Watch Silicon Cowboys

Silicon Cowboys, a 2016 documentary film directed by Jason Cohen, takes the audience on a nostalgic and inspiring journey through the early days of the computer revolution led by Compaq Computer Corporation. The film centers on three friends - Rod Canion, Jim Harris, and Bill Murto - who met at Texas Instruments and later founded Compaq, a company that would revolutionize the personal computer industry.

Set in the early 1980s, when IBM had a monopoly on the computer market, the film begins by introducing the three young entrepreneurs who were already working together in Texas Instruments when they stumbled upon a new technology called the microprocessor. They saw the potential of personal computers and started investigating how to make them affordable, portable, and compatible with IBM computers. They knew that they were competing with a giant, but they believed that they could create something better.

The film shows how the three friends left Texas Instruments and founded Compaq in Houston, Texas. We see how the company initially operated out of a small office with a few dozen employees, and how the founders had to take risks and make sacrifices to create a personal computer that would challenge IBM's dominance. They had to deal with limited funding, copycat lawsuits from IBM, and other hurdles. However, they persevered, and their efforts paid off.

Silicon Cowboys is a film that not only tells the story of a computer revolution but also portrays the entrepreneurship spirit that is a crucial part of the American Dream. Compaq's founders were driven by their passion for technology, and they had a vision that no one else could see. They worked together tirelessly, always pushing for what they believed in. The film also showcases how their work ethic and strong leadership skills made Compaq one of the fastest-growing companies in history.

The film's fascination lies in how it captures the essence of the time when personal computers were not the ubiquitous gadgets they are today but rather reserved for a select few who could afford them. The movie depicts a world where computers were as large as refrigerators and not as affordable or user-friendly as they are today. It is not just a story of Compaq's history but also of the personal computer industry's evolution.

Throughout the film, we see the founding fathers of Compaq sharing their personal experiences and struggles of building the personal computer. The film provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Compaq, along with the brand's core values, which remained the same from the start. The founders discuss the intense focus on customer needs, innovation, and quality.

Silicon Cowboys features interviews with key players in the early days of personal computing, including Steve Wozniak (Apple co-founder), David Packard (HP co-founder), and others like industry analysts and journalists. Their insights and reflections provide a bigger picture of the industry landscape that the Compaq founders were battling.

In conclusion, Silicon Cowboys is an inspiring documentary that tells an exceptional story of innovation, entrepreneurship, and passion. The film highlights the grit and determination of the founders of Compaq, portraying them as entrepreneurs willing to take risks to say no to the status quo and stand for what they believe in, and changed the computer revolution. The documentary is a must-watch for tech historians, industry professionals, and anyone interested in the story of unlikely heroes taking on the giant, winning, and revolutionizing the industry. The documentary is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Silicon Cowboys is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 75.