R.I.P. Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011)

I first found out over the radio, and indirectly, at that, because none of the DJs had actually said outright that Steve Jobs had passed away. They were only asking people to call in for dedications, how Apple had changed their lives, bla bla eckcetera.

It wasn't only until I'd Googled 'Steve Jobs' that I found out that he had passed away sometime yesterday, succumbing to pancreatic cancer.

I didn't even know he had cancer, period. I vaguely remember a hubbub some years ago when he showed up at the Mac Expo (or something like that), looking gaunt, which spread rumors that he was sick. Even then there was no mention of cancer; just that he was a bit unhealthy.

[A bit like the time everyone said that Kevin Sorbo was sick, but was never really specific about 'with what'.]

I mean, he'd only stepped down as Apple CEO a coupla months ago, "health reasons".

I'm stunned. I'm still stunned. It's too soon.

My first computer was a Mac. My first laptop was an iBook. Heck, the only reason I've not bought a new Apple laptop is because they're using Intel processors, and IBM / MICROSOFT IS THE ENEMY!

Without Jobs (and technically, Steve Wozniak), people would not have asked me what 'Macs' were, growing up. And I would not have been lording it over Windows peons for YEARS that my computer was far better than theirs, and sure as heck far EASIER to use.

I would not have been unique. Back in the day, of course. Nowadays, people use Apple products like nobody's business.

R.I.P. Steven Paul Jobs. Without your innovation and insane marketing skills, we wouldn't have Pixar, we wouldn't have had cute round computers with everything in their insides, and there wouldn't have been someone for IBM to rip its technology off from.