1.     Why is the book titled "Soul of a New Machine"?

In my view, the term “Soul of a New Machine” can be deemed as two parts. The first part is “New Machine”, meaning that ever-progressing computers have been invented during these decades. To me, the exhilarating story of Soul a New Machine written by Tracy Kidder is similar to the currently violent competition of Intel and AMD, two leaderships of the microcomputer. The second part is the term “Soul”, meaning that the heart (CPU) of a new machine. Without a central processing unit (CPU), it is like a new machine without its soul. Though, it was written many years ago, I still amaze Tracy Kidder’s special vision, knowing that what is required by most consumers today. That is, a simple, sweet, cheap, efficient, clean, and hassle-less computer is needed by most users.

2.     How would you characterize Tracy Kidder's writing style?

The story begins with a boat sailing in an ocean, which is like a time machine ushers readers into the history of the legend of Data General Corporation. Tracy Kidder’s writing style combines with some real companies such as IBM. On the top of that, he also employs the terms such as profit margins, Wall Street reports, and Fortune 500 business, to convince readers that they are reading a real story. I agree that Kidder’s thought. Computer industries were like a gold rush in that many computer related companies made lots of money during the early period of time around 1970-1990. Track Kidder looks inside every aspect of computer design from general ideas such as cheaper, quicker, reliable, and durable computer to specific ideas such as packet, circuit, chip, time-sharing, ring number, memory address, and instruction set. I believe he must inquire many experienced people to write such technical things to persuade reader that it is not a pseudo-story.

3.     Who is your favorite character and why?

It is Steve Wallach that I like most. There are two reasons why I like him most. Firstly, I admire his extensive computer knowledge, for many employees regard him a walking dictionary and encyclopedia of computers. As a knowledge worker of computers, everyone knows that computer-related knowledge is changing very fast. With this in mind, Wallach should learn and work very hard and smart so that he is just able to become a walking dictionary and encyclopedia of computers. Secondly, he knew what he wanted in his early time. The story talked that Wallach was always looking for the buck. He would get the M.B.A., then going back to New York. But he did not to do so mainly because he had a strong desire to build computers. Sometimes, I also stray in somewhere. That is, I do not know what I really want, going out to work so as to make money or going to secure a higher education. Even I know where to go, I need to select the research topic that I am in favor of, or I need to select the research topic in which I am able to graduate as soon as possible. So many things hover over my mind.