Steve Jobs
1955-2011
Earlier this week Steve Jobs passed away at the young age of 56. Special tribute will be given here to Steve today because in many ways, the world of DigElog would never have existed if it wasn't for his vision, creativity and technological influence.
Let me begin by referencing another mentor of mine:
The story of Steve Jobs is an amazing one. He turned a few hundred dollars of spare parts into one of the most valuable companies in the world while revolutionizing one industry after another. In so doing, he was a prime example of the empowerment of the individual while in turn empowering everyone else. He showed the power of marrying science and art and democratized the tools of creativity. Jobs was truly a unique and remarkable innovator who has enriched all of our lives and we are all immeasurably saddened at his passing.
— Ray Kurzweil
*****
Steve Jobs' 2005
Stanford Commencement Address
- Our Stories Intertwine Back In 1982
The two Steve's had already invented the Apple II in 1977, but I personally get involved when I purchase a Apple II Plus with 64k of RAM and dual 5.25" floppy drives, for my Drywall Distributing company in 1982. I find myself learning basic programming at the local community college and becoming a VisiCalc enthusiast applying spreadsheet technology to everything from product inventory to payroll in my small company. I also discovered a "Family History" software that pushes me to dig deeper into my family heritage and to document it on my Apple II Plus.
- 1984 Steve and Apple Introduce Macintosh
I see the Super Bowl commercial like the rest of the world and immediately decide it's something I want to learn more about. The local community college buys a couple first edition Macs for their computer lab and I get some immediate hands on experience that simply dazzles my imagination.
- 1985-6 Steve is forced out of Apple but the Mac explodes into the publishing industry
Although Steve's direct involvement with Apple will take a 10 year hiatus, his dream and vision of the Macintosh inspires me to become a Public Information Director for the local community college with a brand new Mac 512 and a Laserwriter Plus on my desk. Over the next 12 months I produce camera ready copy for publishing in the local newspaper and I publish one of the very first camera ready college catalogs (100 plus pages) using Ready Set Go 1.0 publishing software.
- 1987-8 Steve has now started both NeXT Computer and Pixar Annimation Studios
My Mac experience has prepared me for my next life encounter. I join 6 other brave young lads in taking a bankrupt Team Electronics store and turning it into an "Apple Only" computer store. At the time, the seven of us knew more about Apple products that any 7 employees of Apple did, because we not only sold the product but we trained it and supported it. Our crazy idea was a success and the fundamental company that was started back then is still alive today.
- 1989 While Steve is busy making animated movies, I'm proving the Mac to be a business machine
The driving force for any computer is its software. I choose the niches of Accounting and Data Base development as my areas of growth and opportunity. I become a consultant in both Accountant Inc. and Filemaker Pro software.
*****
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish."
- Steve Jobs, 1955-2011
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