Steve Jobs – Another Tribute

Posted Oct 7th, 2011

The year was 1981 – 1982 and our Team had a brilliant idea (we thought).  Let’s clone the Apple Computer (on the left above).  After all, IBM was allowing clones of its very successful machine, etc.  We ordered our first batch of computers (500).  When they arrived six weeks later, they all worked and the software we licensed ran perfectly.

We were off . . .

Well, not exactly.  After making contact with the first retailer we received a call from Apple’s law firm.  The notification (very politely) were that a Cease and Desist order was on its way to us.  After spending a lot of money, we shut the operation down immediately and closed the company.

My point for bringing this up is that Steve Jobs was famous for sticking to his guns.  In his head he had a plan.  It wasn’t always known to the rest of us but nevertheless he had a plan.  None of us understood why he wouldn’t allow, as IBM had done, the cloning of the Apple computer.

Over the years, the decision to be that independent has paid off for Apple and its share holders.

The world and indeed we as individuals will miss his vision and most of all his steadfast leadership.

Our condolences go out to the Jobs family and the 45,000 plus Apple employees around the world.

Footnote:

With the introduction of the iPhone 3 our family and my office has made the change to all apple products.  At my desk is an iPad with a keyboard, a 27″ iMac with a second 24″ wall mounted monitor and then a keyboard, magic trackpad and mouse for the iMac and an iPhone with its own keyboard. My MacPro laptop goes with me when I travel (my wife doesn’t like it when its missing).  I call all of this fabulous technology, the command center.