Steve Jobs...

I finished reading Isaacson's "Steve Jobs" and got to thinking about the man.


I had read at least 2-3 other Jobs' biographies (and as many other Sources as I could find on the Web) and considerably liked him.  As a charismatic personality that brought some great products into this world (yes, some, I would argue, that even WE didn't know we needed.  And now can't live without.  *I read that somewhere. :) *I'll add the reference when it comes to me*)


But it got me thinking...even if like 80% of the book was accurate (and even if some facts and events were.. embellished), it changed my whole opinion of him.  I Tweeted about this: "Done with "Steve Jobs" the book. Even if 80% is accurate, it changed my opinion of him to a narcissistic, bi-polar, micro-managing cry baby!  A brilliant, Singular, Man of the Century, dedicated, hardworking, "narcissistic, bi-polar, micro-managing cry baby!" With his own RDF!"


I think we all felt the effects of his RDF (Reality Distortion Field).  Whenever I watched his keynotes from the WWDC's, I was clearly mesmerized.  I mean I don't know what it was.  Maybe it was an accumulation of all his previous accomplishments, concentrated in a 2 hour presentation or maybe his personal life he kept private or just the thrill to find out "Well Steve, what do you have for us today???" 


But it wasn't all goo-goo over whatever he introduced.  I was just as pissed that the first iPhone didn't do MMS and was 600 freakin' dollars.  I was SOOOO pissed about the iPhone 4's "AntenaGate" that I actually called Apple Support and complained and yelled.  But I didn't return it.  NO.  Overall, I liked it and thought, eventually, they'll come around and add that feature, right??  (I STILL don't get though, why people, STILL want a physical keypad on the iPhone.  Each to his/her own I guess.)

I didn't buy the first iPad 'cause it HAD TO have a camera, Messaging app, Calculator, etc.

I DID get the iPad 2, for a few days.  But returned it, when I couldn't justify, to MYSELF, the exuberant cost.

(ATT removing it's Unlimited Data Plan, charging A La Carte for everything (a little pricey, too) kinda may have added some mixed emotions at that time)  :)

Which leads me to the main thing I STILL don't understand.  If he REALLY wanted to make a product that had mass appeal for the majority of consumers....WHY the HELL did he make ALL his products soooo DAMN EXPENSIVE???!!!  I didn't get it...fucking $600 for the CRIPPLED, SLOW iPhone 1.  (Yes, I did get the $100 back, but still!)  And $829 for the iPad 2!!  Fuckin' A!  Lower the freaking price by at least 10-15% and maybe MORE consumers would by it!  Right????!!
Makes sense to me.....so I'm adding "Elitist" the his "Character" list!  I'm thinking, he wanted ONLY "certain" people to enjoy his creations.  And that's Apple now.  Slick products but overpriced.

(SideNote:  I was thinking of switching Back to Windows, but was so turned off by the idea that I think I'll stick with my MacBookPro for a little while more.  Steve's Mac may be "closed" but it's STIIL WAAAY better than anything Microsoft is putting out!!!)

Lastly, "closed" versus "open".  I see benefits to both.  Closed=Control.   Open=Choice.

That IS oversimplifying it, but it's a start.  With Closed, Steve can control the products and only include features HE thought consumers SHOULD like.  Him knowing better of course!
We, the Apple cult (and the rest of the world) revolted a few times and yes sometimes, Apple, listened.  Which begs the question: Why NOT market research??  I think his RDF told him that "If He builds it, People will come"  And yes they did.  But maybe more would have if HE listened...more.  Or he could have changed some other people's view of Apple and of him if he did.

I still think, what if  he wasn't soo mean, egotistical and such a micro-manager.  Maybe Apple would have made more mistakes, maybe made a little less money and maybe changed it's Elitist image.  But, I strongly believe, he and Apple would have had a larger, loyal, customer base.