The Day the Genius Died...

On October 5, 2011 a very dark cloud descended upon the technology world as one of the most innovative men to ever grace its presence succumbed to a long battle with cancer.  The world was left emptier without his genius light flickering in cyberspace.  His impact is felt across the globe, as we mourn the passing of Steve Jobs.  

I have only cried twice over a celebrity type figure's death; I cried for Michael Jackson, and now I have shed tears for Steve Jobs.  It's not like I knew him, or even know that much about him, but what he did and what he signified has played a huge part of my life.  I am an Apple-shipper.  Not as much as some, but a shipper none the less.  I was late to the game, but once I became one, I never let go.  I only use a PC if I am forced to.  I will anxiously await new products along with the rest of the geekdom and hope it is something I can have.  I covet Apple products when I don't even need them.  I don't even need to know that much about them because Apple's reputation precedes any smoke and mirror tricks other companies use to bamboozle you to buy inferior products. 

Like Michael Jackson, I will always remember exactly where I was when I heard the news that Steve Jobs had died.  And even if we all knew this day would come, we all hoped for a miracle that would save him.  It was a selfish request really because we just wanted him to continue to lead the most amazing company there is.  Without him Apple has failed once.  I only hope he was able to put in the groundwork to ensure it does not fail again.  Sadly, the Apple iPhone 4S was the last product released before his passing.  It came one day before.  People are clamoring to get their hands on one just to have the last Apple product Steve Jobs touched.  This after the internet railed against it one day prior.  I get it.  It's probably why I want to hug my brand spanking new MacBookPro that I just got on Sept 30th.  

Steve Jobs touched people in a way most CEOs don't because he made everyone believe in his vision.  He brought you in and you became part of an elite Apple family (even if that family has grown exponentially with iPhones and iPads).  Like my friend Warren Fu said, Steve Jobs was the Willy Wonka of technology.  He knew not just how to make products that were easy to use and gave you exactly what you wanted, but he knew how to package everything into a sexy-have-to-have exterior.  Apple has led the world in style and even if others don't want to admit it, everyone else has been trying to be better than them for a long time.  Other companies try to make the magic Apple does, and have sometimes come close, but they didn't have Steve Jobs' special touch that made the Apple product always a bit better.  I fear that magic touch is lost forever, but am crossing my fingers in anticipation of Apple's next great thing. 

This broke my heart when I went to the Apple website Wednesday evening:

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In honor of Steve Jobs, I will list all our Apple products, past and current, to show how much of an impact Steve has had in our day-to-day lives. 

Computers:

Goodbye Steve...