Thoughts based on the passing of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs

I was saddened to hear of the loss of the innovative, influential, and charismatic Steve Jobs this week.  I suppose in truth all that I really knew about him was the technology to which the Apple company is known for. His passing though has made me think about technology though, especially when I remember that when I was doing a work experience for the Chad newspaper in Mansfield, where I was doing a bit of everything really.

I had already done some work experience with the other two local papers at the time in Mansfield, the Observer and Recorder.  Those were mainly office based and actually writing up stories, including one I happened upon on my way to the Recorder office, which was at the back of the main post office in Mansfield at the time.  It was an accident on Harrop White Road, where I girl was hit by a car.

Steve Jobs with Apple Macs

I had already had experience of technology anyway, because we had a Commodore 64 computer at home, and I loved the games in the arcades.  I don't think it is much of a stretch to say that ours was the generation were technology was taking over our free time.

When I went to work experience with the Chad, I went a few times.  It was something that the local social services had sorted out because I wasn't in a local school of course, instead being far away at a school for being naughty, which I've gone into a long time ago, and don't want to bring that up again.

iPod Classic

I did the journalist thing, including a couple of published pieces such as the woman that won something or other, I can't quite remember.  It was obviously very important world news though at the time!

I was taken out of that section, where they used AMSTRAD computers by the way, and was given the job of assisting the computer maintenance man there, whose name was Rick something or other.  You have to remember that this is a long time ago, when a hard drive was bigger than a washing machine!  Absolutely true that.  Down there he was helping to sort out the failing AMSTRAD's and the Apple Mac's that were being for the Publishing program they used.  When I used that for the first time it was amazing, I really loved it, and thought that it looked great.  You look back on that original Apple Mac now and you think, "how ugly is that?" Back then though it was completely different, and looked amazing when put up against it's nearest rival, which was the PC, and they were cumbersome, enormous, and actually very boring visually.  Even looking at the picture I've included here reminds me of how I thought they looked so good.

iPad

I could go on talking about technology until the cow's come home, but I'm just reminiscing, and thought that I would share a very quick little bit of something with you.

iPhone

As the years continued, I eventually got myself an iPod, and still swear by it.  I've not yet got an iPhone, although I would love to own one, and I'm sort of tempted-ish by the iPad, but not as much as the iPhone.  I'd love an Apple laptop, but in all honesty, Apple equipment is incredibly expensive when compared to the alternative.  I know that could cause some response, but that's just my opinion.  I do think that the iPod would stay if I got an iPhone, because they haven't come up with an iPhone that would store as much information as I like on my classic iPod.

Anyway, that's my reminiscing then for the time being.  Thank you for allowing me this little dalliance, and I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend ahead.  Take care.

October 7 2011 (40 years, 10 months, and 11 days old)