I woke up to hear the news that Steve Jobs was dead.
I knew he was sick, I knew this was going to happen sooner than later, yet the news really saddened me.
I recalled my first job interview in late 1996 with the Time of India newpaper. I had applied to be a trainee designer in their editorial design team. After a few standard questions, the interviewers asked me, "do you work on a Mac?"
At that instant, I did not even know what they meant by the term 'Mac.' The puzzled look on my face made them point at a 'computer'...and I said, "no, I have not worked on computer programs."
(I was just out of design college where we did everything the old fashioned way - on paper, with set squares and other tools).
I didn't get that job.
Determined, to get onboard the computer band wagon, I joined a computer class. It was a class where I learnt DOS prompts and increased my speed at typing - This was definitely not what I wanted to do with computers.
1st Jan 1997, my first day in my first real job. I started my day staring at a 'Mac' and then began playing around with QuarkXpress and Aldus Freehand. I remember how fascinated I was. This was closer to what I imagined doing with computers than DOS prompts. I was a pro using a 'Mac' in no time.
It was always THAT easy to use a Mac and it still continues to be so. That's what I find so amazing about what Steve Jobs did and Apple stands for.
On the day Steve died, I also saw many posts on Facebook that criticized Jobs and Apple for selling extremely expensive products, being a closed company and manufacturing their products in sweat shop like factories in China.
Despite this, I consider Steve as one of the most influential innovators in recent years. These products changed the entire music industry and to some extent were able to kill the likes of Napster etc by making legal digital music desirable and viable. The products are changing/challenging the publishing industry...A whole new breed of companies have sprung up to make specialized accessories, well known entertainment companies modified their products to integrate to the iPod etc.
I am a big fan of Google's open approach. Yet, being closed helps to be able to control and keep up the consistent standards and quality. To me they are both viable business models.
Regarding the conditions in the factories, I think it is not COMPLETELY the fault of the company. I think there is a big role of the local regulatory authorities and the employees to raise a flag if things are not as per desired standards. Besides I am not 100% sure which media report to believe on such things.
My personal relationship with a Mac goes back to 1996...continues to live on until this date. I look forward to more amazing products from the awesome legacy that Steve leaves behind.
I knew he was sick, I knew this was going to happen sooner than later, yet the news really saddened me.
I recalled my first job interview in late 1996 with the Time of India newpaper. I had applied to be a trainee designer in their editorial design team. After a few standard questions, the interviewers asked me, "do you work on a Mac?"
At that instant, I did not even know what they meant by the term 'Mac.' The puzzled look on my face made them point at a 'computer'...and I said, "no, I have not worked on computer programs."
(I was just out of design college where we did everything the old fashioned way - on paper, with set squares and other tools).
I didn't get that job.
Determined, to get onboard the computer band wagon, I joined a computer class. It was a class where I learnt DOS prompts and increased my speed at typing - This was definitely not what I wanted to do with computers.
1st Jan 1997, my first day in my first real job. I started my day staring at a 'Mac' and then began playing around with QuarkXpress and Aldus Freehand. I remember how fascinated I was. This was closer to what I imagined doing with computers than DOS prompts. I was a pro using a 'Mac' in no time.
It was always THAT easy to use a Mac and it still continues to be so. That's what I find so amazing about what Steve Jobs did and Apple stands for.
On the day Steve died, I also saw many posts on Facebook that criticized Jobs and Apple for selling extremely expensive products, being a closed company and manufacturing their products in sweat shop like factories in China.
Despite this, I consider Steve as one of the most influential innovators in recent years. These products changed the entire music industry and to some extent were able to kill the likes of Napster etc by making legal digital music desirable and viable. The products are changing/challenging the publishing industry...A whole new breed of companies have sprung up to make specialized accessories, well known entertainment companies modified their products to integrate to the iPod etc.
I am a big fan of Google's open approach. Yet, being closed helps to be able to control and keep up the consistent standards and quality. To me they are both viable business models.
Regarding the conditions in the factories, I think it is not COMPLETELY the fault of the company. I think there is a big role of the local regulatory authorities and the employees to raise a flag if things are not as per desired standards. Besides I am not 100% sure which media report to believe on such things.
My personal relationship with a Mac goes back to 1996...continues to live on until this date. I look forward to more amazing products from the awesome legacy that Steve leaves behind.
