Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Time in Computerland: The Amazing, Billion-Dollar Tale of Bill Millard

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I like reading stories and antidotes about the early days of personal computers. The book talked about how ComputerLand got its start, and that was very interesting, but there was very little detail about their dealings with computer companies. Apple got a passing mention. IBM received a few more words. What about the also-rans? I was hoping to learn more about the franchise owners and their experiences. Instead, most of the book was about the financial dealings of the founder, Bill Millard, and the parent company. Bill got a loan that he didn't take care of properly, and this resulted in his empire getting picked to pieces. The legalities of those finances are the main gist. If business and legal strategy doesn't interest you, then this book won't either. While there was enough character development to keep me interested until the end, the book was not the exciting read as which Steve Wozniak described it on the cover.

The author had the unenviable task of telling the story of someone who didn't want his story told. He also managed to do it while making his subject, Bill Millard, sound nearly competent. Anyone who ever worked at ComputerLand, or, for that matter, was even aware of ComputerLand's role in introducing personal computers to the world, will be fascinated by this book.

At several points there are details limned out that you think might have been better omitted, but Littman was determined to be fair and you come to realize that none of it can be left unsaid. I imagine the author collapsing and sleeping for three days after he finished.