Insight into Steve Jobs' Product-Centric Approach in 1985 Interview

[3282868]

He's in a great position compared to others.

With his wealth, he is able to buy top notch care and fly anywhere to get transplants. He can also can stop working anytime he wishes.

These things are usually beyond other people, who often must continue working to support their families through treatment... and even right up to the end.

Of course, yet that doesn't change the recovery process, the pain, the necessary rest. Coming from an affluent family, I have known friends of my parents around the time of Jobs' health concerns who retired given terminal cancer diagnosis' , etc. and are alive and well presently. They could afford all the care Jobs has afforded, yet Jobs still insisted on working even while on an official leave. No matter how much monetary care afforded, we're still human, heal the same ways. I can't imagine someone coming from pancreatic cancer, a WHIPPLE and a liver transplant (even IF he can afford top care) still at the helm of his business. That's character and passion surmounting physical pain.

PS I am disheartened that someone may dismiss someone else's strength in surmounting terminal health as a non-issue because they are wealthy enough to continue working, etc. Money does not take away the recovery process or the associated pain.

 

[*LTD*]

Who would YOU buy something from?

This guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGvHNNOLnCk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8To-6VIJZRE

Or THIS guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOgOP_aqqtg

Who would YOU buy stuff from?

It's that simple. As without, so within, and vice-versa.

 

[kdarling]

All kidding aside. Hundreds of years from now he will be looked at as a visionary. Not unlike edison or franklin. I can't thank him enough

Edison invented his own stuff.

Franklin risked his life for freedom, and also invented stuff.

Everything Jobs is famous for selling, was invented by someone else.

Hopefully in less than a hundred years, we'll find out who the developers were that actually invented all Apple's cool things and they'll finally get credit.

 

[Art Mark]

Not Einstein

Poor Albert Einstein. People are always putting quotes in his mouth. I find at least 2 instances a week where someone uses an 'Einstein' quote usually to support some bizarre point.

The quote you use is most likely not from Einstein. In research I found Einstein never used dismissive terms like 'fool' in his writings, at least not in a wide sense. IN a particular way, if someone supported a particular theory he did at times become slightly more animated in his language. But this was not a rash thinker sputtering out insults. The best I can do for attribution is the following:

Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius--and a lot of courage--to move in the opposite direction.
Author: John Dryden
Source: Epistle X--To Congreve (l. 60)

And Mr. Quote Guy?

 

[3282868]

Everything Jobs is famous for selling, was invented by someone else.

I'm amazed that given your negative posts on Apple you frequent a website for people who like Apple products.

With all due respect, I would like a list of EVERY product that Jobs/Apple has produced and links to prove that these ideas/products were not of his own. To generalize that everything Jobs developed was based on another invention is a rather broad assumption. Certainly he did not develop everything originally, but he did improve upon the implementation of those concepts which has lead to successful products.

I can not think of another tech company that produces their own software AND hardware successfully. Dell simply assembles boxes to run Microsoft operating systems. Gateway did the same (are they still around?). Most companies take parts and pieces from other companies to produce the hardware, then package it with another businesses software. Apple designs their products, commissions Foxconn and other tech suppliers to build specific machines for such products as the iPhone, develops the software to work seamlessly with their hardware designs, and has created a successful ecosystem of products that "just work". Perhaps Jobs didn't invent the processor, or LED displays, or multi-touch systems, but he certainly harmonized everything to create a better end result. That in itself is visionary.

Citing two extreme instances to dismiss one man is rather broad.

 

[*LTD*]

Edison invented his own stuff.

Franklin risked his life for freedom, and also invented stuff.

Everything Jobs is famous for selling, was invented by someone else.

Hopefully in less than a hundred years, we'll find out who the developers were that actually invented all Apple's cool things and they'll finally get credit.

I'd love to see the state of tablets today without Apple. Or the state of media players. Or smartphones.

Yes, Apple uses talent. Dell, HP, and Acer also have access to talent. Where are their game-changing devices that re-define industries overnight?

Crickets.

 

[kdarling]

PS I am disheartened that someone may dismiss someone else's strength in surmounting terminal health as a non-issue because they are wealthy enough to continue working, etc. Money does not take away the recovery process or the associated pain.

I did not dismiss it. I was responding explicitly to your comment that:

Mr. Jobs has done so much at a time when most people would never have survived his health conditions or in the very least would have kept working hard.

Which, pardon me, sure seems to imply that "most people" other than Jobs would neither survive nor keep working.

I am a five year esophageal cancer survivor, something that's about a 5% chance. I endured tons of chemo and radiation. I also endured having my chest and back and stomach cracked open to remove my esophagus and stretch my remaining stomach into a poor replacement. I was in the hospital for almost three weeks. I was unable to even take a sip of water for over a week. Few other operations have to suffer that torture. Then I was fed via tube for another few months. I would never have attempted all this except that I was not about to leave my three year old daughter without her Dad.

The whole time, I had to keep working to support my family and to keep my job as a contractor. I did not have the luxury of "taking a leave". I would much rather have spent that entire time, unknown as its outcome was, traveling with my family, than to spend it at work. So no, I do not admire Jobs' work choice back then, considering the other options he had.

 

[kdarling]

I'd love to see the state of tablets today without Apple. Or the state of media players. Or smartphones.

Are you seriously comparing the improvement of tablets and PMPs and smartphones, all of which were invented by others, to the works and lives of Edison and Franklin?

 

[karsten]

But then you have to go and sort of stow away -- you have to go hide away with people that really understand the technology

that about sums up the company and apple's secrecy.

 

[jayducharme]

This Wired interview is really good too.

Thanks for posting that link. What an amazing interview. Jobs predicted the rise and dominance of the Internet before most people knew what it was. And that explains his continued focus on "the cloud" and remote storage. He's been remarkably consistent over the past twenty years.

 

[karsten]

And that explains his continued focus on "the cloud" and remote storage. He's been remarkably consistent over the past twenty years.

not really truly adopting it though, if itunes would allow more than one download of your purchase i'd agree with you.

 

[OllyW]

We still use Floppy Disks at work.

I had to buy a £645 floppy drive at work last week.

 

[jayducharme]

Are you seriously comparing the improvement of tablets and PMPs and smartphones, all of which were invented by others, to the works and lives of Edison and Franklin?

Remember that Edison especially, but Franklin to some degree, were synthesizers more than inventors. They took things around them that they saw needed improvement and they improved them. IMO, many great thinkers don't necessarily think "new" thoughts, but re-frame existing thoughts in a whole new way. Jobs is a master at that.

 

[jayducharme]

not really truly adopting it though, if itunes would allow more than one download of your purchase i'd agree with you.

You're missing the point. Why download at all? It's not about downloading content. It's about accessing content that's stored remotely. And that might be what the huge Apple data center (not yet online) is going to be about.

 

[3282868]

snip
So no, I do not admire Jobs' work choice back then, considering the other options he had.

My sincerest sympathies for your time and tribulations of your health. Yet how do you know Jobs stopped working? In fact, most reports suggest he was still very much in control away from the office.

I'm not going to debate the life and health of another or compare others near death experiences, it's disrespectful. The comment I made was praising ANYONE such as what Jobs had to face. The fact that you found something negative to pick at from a positive remark is more a reflection on your negative attitude rather than simply stating something positive, especially as you have been through such horrific ordeals yourself.

You raise important issues with the health industry and classism, all negative consequences of a capitalist system in healthcare. Had you been living in Canada or the UK were I was raised or France, you would have been given top care without having suffered financially. Heck, France gives women top care during childbirth, their own specialists 24/7 and are allowed paid leave after birth to care for their newborn. In the states, most of our money goes to our military budget while people such as you or I have to pay increasingly high premiums hoping not to be bankrupted should we face a serious health concern. My father, has been diabetic since 6, has lost both his legs and his sight, is wheel chair bound and was pronounced dead three times during his surgeries. He was an investment banker and even with his financial success still didn't receive top care.

If you want to discuss something else, I'm on board, otherwise this is an inappropriate discussion.

I wish you and Mr. Jobs all the best in health and happiness.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

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Apple made one not so good looking mouse, big deal.

I wouldn't consider that a failure even if this mouse was advertise as a next generation mouse. It's a mouse.

I am neither defending or prosecuting Steve P. Jobs on this mouse. However history with mice = fail. The TrackPad and Magic TrackPad = win. I prefer Logitech when it concerns mice. A company cannot be good at everything. However and Jobs learns and listens to the market and years later after much perfecting it releases a product that becomes the de-factor for the industry i.e. iPod, iPhone, iPad, MBP (to some extent). Sure they were not the first to produce any of these technologies, however they were first to refine and market it to appeal to the average Joe to become profitable. My concern is that the tech market almost takes it direction from when it includes segmented markets (iPad) and does a lame attempt at imitation than trusting its own R&D to produce something unique and beautiful. The industry follows two paths make a product and hope the consumer likes it by making it bigger, faster, etc... and the other path to copy with a half-arse mimic.

Get some ingenuity tech industry, stop mimicking , you might actually get some respect.

 

[karsten]

You're missing the point. Why download at all? It's not about downloading content. It's about accessing content that's stored remotely. And that might be what the huge Apple data center (not yet online) is going to be about.

might be, we don't know for sure yet. i'd still argue though that in it's current state itunes is nothing related to cloud computing. if it were, you'd have unlimited access to your purchases, i.e. cloud storage of your files. the fact that you only get one download pretty much means its anything but cloud computing.

 

[lkrupp]

He may be a good business man, but he and apple has really lost focus since iOS. I want him to stop trying to control his customers. Who cares if people jailbreak, or repair their own devices, or voiding warranties. And this new pentalobe screw for the iPhone 4? Just another way to control their customers.

Jailbreaking is SOFTWARE based, so if the hardware is damaged, it doesn't have anything to do with the SOFTWARE, so therefore, apple should still honor warranties for jailbroken iPhones. A little collaboration with the customer to find out how the device broke would be easy. Whatever, I personally don't care, as I have the original 2g iPhone on tmobile.

You are certainly one useless example of humanity. Those who can...do. Those who can't...just bitch, whine, and tear things down, sort of like the type that would chop away at the Pieta.

 

[Glideslope]

He's in a great position compared to others.

With his wealth, he is able to buy top notch care and fly anywhere to get transplants. He can also can stop working anytime he wishes.

These things are usually beyond other people, who often must continue working to support their families through treatment... and even right up to the end.

...and good for him. After all, we do live in a Capitalist Society. Heck, what is that quote? Oh, "He who has the Gold Makes the Rules". Yup, thats it all right.

If you can't fly to Switzerland for experimental treatment, big deal. You just don't have the money. Fairly straight forward.

Want a different system? Hop in the car and drive a heading of 0 Degrees and ask for asylum.

Cheap shot at Steve, and you know it.

 

[hayesk]

Totally. That thing was an ergonomic nightmare. Plus, the one button mouse thing never really caught on. I like the current mouse selections: Multi-button mice that look like single button mice to make all those Apple haters look like fools when they post images of them to show how macs use "one button mice". It's becoming rarer nowadays, but it still give me a chuckle.

Actually, I still prefer the one-button mouse. And my three year old learned to use the computer a lot faster after I set the right-click to be the same as left-click.

 

[Swift]

He may be a good business man, but he and apple has really lost focus since iOS. I want him to stop trying to control his customers. Who cares if people jailbreak, or repair their own devices, or voiding warranties. And this new pentalobe screw for the iPhone 4? Just another way to control their customers.

Jailbreaking is SOFTWARE based, so if the hardware is damaged, it doesn't have anything to do with the SOFTWARE, so therefore, apple should still honor warranties for jailbroken iPhones. A little collaboration with the customer to find out how the device broke would be easy. Whatever, I personally don't care, as I have the original 2g iPhone on tmobile.

I'll give you the reason why this isn't true. It has to do with Apple's guarantees. If you buy an iPhone or iPad, they offer free and frequent software updates. If one of them goes wrong for you, there are ways for you to fix it. If you can't, they will, for free. Just a couple of weeks ago, my iPhone 4 developed audio problems after pairing with a Bluetooth headset. They gave me a new phone. Problem solved in 5 minutes. They will often fix something even after the warranty is finished. That makes for customer loyalty, and it's as much a feature of Apple user experience than anything else. Yes, you can legally jailbreak, if you want.

But how would Apple fix the problems that jailbroken phones come in with? They often run awry with software updates. So, jailbreak it, then get bricked because you update it? Jailbreakers often think that updates are aimed at screwing them, but I doubt it. Every single jailbreak is also a security flaw. If you can root a phone, you can put malware on it or anything else. So the hole that gave you that jailbreak will likely be closed soon by the next update. Now, you keep your phone at the original 2G. That's your option, and you're certainly entitled to put your original iPhone on TMobile if you want. But of course you're deciding to do without the iOS of the last update available to you, and all the features put into it. Fine. Most people don't want to do that. Not catering to the 2% jailbreakers is not "losing focus," it's keeping it.

 

[Glideslope]

I did not dismiss it. I was responding explicitly to your comment that:



Which, pardon me, sure seems to imply that "most people" other than Jobs would neither survive nor keep working.

I am a five year esophageal cancer survivor, something that's about a 5% chance. I endured tons of chemo and radiation. I also endured having my chest and back and stomach cracked open to remove my esophagus and stretch my remaining stomach into a poor replacement. I was in the hospital for almost three weeks. I was unable to even take a sip of water for over a week. Few other operations have to suffer that torture. Then I was fed via tube for another few months. I would never have attempted all this except that I was not about to leave my three year old daughter without her Dad.

The whole time, I had to keep working to support my family and to keep my job as a contractor. I did not have the luxury of "taking a leave". I would much rather have spent that entire time, unknown as its outcome was, traveling with my family, than to spend it at work. So no, I do not admire Jobs' work choice back then, considering the other options he had.

Ok, so your just jealous, or still bitter?

 

[Swift]

Actually, I still prefer the one-button mouse. And my three year old learned to use the computer a lot faster after I set the right-click to be the same as left-click.

Yeah, the changing of the mouse was strictly a concession. Windows users had learned the awkward right-click of the ugly mouse. I would say, "option-click is the same as right click in Windows," and get sneered at.

I guess Steve decided to stop fighting that.

 

[hayesk]

The Henry Ford quote is so appropriate to all those who whined about how:
- a GUI can't replace a command line
- computers in schools should be the same as in business
- computing devices in enterprise have to be able to be locked down by IT
- there was already a hard-disk based MP3 play on the market when the iPod was released
- nobody wants to buy music online when it's available for free or sounds worse than CDs
- they wouldn't buy an tablet from Apple unless it ran desktop MacOS X.
- they need access to the file system to do work

If I thought harder, I could come up with more examples. The fact is the average customer doesn't even like computers, and the not-so-average customer (i.e. the geeks) can't see past product specs to determine the actual value of a product - i.e. the utility and enjoyment it provides.

 

[Swift]

Of course, yet that doesn't change the recovery process, the pain, the necessary rest. Coming from an affluent family, I have known friends of my parents around the time of Jobs' health concerns who retired given terminal cancer diagnosis' , etc. and are alive and well presently. They could afford all the care Jobs has afforded, yet Jobs still insisted on working even while on an official leave. No matter how much monetary care afforded, we're still human, heal the same ways. I can't imagine someone coming from pancreatic cancer, a WHIPPLE and a liver transplant (even IF he can afford top care) still at the helm of his business. That's character and passion surmounting physical pain.

PS I am disheartened that someone may dismiss someone else's strength in surmounting terminal health as a non-issue because they are wealthy enough to continue working, etc. Money does not take away the recovery process or the associated pain.

I hate the inequality of medical treatment in American medicine. Give me "socialized" medicine, as in the rest of the world. A. It's much cheaper, for everyone, and B. your ability to pay at the moment of treatment is not an issue.

At any rate, Jobs is ill. He didn't create the American medical mess; but he has money to get the best. I'll never begrudge somebody using his money to get treatment, unless or until our system of medical financing is sane.