“Was it salesmanship or engineering? Creativity or ruthlessness? Or was Steve Jobs simply gifted with vision and impeccable taste? Whatever the true source of his success, there was more than a touch of genius about Jobs,” Tim Harford writes for FT Magazine. “Even his side project, Pixar, was an astounding achievement. His first love, Apple, he built from nothing and then dragged back from the brink to make it the most valuable company in the world. No wonder so many of us felt sad at the news of his passing: surely he had more to offer.”
“I spend my life in front of a computer, and that life is better because of what Steve Jobs created. But here’s the strange thing: I’ve never owned an Apple product for longer than the two weeks it took to give up and send it back. (Apple’s customer returns department is impeccable, by the way.) My Macbook Air? Glorious hardware, but fussy software and a counterintuitive interface,” Harford writes. “My iPad? Beautiful – but also heavy, not too fond of wireless, and refused even to turn on until I did some most impertinent things to my Windows laptop.”
Harford writes, “Apple never made a penny from me. Why, then, do I say that Steve Jobs improved my life? It’s because I am surrounded by technology that looks good and works well because others followed where Apple led.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Dummy was ruined by Bill Gates’ upside-down and backwards bastardized Mac.
Why, for just one example, did Gates and Microsoft have Windows’ icons on the wrong side of the screen? Because they thought it would help them avoid an Apple lawsuit, not because research told them the left side was better for most humans. Apple did the human interface research, that’s why the Mac’s icons are on the right and correct side. Ditto for the individual window controls.
Thankfully, most people have a bit more patience and can unlearn bad habits when they upgrade from Windows to Mac. It’s times like this we’re doubly thankful for having started on Macs. Microsoft has done more to retard humanity’s progress than any company in history.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Nicholas C.” for the heads up.]
The writer should try again. I made the switch about 7 years ago & have never looked back or missed anything. The family soon followed suit, & now we’re all on Macs, iPads, iPhones & iPods, the last of which started it all. Amazing halo effect, but the quality of Apple products means that you keep coming back. Call it brand loyalty if you like, but once you’ve tried the best, you won’t settle for the rest.
“Thankfully, most people have a bit more patience and can unlearn bad habits when they upgrade from Windows to Mac.”
But sharp people know how to use them all and get even more done…all on a Mac.
I guess the writer never got that glass of water in hell. He’s used to the hot dirty water as good enough for him.
Finally! Someone with a great picture of how things were really like.
Microsoft sucks. The only reason I use winduffis is because it’s cheaper.
When I got a Mac, I did way better. My grades improved, my experience was better, etc.
Thats’ fine. Apple can’t make 100% of the world’s computing devices, and Apple doesn’t want to…
But fortunately, in the tablet (iPad) market, Microsoft has not had the opportunity to instill “bad habits.”
@Break:
When I got a Mac, I did way better too. My sex life improved, my music got better, and life became…well…snappier. 🙂
More serously though, I agree… the only reason I EVER use windoze is when I need a lower entry price for someone. The cost overall however – money, sanity, stress, happiness, productivity, etc. – is much higher on windoze duct-taped frankenstein monsters.
“My Macbook Air? Glorious hardware, but fussy software and a counterintuitive interface,”
This maroon must have an IQ of 14.
I’ll wager this person has withdrawal pains when he buys a new car. Mammy ! it’s different to my last one. Waaaaa Waaaa.
Hope he never tries to switch from an automatic transmission to a manual, or vice versa.
Or rents a car and has to find the wiper switch! 🙂
This writer works for the Financial Times, a bunch of cheap SOB’s who are anti-Apple and love to hate everything invented in Cupertino. You can discount anything this no-nothing has to say.
Why is the Apple Menu on the top left of the screen….just saying.
Harford writes, “Apple never made a penny from me. Why, then, do I say that Steve Jobs improved my life? It’s because I am surrounded by technology that looks good and works well because others followed where Apple led.”
Even though this guy is deluded in many ways he does seem to understand that Apple leads the way and others merely follow.
@krquet- See above comment
Exactly what is the point of this article?
cretinblurt. only opens mouth to break wind.
WTF does this mean?
‘…but fussy software and a counterintuitive interface,” Harford writes. “My iPad? Beautiful – but also heavy, not too fond of wireless, and refused even to turn on until I did some most impertinent things to my Windows laptop…”
Seriously. You got problems with the Mac’s and iPad’s UI? I’m not a medical doctor, but I would suspect you have major comprehension issues of a biological nature.
I’d hate to hear what he has to say about his iPod…
Dummy is not nice a description…
But then there are millions of dummies out there who still have not seen the light.
Of course, most of them stay with MicroShaft because they are too proud to admit they’ve been conned for years!
Without Microsoft Windows we would never realise how great the alternative actually is.
Not true. I used a Mac SE before windows and I knew how special it was from the start.
Thanks to the crook Bill Gates of hell, the world is divided into people and morons.
After almost 18 years of living with Microsoft systems and theirs Blue Screens of Death and other “Great” things, now i’m 3 year proud user of my macbook. With no crashes. A now finally in Lion translation to my native language. Anything i want to say is THANK YOU STEVE.
“Microsoft has done more to retard humanity’s progress than any company in history.”
This is exactly right. Windows, Word and PowerPoint alone have wasted literally billions and billions of man-hours for some of the worlds smartest managers, scientists, journalists and more. Imagine of this time had been spent productively. Imagine if they had been using tools that activated their talents instead of hindering them.
Bill Gates’ legacy is two decades of squandered opportunities and mental roadblocks.