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The World Reacts to
the Death of Steve Jobs
by Michael Santo
Thursday, October 06, 2011
I was saddened by the
news... my entire career has involved the inovations that Jobs
pioneered. The computer graphics classes I teach wouldn’t exist without
his accomplishments on our behalf. I’ve heard often that Jobs is the
Thomas Edison of my generation. I agree. We shall miss him. Bob
Robinson, Editor.
From Hot Hardware...
In the wake of the death of tech luminary Steve Jobs, who died on
October 5, 2011 at the age of 56, several celebrities in and outside of
the tech industry have issued condolences, statements, and messages.
Steve Jobs, of course, was until recently the CEO of Apple, and was
Chairman of the Board until his death.
Among the mourners, first and foremost, was U.S. President Barack
Obama. He said,
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs.
Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to
think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world,
and talented enough to do it. By building one of the planet’s most
successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of
American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the
internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only
accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to
storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups
alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his
last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire
industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he
changed the way each of us sees the world. The world has lost a
visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than
the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he
invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife
Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
Perhaps Jobs’ greatest rival, at least during the earlier days of both
Microsoft and Apple, was former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, who said:
I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend
our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone
Steve has touched through his work. Steve and I first met nearly 30
years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the
course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who
has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be
felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get
to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve
immensely.
Read all comments here
And finally, Erick Erickson, I think, said it best:
From RedState...
Remembering Steve Jobs
By Erick Erickson
October 6, 2011
What a funny age in which we live. At a time some are demonizing the
successful and the so called 1% at the top, today the whole world is
stopping to remember the guy who so profoundly changed the early
twenty-first century — Steve Jobs, a man in a class by himself.
I begin and end this Morning Briefing today remembering him.
In my office where I sit this still, quiet morning I have an iMac,
iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Air Port. I am an Apple
fan. Guys like me used to be called a cult. But a funny thing happened.
Steve Jobs made Apple the world’s most popular consumer electronics
company. The iPad is the best selling tablet computer. The iPhone is
the most popular smart phone. At some point the people who derisively
mocked people like me found themselves — perhaps even now they don’t
know it — the cult of a small fringe of people who found it cool to
hate what everyone else is embracing. The minority became the majority
and the majority now is the minority. Apple is cool, hits the nostalgic
elements of the age, and while seemingly exclusive has become
ubiquitous — a feat few can pull off.
It says something profound about Steve Jobs that a guy who grew up in
the counter culture movement when “the man” and “business”, much like
today, were not cool went on to redefine what cool is and what culture
is through growing a business that now rivals Exxon as the most
valuable in the world.
Steve Jobs is genius.
I grew up in Dubai. I was the only kid in my school who did not have a
computer. But I would stay after school playing on the Apple IIe
computers and then the IIgs and then the Mac SE. I learned programming,
desktop publishing, and a love for writing and music both on computers
Steve Jobs created.
When I moved back to Louisiana, my parents bought me a PC. I went from
Dubai as the only kid in school without a computer to rural Louisiana
where I was the only kid in school with a computer. In college, I
finally convinced my parents to get me a Mac. I never went back.
In our lives, we occasionally come upon geniuses who give us special
insight or special creations. Often we do not appreciate their genius
until they have departed — like great artists whose value is
undiscovered until they die. But then there are the Einsteins, the
Edisons, the Disneys, the Picassos, and the Steve Jobses of the world.
We not only see them and share with them that which they bring into the
world, but we know we are in the presence of someone great.
And so it is that much sadder when they depart and deprive us of them.
Humanity is selfish, but also glorious. Many of us are sad to see Jobs
go because we want more from him, but we appreciate what Steve Jobs
gave us in design and ideas and innovation while he walked among us.
And now we cheer on his company and his legacy.
If there is one story to sum up the life of Steve Jobs and end this
note with a smile, consider last night on Twitter. Margie Phelps of the
Westboro Baptist Church tweeted “Westboro will picket his funeral. He
had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin.” She tweeted
that, according to Twitter, from her iPhone.
I wish Steve Jobs’ family well.
Requiescat in peace
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