder Trip Hawkins.




Commodore


Book Description

Concluding the Commodore trilogy, this book takes a look at Commodore's resurgence in the late 1980's and then ultimate demise. This was a period of immense creativity from engineers within the company, who began "moonshot" projects using emerging CD-ROM technology. Get to know the people behind Commodore's successes and failures as they battle to stay relevant amidst blistering competition from Nintendo, Apple, and the onslaught of IBM PC clones. Told through interviews with company insiders, this examination of the now defunct company traces the engineering breakthroughs and baffling decisions that led to the demise of Commodore.




The Commodore


Book Description

"In The Commodore, the Navy in 1942-1943 is fighting a losing battle against Japan for control of the Solomon Islands. Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey is tasked to change the course of the war. Halsey, a maverick, goes on the offensive and appoints a host of new destroyer commanders, including a wild-card named Harmon Wolf. An American Indian from a Minnesota reservation, Wolf has never fit in with the traditional Navy officer corps. But under Halsey, Wolf's aggressive tactics and gambling nature bring immediate results, and he is swiftly promoted to Commodore of an entire destroyer squadron. What happens next will change Wolf's life, career, and the fate of his ships forever. An epic story of courage, disaster, survival, and triumph that culminates in the pivotal battle of Vela Gulf..."--




Programming the Commodore 64


Book Description







All of the Commodore's Men


Book Description

Since the things discussed in this book could be dangerous to ones health or freedom in that the police these days generally shoot first and think later, it is only prudent to state for the record Do not attempt to do any of the things discussed in this book. This book in no way suggests, condones or recommends, implicitly or explicitly, the engaging in violence of any kind against any person, place, or thing ever for any reason. This book does however emphatically suggests that when a patriotic citizen is in direct conflict with a tinhorn puppet regime such as the Inyo County, Nevada regime so clearly is, it is almost unpatriotic not do all that one can to expose the criminal nature of that regime. In this instance, due to the fact that the Thomas Monroe Trust would ultimately be dragged into any attempt to silence me permanently through direct legal action, the Thomas Monroe Trust ordered their Inyo County government puppets to tolerate the things that I did against them as individuals during the last 10 years thinking that I would eventually run out of steam. Never in a million years did they realize that a book chronicling the entire conflict was being written while the conflict was happening. The characters in this book are very much real and are from the former District Attorney to the judges and police in truth nothing but useful idiots in this titanic struggle between good and evil! What is hanging in the balance is the Thomas Monroe Trusts continued presents in the region manifested as Demington Medical Center. And Demington Medical Center will only continue to exist if the Inyo valley community allows it to!




In the Commodore's Hands


Book Description

"Stowaway ... or wife! Commodore John Drymore's mission is clear. Sail to France, rescue Comte Giradet from prison and bring him and his daughter back to England safely. But Lisette Giradet defies the Commodore at every turn and soon gets under his skin more deeply than the bullet in his arm. Desperate to rescue her brother from the guillotine, Lisette smuggles herself back on board ship. With her life in jeopardy, she's given no choice-she must assume the role of the commodore's wife!"--




Commodore's Barge is Alongside


Book Description

Max is back! After a Lusty Winter in Ontario, Canada’s hearty humorist returns to the prairies with a naval spoof that’s awash with nautical nonsense. The time is early in the Second World War, the setting is Wabagoon, Saskatchewan, and the “ship” is a converted garage, christened hmcs Porpoise and used for the training of local navy recruits. And when the Porpoise weighs anchor in the Canadian dustbowl, the navy insists that sand is water, windows are portholes, and floors are decks. In the midst of it all – and very much at sea – is Robin Evelyn Francis Diespecker, familiarly known as “Dink”. A young, brash, impetuous boy, eager for adventure, Dink joins the war to get away from home and the Great Depression. But the “war,” as embodied on board the Porpoise, gives him both more and less than he bargained for, as one misadventure follows another. The people he meets and the exploits he survives – both “ashore” and “on board” – are rendered with the master touch of Max Braithwaite, whose wry humorous vision keeps a salvo of satire and comic escapades right on target all the way through. A riotous romp with a poignant edge, Braithwaite’s newest novel makes a mockery of war and finds fathoms of fun in human foibles.