Disc Jockey
Andrew Grove is one of the giants of the digital revolution. Born in Budapest in 1936, he was a founder of Intel, the Silicon Valley company whose microprocessor was chosen by IBM to power its landmark personal computer.
Although Grove, 64, has a PhD in chemical engineering and holds several technology patents, he is at least, if not better known, for his business acumen. He became chief executive of Intel in 1987 (a post he relinquished in 1998), and oversaw the wide expansion of the company. His shoot-from-the-hip style and demanding nature are legendary. He called his 1996 book, “Only the Paranoid Survive.”
Like many Silicon Valley firms, Intel’s fortunes took a huge hit this year--its second-quarter profit plunged 94% from the same period in 2000. Still, Intel remains the world’s top computer chip maker. This year, it rolled out the fourth version of its Pentium chip.
As the interview began, Grove-- despite his stature in the industry--professed to not be a gadget freak. “I’m afraid I’m going to be boring,” said Grove, now Intel’s chairman of the board.
DESKTOP: I have a 1.5 gig, Pentium 4 IBM with a color flat-panel monitor that is very good. It’s about 6 months old; I get a new one about every second generation. My wife has a Dell with a similar display.
Q. You only have two computers in the house?
It’s only the two of us here. I have not reached the state where I can use two computers at once.
Q. What do you mostly use the desktops for?
E-mail. I can spend days when I don’t have meetings working at home, “Code Red” not withstanding. I also use it for Web access.
LAPTOP: IBM X series. I use it the same as my desktop. I also do word processing. Mostly, I write my notes and then have someone convert them for a PowerPoint presentation. I am not a good enough typist to write as fast as I would like for general text.
Q. Do you write out your articles and books by longhand?
No, I work predominantly at the keyboard. I might not write every word out.
Q. How did you do it 20 years ago?
I think I was dictating back then.
HAND-HELD: A Blackberry. It basically has all the functions--including the dysfunctional Web access--of the other PDAs, and it’s very convenient.
Q. Do you think Web access for those kinds of devices will improve soon?
No near-term prospects of it getting better. The state of the wireless Internet drives me crazy when I try and use it.
I do use the Blackberry for my addresses, and it works just like any PDA. I don’t put my calendar on it--I’m used to scribbling on the margin of a paper calendar. That works for me. I carry it all the time, and I can find things in a split second.
For e-mail, the Blackberry is a very useful device if you are in an area where the coverage is good. It lessens my use of the laptop when I travel.
BOOKMARKED SITES: Yahoo allows you to design your own portal; I find that useful. I have a page I put together with customized news, stock tickers, weather, political news, technology news.
I go to the New York Times site. Given that we are on the West Coast, we can get an early look at it. I also go to the Washington Post and occasionally even the Los Angeles Times.
I use Amazon to buy books and DVDs. But I don’t do a lot of shopping, on- or offline.
Q. No entertainment sites? No games?
I’m a meat-and-potatoes guy when it comes to the Web.
CELL PHONE: I’m a pretty big user, mostly in the car. I also carry one with me.
Q. You say that with a sigh.
That sigh has one purpose. I like the access, but I don’t always like being accessed. Any connected user will understand that.
FAVORITE TECH TOYS: I like my DVD players. DVD came along just in time as a savior from the hopeless movie-distribution system. The independent movie theaters are getting squeezed out of existence, and those were the theaters showing the movies I cared about.
Q. Don’t you miss going out to the movies?
Yes I do. But getting a DVD and watching it at home is a damn sight better than being forced to watch some video game on the big screen.
Q. How many DVD players do you have?
I have a portable player, one in my exercise room and one connected to the big screen we have. I am the proud possessor of three DVD players and only two computers. I guess that says something.
HOW HAS TECH CHANGED YOUR LIFE: Basically, it allows you to work from a place and at a time of your choice. It also allows less time on the phone. I used to spend a lot of my work time on the phone, and that has been replaced by e-mail traffic. It’s less disruptive and more efficient.
--As told to DAVID COLKER
