NerdTV

July 13, 2005 1:27 PM

NerdTV. “Beginning Sept. 6, PBS will make available – exclusively over the Internet [and under a Creative Commons License] – broadcast television’s first entirely downloadable series, featuring PBS technology columnist and industry insider Robert X. Cringely’s interviews with personalities from the ever-changing world of technology.” [Via]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow (13 comments total)

bout damn time. I wish they were doing this for the Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel series.
posted by shoepal at 1:35 PM on July 13, 2005

Oh jesus, why him?

Couldn't they pick someone with a stronger grasp on the industry, like jeez, I dunno, Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin?

Maybe they could pair him with Dvorak for the Dumb & Dumber TV series?
posted by keswick at 1:49 PM on July 13, 2005

I started reading this post and it sounded really great until mention of Cringely. I will not be viewing this series at all. PBS really needs to replace Cringely with someone more credible. Also, I have a feeling Cringely will find a way to tie his experiments with his home wireless network into the show.
posted by joelr at 2:17 PM on July 13, 2005

What on earth is wrong with Cringely? I can't believe someone would mention his name in the same sentence as Dvorak.

Cringely has shitloads of good ideas on his site, and has written about them weekly for what, 6 years now? He sometimes misses the mark when predicting the future, but not any worse than most tech pundit/gurus I know.

I wouldn't even call Dvorak one of those, he's a blowhard troll that is wrong 100 times to every time he's correct.

I'm looking forward to this, because I think Cringely still writes many provacative pieces and has interesting ideas to share. I'm also looking forward to seeing what kind of show it turns out to be, since I find tech podcasts (audio only) dreadfully boring, but I always loved Cringely's Nerds series on PBS.
posted by mathowie at 2:33 PM on July 13, 2005

This is good. Cringely kicks ass.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 2:35 PM on July 13, 2005

I'm looking forward to this, because I think Cringely still writes many provacative pieces and has interesting ideas to share. I'm also looking forward to seeing what kind of show it turns out to be, since I find tech podcasts (audio only) dreadfully boring, but I always loved Cringely's Nerds series on PBS.

I'm in the same boat. I mean, even if you hate everything he has ever written, this is an interview program. He's asking other people about their thoughts and views, not his.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:14 PM on July 13, 2005

"broadcast television’s first entirely downloadable series"? So that means that because Cringely didn't know about another one, it must be the first? Or just the first with such a massively huge A-list personality as himself?

Go Open is already available using the magic of bittorrent (eps 1-6, 7-13).
posted by quiet at 4:28 PM on July 13, 2005

Will there be beer?
posted by Joeforking at 4:30 PM on July 13, 2005

I like cringley. His essays aren't always perfect, but then again, show me something that is. At least they are consistantly readable, which is more than can be said for many other longstanding columns.
posted by sirvesa at 6:35 PM on July 13, 2005

Pooh on yez, hatas! Bob makes me laugh! Also, neener neener and what mathowie said.

Plus, Cringley was also writing in the trades pre-internet and, yes, he made me laugh even then. Yet, I have not implemented home powerline networking.
posted by mwhybark at 8:32 PM on July 13, 2005

I, for one, like Cringely.

He's got half a brain, but at least he's got some. He's a lot like myself, coming up with tons of inspired, half-brained ideas lacking in implementation, with more every week.
posted by blasdelf at 9:10 PM on July 13, 2005

I'm confused

"exclusively over the Internet - broadcast television's first entirely downloadable series"

So because it's produced by a broadcaster it's broadcast television?

Anyway networks can't release broadcast shows for download the cable operators limit them to 5 minutes per 1/2 hour of content.
posted by bitdamaged at 11:00 PM on July 13, 2005

quiet, go open source announced they were bittorrenting their series on June 25th. I think NerdTV can be forgiven for missing that pretty recent event.

Actually, I find it interesting that Cringely announced this back in September of 2002:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020912.html

Good turnaround there, Bob.

As far as I'm concerned, the more the better. What's the harm?
posted by jscott at 2:27 AM on July 14, 2005