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The Apple Two

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the ain't-that-the-truth dept.

theodp writes "Over at Slate, Tim Wu argues that the iPad is Steve Jobs' final victory over Steve Wozniak. Apple's origins were pure Woz, but the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad are the products of the company's other Steve. Jobs' ideas have always been in tension with Woz's brand of idealism and openness. Crazy as it seems, Apple Inc. — the creator of the personal computer — is leading the effort to exterminate it. And somewhere, deep inside, Woz must realize what the release of the iPad signifies: The company he once built now, officially, no longer exists."

6 of 643 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Like Woz didn't move on a LONG time ago? by AvitarX · · Score: 5, Informative

    He likes the iPad
    http://www.pcworld.com/article/193329/apples_woz_ipad_great_for_students_grandparents.html

    Though, I can't imagine using it as my only computer as a student, blech

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  2. Sure, it's official by Itninja · · Score: 4, Informative

    I mean, it's really official. As in the company Woz built was called 'Apple Computer, Inc.' and in 2007 the company by that name officially ceased to exist and became 'Apple, Inc.'. Woz had nothing to do with any company called 'Apple, Inc.'.

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  3. Creator of the personal computer? by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 5, Informative

    Really? The first PC was the Altair 8800 (shipped in 1975 and ran Microsoft Software no less), the first fully assembled PC you could buy ready to run was the Commodore PET in 1977 (shipped in January - Apple ]['s shipped the same year in June).

    But neither were made by a couple of hip guys from silicon valley named Steve - so it doesn't count right?

  4. Re:Like Woz didn't move on a LONG time ago? by EvilBudMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah, Wozniak wanted things open. The "other Steve" wants to benefit off of BSD but then close up stuff tighter than Microsoft does now. I knew they were somewhat like this all of the time especially when they sued Microsoft for their look and feel issues over Windows. Why can't all graphical user interfaces have a trashcan instead of a recycle bin? There is a lot of this in the industry that just makes it tough on the user when switching programs and I guess that's what most Electronic/Software/Media companies want.

    As anyone who has ever watched Max Headroom in the 80's knows these things need to be kept separate by separate companies. When you control it all the quality suffers. Apple used to be a hardware company and Microsoft was a software company and all was well. Now they are both into everything. I wonder how long it will take Apple to crack into gaming and really hit the big time? Sony is an absolute power in electronics/media/. They farm out their gaming development. The new PS3 looks like the best toy I have ever seen. Apple tries to be a toy maker, but their toys ain't no fun any more.

  5. Re:Apple has made Microsoft look "open". by bhtooefr · · Score: 4, Informative

    You can develop for (almost) *ANY* Windows Mobile phone, not just 100 phones, without App Store intervention.

  6. Re:The difference being... by captaindomon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Compensation != Salary, folks. Steve's compensation is 650 million: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/12/lead_07ceos_Steven-P-Jobs_HEDB.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_compensation

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