I saw Steve Jobs make two presentations - WWDC San Jose 2000 (OSX Beta) and MacWorld Expo 2004 (GarageBand)
The guy was the master of the presentation. Of course the audience knew what they wanted and he didn't fail to deliver. Rapturous applause.
I came to the world of Macintosh in 1986 and never strayed. It wasn't until probably 1993 that I even knew who Steve Jobs was. But since his glorious return in the late 90s I have followed his words. He inspired me to become a computer support person, he provided the means, all I had to do was support my users, help them use the amazing tools they'd been given. He was Apple.
But it's more than just a job, more than just a lifestyle. It's a philosophy as well, to be able to do what you want to do. The internet, sharing, communicating.
I will miss Steve - his will be HUGE shoes to fill.
Memorable quotes
Barack Obama
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.
Bill Gates
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.
Larry Page (Google)
I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.
Michael Bloomberg
Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve’s passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In New York City’s government, everyone from street construction inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple’s products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively. Tonight our City – a city that has always had such respect and admiration for creative genius – joins with people around the planet in remembering a great man and keeping Laurene and the rest of the Jobs family in our thoughts and prayers.
