What is one important thing transistors do?

Transistor is the building block for the processor. Without the transistor, some say our servers would be three stories high, and laptops would be a prop on Star Trek. Our televisions would still use vacuum tubes, and our cars couldn't guide us to the nearest Indian restaurant.

without the transistor, what would the digital economy look like? Would Microsoft Corp. and google Inc. have become giants? Would geeks have become cool, rich guys driving BMWs?