Early Apple Employee Bill Fernandez Shares Details on Steve Jobs, Creation of the Apple II, and More

[senseless]

The entire TRS-80 family, when it was around, outsold the Apple II in the same time period. The TRS-80 Models III and onward were very serious computers. RadioShack, at one time, was the industry leading personal computer company.

Suggested books:

Priming the Pump by David and Theresa Welch
Fire in the Valley by Paul Freiberger

I was influenced to buy the Apple II+ by a friend of mine who called the Radio Shack model the "trash 80". I liked the fact that Apple had color "Hires" graphics which I mistakenly pronounced like the name of the root beer company.

 

[laurim]

lol how do u know he didn't show potential? It's not carrying every employee in your company. He was their first and their friend. If woz can show appreciation to him why couldn't jobs? I think it's evident he contributed he wasn't just a no-name employee. Offering growth or stock isn't carrying anything. It's appreciating an integral employee who helped start your company.

I've already said I've started businesses. Tough choices are made every day. But you learn that taking care of people that helped you is important too. If Fernandez had nothing to contribute he wouldn't be employee number 1.

I'm not inflating anything. I'm saying that jobs "probably" made some d**k moves and this to me is one of them. Lol you act like its a financial disaster helping one person when you're company is successful. It seems like the people idolizing jobs are incapable of realizing he wasn't a holy man who never did anything wrong.

I'm sorry I didn't know you were the grammar police here. I can see how worked up you got over using non-perfect English in a non-formal forum on the Internet.

Frankly, at this point I think you just enjoy saying "dick" because you've said it in almost every post in this thread.

 

[kdarling]

Yes, I do remember the TRS80 displayed in Radio Shack stores and almost bought one. I believe it was $595, but just black and white and just 4K of memory. They weren't very serious computers, even then. Had they executed better, RS would be a giant today.

I was never a fan myself, but they were as serious as anything else, and far more affordable.

• The TRS-80 Model I was $600 with 4K, and a monitor and numeric keypad.
• The Apple II was $1300 with 4K, and no monitor or numeric keypad.

As for computers with B&W screens, that was what business expected at the time.

Let's also not forget the Macintosh that came out years later, with its tiny B&W display.

 

[Truefan31]

Frankly, at this point I think you just enjoy saying "dick" because you've said it in almost every post in this thread.

Actually I've said a d**k move. But please feel free to be a thesaurus and find a synonym.

 

[grahamperrin]

Well aren't we all just perfect when it's not our company, huh? …

Spot on.

… I'm the person who suggested this story to MR. …

Thanks. I enjoyed reading, and listening.

… I have met Steve, and talked with him. I met him at Macworld Expo 2000 …

Thanks. I enjoyed the recollection.

… the Lisa family drama.

What's that? Got a link handy?

… I was impressed and also very happy I met him … charming despite it all. …

Another enjoyable recollection. Thanks.

… If you read the full length article …

For context, I also recommend the sound recordings.

… I realize now how fortunate/lucky I am to have met him …

I sort of envy you, but don't regret not meeting him. It's nice to read personal recollections.

… mancrush …

As someone who knows full-on man love, please know that 'mancrush' is not an insult.

… dealing with a bunch of squares … who didn't even understand the big picture like he did and he had to literally bully people into doing what he said because they didn't understand the scope of everything like he did, so they would subconciously doubt/undermine him for being a right brain/left brain individual in a still underdeveloped, all-nerd, all-left-brain scene.

If that's the way it was, I like that.

I have the occasional luxury of doing stuff with a big picture in mind, then letting people enjoy the result. If I was more prominent within my organisation, I'd lose that luxury.

… He would sometimes sit in on job interviews just to harass the poor SOB who was applying for a job at Apple, asking them if they were virgins or ever took LSD. …

No, yes, no and no (I feel neither harassed nor poor).

… Ron Popeil of Ronco fame. …

Never heard of him. Maybe it's a UK thing; for me it's "Ronco of Record Selector" fame.

(Some people might say "Buttoneer fame" but I broke too many buttons with that thing.)