Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple
Out of context: Reply #55
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- dMullins0
I don't want to come off maudlin in any way, but Apple certainly was a milestone for me. When I first used a Mac, I was happy to be away from a massive, unsupported network of computer hardware and software companies that always seemed to leave me to my own devices when I had an issue to fix (drivers, viruses, etc.). Granted, that was 1993-1999 or so, but PC's were my first foray into computer world, as I'm sure almost everyone in my age range can similarly say. When I bought my first iBook in 2001 for college-level studies, the iBook helped pave a path to where I am at today for sure. The hardware and software simply got out of my way, and provided an efficient platform for me to get at information, and execute ideas through easy-to-use tools. I think that is the core of Apple, and will always remain so, regardless of who is steering the masts.
I know the guy's not dead yet, but in recent retrospect, one of my favorite stories about Jobs is still the one he told in Playboy where he's at the Playboy Mansion showing off the latest Mac (this is an old article, so who knows which one at this point). Jobs is wandering around the mansion, and finds a kid of someone at the mansion, and decides to do some user testing with the kid. Jobs said his main take away from the interaction was not "what is it," but the kid said to him, "what can it do?". I think it's a personal fiber of Steve's that will continue to play out for the rest of the company's life. I'm not saying they won't pull a Ben & Jerry's one day and divert in a different direction, but I think Steve has done an incredible job (read: top rated CEO across almost every industry) of setting all the right groundwork for decades of success as a company.
RIP to a dude who decided his product was more important (because millions of people would one day be using it) than a $2 pair of silicon tits flapping in his face.