“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson

I’m not an Apple guy.  I’ve always been a PC guy.  I first cut my GUI (Graphic User Interface) teeth on Windows.  Heck, before Windows, I can remember using an IBM clone running MS-DOS.

Today, I run Linux.

Regardless of the operating system I use on my own personal computer,  I’ve always been interested in the history of how the computer industry came about. Which is why the latest book I have on loan from the the local library just happens to be “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson.

In a nutshell?  Well, I’m 18 chapters in.  But it appears the big revelation so far is this:  Xerox invented the desktop computer (with Graphic User Interface and mouse)…and Steve Jobs stole it from them.  This event is also described as being a fumble by Xerox.  Xerox HAD the desktop computer!  They simply didn’t know how to market it and bring it to the masses.  Jobs and Apple recovered the fumble and ran with the ball.  The book does go on to say that Jobs and his team improved on the overall design and built even more features into the operating system and GUI.

And then there’s the revelation of Microsoft stealing the OS and GUI from Apple!  Jobs was furious upon learning this.  He had a personal meeting with Gates and for minutes on end, yelled , screamed, berated, and hollered accusing Bill Gates of this ultimate  betrayal.  Remaining quite calm, Bill Gates famously responded, “Well, Steve, I think there’s more than one way of looking at it. I think it’s more like we both had this rich neighbor named Xerox and I broke into his house to steal the TV set and found out that you had already stolen it.”

It really is a terrific read!  And while it’s all about Steve Jobs, it delves into the wider history of the development of the personal computer due to Jobs’ interaction with software developers and others who played a role in shaping the industry.

If you do a Google Search, a lot of info comes up. Youtube has many videos detailing Mac/Xerox including this one:

You can also see Xerox demonstrate their desktop computer in a video presentation.  Youtube has this video demo at:

And part 2 can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODZBL80JPqw.

But, read the book.   It’s well organized, well written, and comes across as quite truthful and sincere.  It really is a fascinating look at Steve Jobs, Apple Computer, and the industry they, along with others, helped define and build.