Apple co-founder Steve Jobs treated for pancreatic cancer

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

This'll probably be more of more interest to vintage computer fans, but there's a really interesting analysis on CNN's web site today about Steve Jobs battling pancreatic cancer (which I hadn't heard about before), and some very insightful thinking as to who would replace him as the CEO of Apple, and whether or not anyone's already put some thought into that.

Interesting stuff - nobody's ever gonna forget him splitting to do the NeXT thing. Or, for that matter, forgive him.

Clicking here for linking. (http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/02/technology/apple/index.htm)

[Jasoco]

No one could replace him. NO ONE. The guy has a presence. A presence that cannot be replaced.

And this is the first I'm hearing of this.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Well, depending on who you believe, there's a flip side to that "presence" (http://www.thelogbook.com/read/q1-01/jobs.htm). But Jobs' place in computer history still reserves him a spot of great importance.

[Jasoco]

Well, he didn't "Split" Apple to found NeXT. He was fired. (Or forced out.) And when they came crawling back to him to help restart the company.. it was like sweet poetic justice.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Bad wording on my part. I don't think the complaint was ever that he himself wasn't at Apple - as you pointed out, there was an ouster there - but that he recruited so many key Apple people to NeXT with him, people who were vital to the launch success of the Macintosh. I think that was the complaint (and I'm pretty sure that Apple pursued that in court).

[Jasoco]

Yes, I do believe you are right. Still, I can't help but wonder how much different the world would be had Steve not gotten kicked out. I think Steve would have fought Microsoft in the GUI Theft thing more than Sculley did. And well, things would be a lot different.

Now.. where's my DeLorean?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

It's parked next to my Police Box. ;)

[Jasoco]

Actually, it's on my shelf.

Now where's my refrigerator? </Obscure BTTF Reference>

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Seriously though, if any more legal muscle had been flexed over the GUI thing, who's to say that Xerox wouldn't have gone after both Apple and Microsoft? (The idea wasn't original to Apple by a long shot, and Apple did not oficially license it.) An infringement victory in court by Apple might have convinced Xerox to be a little more proprietary (and litigious) about it.

[Jasoco]

Seriously though, if any more legal muscle had been flexed over the GUI thing, who's to say that Xerox wouldn't have gone after both Apple and Microsoft? (The idea wasn't original to Apple by a long shot, and Apple did not oficially license it.) An infringement victory in court by Apple might have convinced Xerox to be a little more proprietary (and litigious) about it.Xerox didn't want anything to do with a GUI or a Mouse, so I believe even if they had gone after Apple, Apple would have won anyway. Microsoft is the one who didn't ask first.

Besides, anything's better than Microsoft running the show.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Good point - now that I think of it, the mouse and graphical interface wasn't even necessarily Xerox's idea either. I think that goes back to what was known in late 60s computer history as The Greatest Demo In The World, unless I'm very much mistaken.

[chrisbid]

to be fair, steve jobs was has always been an egomaniac, and him getting fired from apple probably helped him to sober up.

but the things he has done with the company since returning are outstanding. he kept them from going bankrupt, and has made and kept apple a profitable company even during this current era of flat PC sales. they may not have made a shitload of macintosh converts, but he has further established the apple brand name as one of those companies like Harley Davidson, whose customers would donate their kidneys to the company. Apple was starting to lose that in the mid 90's

[Jasoco]

Yep. That is right.

I'm only a fairly recent convert, having bought my first ever Mac in September 2000 after being wowed by OS X demos and screenshots. And not being at all impressed by the upcoming Whistler. And knowing BeOS wouldn't be around long. And not being good at Linux installations. Yes, Installations.

Haven't been happier. And I've converted quite a few former hardcore "I'll NEVER use a Mac!" Windows users in the last 2 years. (They've also converted a few.)

Had it not been for the original iMac and all the commercials Apple put out at the beginning of the Jobsian Second Coming Era. (No Step Three, Traffic Jam, a lot of later iMac ones, as well as one of my favorites, Steam Roller for the PowerBook G3, etc.. all of which can be found on my website between the hours of 4AM and 2PM Eastern.)

I miss the good commercials. Now all they advertise for is the iPod. I want more iMac and PowerMac and iBook and PowerBook commercials. There are too many uneducated people on the internet. I've run into a couple on this site who still think Macs are stuck in 1993! Have never heard of OS X. Think Macs are still Proprietary. I mean, come on! It's been over 6 years!

[chrisbid]

some people just love their floppy drives :o

[whoisKeel]

Think Macs are still Proprietary. I mean, come on! It's been over 6 years!

macs aren't proprietary? this is an honest non-sarcastic post, but i was pretty sure you couldn't buy your own mb, vid card or sound card for a mac...

i've seen those ipods, and had to talk a friend out of buying own in favor of another mp3 player, because the proprietary cables for car and home stereos were so ridicously overpriced.

[Jasoco]

Mother Board, no. That's obvious.
Processor, YES.
Sound card, YES. They DO make Sound Blasters for the Mac.
Video card, YES.

The stuff I am talking about is the other things. Like ADB ports and Serial ports. Some people don't think Macs have FireWire or USB. This is the stuff I mean. Sounds like PC users are just mad because Apple won't move to Intel. God, how bad of a move that would be. (Apple moves to Intel. People stop bying Apple made computers. Apple goes under because hardware is where their money comes from. No more Mac OS. The whole reason people bought the Intel based PC to run the OS that no longer exists. PC users don't get this crucial detail.)

And I am dying to know what MP3 player you made your friend buy.

@Chrisbid: LOL. Floppy. Sad, some people still like those things. It's really sad actually. Such a slow, outdated technology. It took Dell 5 years to finally drop them (And try to take the credit for it as well. Don't deny it, Dell. Come to think of it, they also tried to say they offered wireless antennas built into their laptops while at the same time, every Mac already had antennas built-in for months before.)

[SoulBlazer]

There's one main reason I'll never have a Apple.

No games.

I love PC gaming too much to give it up.

[Jasoco]

There's one main reason I'll never have a Apple.

No games.

I love PC gaming too much to give it up.Honestly. That is a very good excuse. Fortunately, I don't care for PC (General term Referring to Wintel and Macintosh.) Games. I've played many, on both Windows and the Mac and well, the trouble both require to get a game to run a lot of the time isn't worth it. I love consoles for the REAL Plug-and-Play. ;)

Seems all the games that are on a computer only, I don't get into. I only played Sim City 4 for a short while before I got tired of it. Same with SC3000. The only games I really can play all the time are DOOM games. And those I usually play in DOS. Which I don't count. Of course, those games have already been updated for modern OSes.

Gaming, one of the Mac's ONLY Achilles' Heels. (Did I even spell that right?)

On the topic of upgrading. I for one don't ever see the need to upgrade more than what is actually upgradable. RAM, HD.. That's about it. I don't feel the need to rush out and but a new MoBo or processor. Since I don't Game, I don't need to keep getting a new Video card. What I would like is a bigger resolution, though. I'll give you that. But the "i" series isn't meant to be upgraded. That's what the "Power" series is for. My next computer will either be a PowerMac or a PowerBook.. Hell, it might even be an iBook if they do the right thing and give the 14" a makeover and a resolution it so rightly deserves...

But I'm rambling.

There's just something about Apple and Steve Jobs. Mac users look forward to "SteveNotes" as they're lovingly called. They usually mean new cool stuff. Upgrades, new computers, new OS features. It's like a big show. People cheer the second he walks on stage. He is loved by most of the Mac community. I for one look forward to the end of September when the new iMac design is revealed. So strange it's so soon after the current white one. Of course, my first generation iMac G4 is looking mighty out of date. I might have to go for one of them "20th Anniversary" iMac's instead.

[Flack]

See, being a Mac fan is a lot like being a Linux fan. First you have to talk about how great the product is. Then slowly you begin to mention the fact that your product is inferior but that it doesn't matter to you, then you finish up strong and state that you're sticking with it.

Every Linux argument ends somewhere with the admission that linux isn't a particularly good OS for a workstation, and that they dual boot into a Windows environment to do a lot of stuff. "At least it's free!"

Every Mac argument ends somewhere with the admission that they have like 1/1000th the software library of the PC and that upgrading some parts are a pain and others are impossible and none of it is really recommended. "At least our icons are prettier!"

[Richter]

OS X has such purdy icons. Its one of the reaso's wy i switched. And Expose, god :eek 2:

Is there a reason why Apple has not switched to the standard 2-button mouse? That's the only reason that stopping me from getting a 'Book

[Jasoco]

Is there a reason why Apple has not switched to the standard 2-button mouse? That's the only reason that stopping me from getting a 'BookWho knows, man? Who knows?

[Algol]

I don't have a Mac, though I would really like to try one. Is there any real difference between an eMac and a CRT iMac? the only one I know is that the eMac has a tray CD drive while the iMac has a slot drive.


Is there a reason why Apple has not switched to the standard 2-button mouse? That's the only reason that stopping me from getting a 'Book

If you don't like the Apple mouse, you can get a two-button USB mouse at just about any computer store for 15-20 dollars, which is a pretty good bargain when you realize that the closest Apple store to me sells Apple mice for 50 dollars. x_x

[Jasoco]

I don't have a Mac, though I would really like to try one. Is there any real difference between an eMac and a CRT iMac? the only one I know is that the eMac has a tray CD drive while the iMac has a slot drive.
Well, the LCD screen and resolutions. But that's mainly it. Aside from the size, weight, portability.. Or lack thereof on the eMac side. Those things are bigger than the original iMacs and DON'T have a handle. But they're still awesomely wonderful machines. And very worthy. Cheaper. So if you want a Mac, but can't afford the iMac, get the eMac. You will get the same experience, for less.

Oh, and the iMac hasn't had a SLOT drive since 2002. The LCD iMacs are trays. ;)

Here's your links for research:
http://www.apple.com/emac/
http://www.apple.com/imac/

Note: The iMacs are not available to purchase anywhere right now. New models are coming at the end of September. So if anyone was planning on getting one, it'll be worth the wait.


If you don't like the Apple mouse, you can get a two-button USB mouse at just about any computer store for 15-20 dollars, which is a pretty good bargain when you realize that the closest Apple store to me sells Apple mice for 50 dollars. x_x
Well, on the laptops, it's moot. You can't replace the trackpad part on the Books. Mice are just extra baggage. I would like to have a lapyop, but not have to use the Control button when I need to right-click. I'm sure Aple will get the idea soon enough, but not until they redesign the Mouse. When dual buttons become standard, the Book's will have them. Hopefully.

[icbrkr]

As a Mac owner many times (since 2002), I agree with the lack of a second mouse button is a bit odd on desktops (I immediately replaced the one button with a 2 button scrollwheel and sold the one button on Ebay) but on the iBook I have, you don't really notice it. Actually, I like it better having one button there - I can't really explain it I've just never had it slow me down.

While I'm posting, as for the "lack of games" argument, while it may have been more true a few years ago, and is still semi-true, it's been a lot better as of late. Most "A" title games have been ported, or are being ported (already playing UT2004, Battlefield 1942, Call of Duty) and Doom 3 will be out shortly. If you're a heavy gamer, a PC would be best. I still have 2 PC's running, one for this reason.

I think I echo the setiments of many people who have switched to the Mac that I like the system better because "it just works". I liked messing with my PC for years until I started doing it as a career - I'm a Systems Admin. Working 9 hours a day on broken boxes and then coming home to fix your box or try to solve some software conflict/hardware conflict was just frustrating all the time.

I'm not trying to turn this into a Mac vs PC debate - heck I wouldn't even have considered one until they gave me one with OS X on it at work to play with. I was with everyone else: ugly, proprietary system, and lame GUI. I just don't think many people have looked at one in the last 3 years to see what sort of inroads have been made.

[Richter]

If you don't like the Apple mouse, you can get a two-button USB mouse at just about any computer store for 15-20 dollars, which is a pretty good bargain when you realize that the closest Apple store to me sells Apple mice for 50 dollars. x_xthat's the first thing i did when i got my iMac x.x

if its an EA PC game, there some good chances that Aspyr has plans to port it

[Jasoco]

I just use the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer Optical that I got just before switching. 5 buttons and a wheel. Kick ass.