# Silicon Cowboys

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2021-06-01
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 5
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7332307d

## Summary

Bryan Cantrill, Adam Leventhal, Steve Tuck, and Tom Lyon discuss the rise of Compaq as depicted in the documentary 'Silicon Cowboys' and Rod Canion's book 'Open'. They analyze how Compaq achieved rapid growth by combining portability with 100% IBM PC compatibility, leveraging a strong channel strategy and an egalitarian company culture. The conversation covers the Osborne Effect, IBM's missteps with Microchannel Architecture, and the eventual decline of Compaq following Rod Canion's departure and subsequent acquisitions like DEC.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=0) Introduction and Twitter Spaces Technicalities
- [2:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=164) Silicon Cowboys Documentary Overview
- [7:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=424) Compaq's Fundraising and Early Growth
- [14:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=866) Portability and Compatibility Strategy
- [22:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=1361) The Osborne Effect and Pre-announcements
- [25:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=1552) Compaq's Company Culture and Quality
- [30:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=1812) IBM's Microchannel Architecture Failure
- [43:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=2591) 80s Marketing: John Cleese and Charlie Chaplin
- [53:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys#t=3196) Compaq's Decline, Acquisitions, and HP Era

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Compaq (company)
- Silicon Cowboys (other)
- Rod Canion (other)
- Open (other)
- Ben Rosen (other)
- Osborne (company)
- IBM (company)
- Microchannel Architecture (other)
- John Cleese (other)
- Charlie Chaplin (other)
- Dell (company)
- Sun (company)
- Tandem (company)
- DEC (company)
- HP (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Compaq Computers: Rod Canion (2019)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-03-25-compaq-computers-rod-canion-2019) (How I Built This)
- [Alienware: Frank Azor and Nelson Gonzalez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-12-alienware-frank-azor-and-nelson-gonzalez) (How I Built This)
- [Dell Computers: Michael Dell (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-06-dell-computers-michael-dell-2018) (How I Built This)
- [AOL: Steve Case](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-04-03-aol-steve-case) (How I Built This)
- [Episode 41: B2B The Story of Qualcomm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-11-06-episode-41-b2b-the-story-of-qualcomm) (The Circuit)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-06-01-silicon-cowboys. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.