How true and insightful. I had the pleasure of working with Steve Jobs at Nextstep as a contractor doing driver development for clients. While I have moved onto computer networking, the perspectives which I have gained have enabled me to start many ventures. It is very hard to start any one of them without referencing the Steve Jobs way of thinking and being. The embodiment of thought from the perspective of others leads to his ability to judge markets and as a predictor of the future.
Despite my fascination with Steve, I have not been an Apple user, as I am a practical network geek which until very recently screamed for the most part “Windows PC”.
The other day I picked up a tablet for my wife as a surprise gift. The gravity of the iPad 2 is undeniable, for it’s critical mass of applications, ease of use and so-on enabled me to pay double what the competition goes for. It makes sense at this time, and I have become well-off enough to be that “rich guy with the 3rd computer”. Fortunately it is all relative, and I was able to enter this market at a price that is approachable, and the value is realized in usability.
Steve is rich because he knew he could win me over at some point, and it was up to me to reach that point. We collided in the retail sector, and it was he who knew it all along, while I did not. Stil, thank you Steve ;-)