Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

As I write this on my MacBook Pro there is no doubt that Steve Jobs has affected my life.  When I check my iPhone, when I sit down to watch any Pixar film with my niece, Steve Jobs is right there with me.  Steve Jobs was the co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Walt Disney Company.  Although Jobs was not an inventor of all of the great products that came from Apple, it was his risk-taking as CEO that brought Apple to the top of the competition.  How many times have you been asked, Apple or PC?  Think about it—there are a bunch of PC companies, but only one Apple. 

 
Since Steve Jobs died from complications due to pancreatic cancer on October 5, 2011 there has been a disturbance in the public.  Facebook statuses saying “RIP STEVE JOBS” flooded my news feed for the next twenty-four hours and twitter received the same response.  It comes as no shock that the death of a man labeled as the 17^th most powerful person in the world by Forbes has such an impact on people.  Flowers have been left outside Apple, along with apples and other things to express the sadness people are feeling over Jobs. 
 
When asked about the death of Steve Jobs, one Brandeis student said, “Steve Jobs was a legacy,” remarking later about the loss for Apple.  Another student felt that Steve Jobs was too much hype: “He didn’t do as much as people give him credit for.  There a other great inventors that die without this response.” It is true that Steve Jobs wasn’t the inventor of Apple products, but rather the cultivator.  No he didn’t invent the mouse, but he did help decide to put it in a computer. 
 
I feel that the impact on the Brandeis community will have to do with the take over of Apple.  How the next CEO does will impact the influence of Apple computers on our campus.  Since many people argue that it wasn’t just Steve Jobs, but the inventors behind him that caused the success of Apple, maybe Apple will continue to be as strong as ever. No matter what the result now, I know I love my laptop and phone and thank Steve Jobs for his influence on technology.
 
RIP Steve Jobs: February 24, 1955-October 5, 2011