It is always interesting to see how small startups will come up with game changing ideas and revolutionize the entire industry.  Came across a rather interesting presentation on HP's introduction of a calculator, which was a game changer not only in the mathematical and engineering fields.  It literally killed the slide rule...and gave some releif to poor folks like me who had to read through log tables in high school (anyone else in the club?).   Not only that it also enabled HP to become a strong IT giant and resulted in several innovations in IT.  Here goes the link to that presentation.