October 6th, 2011
| by
Liz
I don’t want to write too much regarding the passing of Steve Jobs. Others far more eloquent and poignant than me have paid better tribute to him than I could hope to. All I can really say is how he effected me personally, and in doing so hopefully pay my respects to a man who, for all intensive purposes, changed the face of technology as we know it.
I grew up pretty much right along side the Apple company. The first computer my family owned was a Macintosh SE/30. I learned how to use a computer through the Mac. And except for a relatively short switch to Gateway desktops during late middle school & high school until I left for college, I’ve used Apple computers. And now, I make my living primarily using computers. I’m not sure I could say the same thing had Steve not pushed the personal computer towards the user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing format we take for granted today.
But beyond Apple, there’s Pixar. I’ve always fantasized about working for Pixar. It’s the reason I’ve ever had any interest in 3D modeling and animation. Yes, John Lasseter had the idea and the initial vision for the company, and is an obvious central pillar to making Pixar what it is. But without Steve’s financial support and eternal faith through the early years when no one else believed in them, Pixar very likely could have just stayed a dream in Lasseter’s head. It could have turned into something completely different from what it is today had a different financial backer come in and taken the company in a different direction. If you love Pixar for what it is today, you have Steve to thank for a lot of that.
Even if you dislike Apple, you can’t deny the impact Steve and his ideas and developments have had on technology and entertainment. Even the strongest Anti-AppleHead have Steve to thank for something they use every day, or get a lot of enjoyment out of. It’s rare that one person can have such a dramatic, measurable impact. I’m honored to have lived to see him accomplish it, but equally sad I had to see him go.
To quote lyrics by another major influence on my life, who also passed before his time, Michael Jackson:
“Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day, gone one night.
Gone too soon…”
RIP, Steve Jobs.
