Computers invaded my life in 1985, when my mother, a master's student at UTEP, bought a RadioShack Tandy TRS-80 4P to pound out her thesis on the negative transfer of speech sounds from second to first language.

ENGADGET: Growing Up Geek: Christopher Trout Alt

But in 1993, after revising her thesis, she was awarded a degree, and began the first of several postdoctoral appointments.

NEWYORKER: A Loaded Gun

On the flip side were several of its direct competitors, such as Suntech Power, Yingli Green Energy, Trina Solar, and LDK Solar, all up substantially on the day. (For a bullish thesis on wind, read Wind Energy Is Poised To Pop After Strong First Quarter).

FORBES: Master Short Seller Jim Chanos Targets First Solar And Renewables