We never get what want

[stoid]

I've been thinking about the history and current state of the computer industry and have come upon some interesting anomalies.

Steve Jobs - wanted power by bringing creative machines to the masses, instead he's a cool pop culture icon

Bill Gates - wanted to be cool by bringing useful technology to business and home, instead he's a powerful techno overlord figure


Microsoft - brands themselves primarily as a software company, however the vast majority of their software either sucks or is happily mediocre while their hardware branches (mice, XBox) produce a rather good product

Apple - brands themselves primarily as a hardware company, however their hardware is often lackluster in performance (though arguably in amazingly design enclosures) while their software branches (OS X, iLife) produce a rather good product.

We seem to have an industry abundant in misfits.

 

[Peyton]

I basically agree with you, but I don't think SJ is a cool icon. Yes to techies, but I know a lot of people who don't know who that is. (Pixar has a hand in his coolness), plus I think SJ has power

 

[d_and_n5000]

Now that I think about it, those aren't far off. My favorites are how microsoft and apple have opposite focuses and yet wind up in each other focuses.

 

[stoid]

I basically agree with you, but I don't think SJ is a cool icon.

Maybe not so much any more, but in Apple's early days 'The Steve' was practically a rock star in a business suit. Often featured in TIME or BusinessWeek, so much that the press made a huge deal out of the NeXT start-up, which turned out to be a conspicuous failure.