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Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
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Just a remark here:
Dear Comrades:
Concerning Steve Jobs:
I worked with Steve from the Summer of 1976 to his ouster. I was responsible
for the Apple II hardware design and its manufacture. I was in charge of the
Macintosh group until its launch in 1984. I was twice anointed with the title
“Apple Fellow”. I’m sick and tired of people making judgements without the
slightest idea of what they are talking about. They buy the official myths
fabricated by various individuals around Apple (including the 2 Steves
themselves).
I have in my possession enough original documents to back up what I am saying.
There were 5 (five) founders of Apple Computer:
Mike Markkula, Chairman of the board of directors
Mike Scott, CEO and President
Steve Jobs, V.P. of Marketing
Steve Wozniak, V.P. Software
Rod Holt, V.P. Engineering
We were incorporated in the state of California effective Jan. 1, 1977 with
the above 5 officers. Apple Computer had never been incorporated earlier.
I will just say here that the history of Apple in Wikipedia is seriously
incorrect. Most other histories are also wildly wrong. Some of this was
deliberately done by Steve Jobs, but most can be attributed to sloppy
journalism. Some is due to bad memories.
Steve Jobs wanted products that he would buy and use. For the rest of Apple,
the creators produced what they wanted to buy. The success stemmed from this
simple set of motives.
Marxists should understand that the Apple products grew from the social
environment of these times in silicon valley. There was a confluence here of
what we, the designers, wanted and what the world wanted. I could go into more
detail if there were room and time, but really, that’s the story.
Jobs was very, very bright, a genius perhaps. So was Woz. And Scotty too. We
never lacked for brains. One of Steve’s remarkable abilities was that he
listened. I would get into a fierce argument with him, go into the executive
staff meeting and be floored when he would take my position exactly,
understanding every bit of my arguments, re-phrase them and then convince
everyone. I’ve never to this day met anyone that could dispute and at the same
time listen so well.
But, for heavens sake, let’s remember that leaders of corporations have to make
profits or else they are on the street looking for a job. Steve Jobs wanted a
billion happy customers, a goal he could reach only as a super-capitalist. So
that’s what he became. It wasn’t where he started, but that’s what happened.
The fact that so much ink is expended by the press is embarrassing, but that’s
just the byproduct. I’m sure he would be as embarrassed as I am now.
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If anyone wants particulars from me, he can ask.
Thanks,
--rod
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