Rest in Peace Steve Jobs

After high school, in the early 90's, I didn't know what I wanted to do. All I knew is that I would like it to hopefully be something artistic and creative. So I started taking courses at a technical college and after 2 years, I earned a certificate in graphic design. I have always been interested in and have used computers but this was the first time I started using a Mac computer. I learned everything from Photoshop to Illustrator to 3D animation and more. It was some of the most fun I ever had using a computer.

After I finished the courses, I needed a computer but didn't have the money to buy one for myself. However, my father helped me out by buying me a Windows computer. At the time, the Windows computer made more sense because it was cheaper, it could be custom built and ran the same applications the Mac did. So I made do with what I had and was very thankful to have something to work on. The problem though was that the computer kept breaking down constantly. I ended up spending more time fixing Windows related problems than actually creating anything. This just happened to be at the same time the computer industry was booming where Windows computers made up most of the market in the business world. Years of fixing Windows problems, the decline of Apple Computer, plus a booming Windows computer industry led me to stray from my artistic and creative aspirations and focus more on the technical side of things as a Sr. Systems and Network Administrator. My path was set. Good-bye Apple, hello Microsoft.

In the early 2000's I started to notice more and more small digital music players. I didn't think much of it until late 2001 when I heard that Steve Jobs was introducing the first ever "iPod". Steve Jobs was single handedly bringing Apple back from the dead and I was noticing. The iPod design, the ease of use, the headphones,... everything about it was nothing necessarily new but yet so brilliant and innovative. This was the music player everyone was looking for. Around 2004 I finally got my first ever Apple product. My mind opened up. Somehow I got sucked into the mindset that I should hate Apple because I am a Sys Admin for Windows products. I thought this because everyone else thought this way and spoke this way about Apple.

Then one day a switch flipped in my head. I thought, "Huh? What am I thinking? How narrow minded, closed minded and what a ridiculous rule to live by. Time to start thinking differently.". So I decided to give Apple a try. I went right over to Fry's Electronics and got an Apple iPod 5th generation digital music player. This was the greatest electronic piece of equipment I had ever owned. I was so proud of it and wore it and listened to it everywhere I went. A few months into using it, I remember going for a walk one day, listening to my iPod and thinking, "Wow, this is so great! I love this thing! If only it had Internet access". And in 2007 that became a reality when Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone. My jaw hit the  floor when I watched him announce it. Greatest. Invention. Ever.

These days, you will still see me walking around with white ear buds constantly plugged right into my ears. I listen to music, podcasts, watch video, Internet, email, message. The iPod and the iPhone literally changed my life. I finally had everything I needed right with me. I still don't have a Mac computer or an iPad but I will soon. For now, my iPhone and Apple TV bring me great joy every single day.

Steve Jobs was a brilliant technical innovator, a masterful industrial designer, a visionary, a living legend and will go down in the history books as one of the greatest contributors to society of his time. He was a CEO that all other CEO's should look up to, admire and emulate. He was a rare breed. He literally brought smiles and joy to people all over the world even in times of war and sadness. The world will truly miss him and he will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Steve Jobs!