Steve Wozniak on Microsoft Surface: 'Steve Jobs came back reincarnated at Microsoft' - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dickprinter 

Woz, since 2008, has been an investor and Chief Scientist of a cloud solutions company called Fusion-IO. How involved he is I don't exactly know and he may have been given the title just because of the amount he has invested. I've been told this is a hot, up and coming company because of the technology they offer, with Cisco, HP, Dell and a few other bigger companies using their unique solutions.

 

http://www.fusionio.com/company/management-team/

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65C816 

Seriously?  You honestly think he hasn't done anything else with his life?

If he wishes his technology viewpoint to be taken seriously he may wish to sell a few of the cell phones that he owns and invest them in broadband for his house:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143552/Apple-founder-Steve-Wozniak-admits-having-broadband-home--does-smartphone-market.html

I'm sorry to say, but Woz seems to be quite loony. I remember watching some video where he was talking about counterfeiting bills before and actually using them. 

Woz has not been involved with Apple for a long, long time and this statement about Steve Jobs coming back reincarnated at Microsoft is just pure wacky, not to mention offensive. Those ugly tablets with a kickstand? Really?

Woz is also the guy who likes some Android phones, so I don't really care about what Woz thinks. What was the last good thing that Woz actually was involved in, the Apple ][?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotatsu 

This is why Woz is still a great guy  - he just loves good technology and he doesn't care who makes it.  He's the opposite of the kind of venom filled blind fanboys who infest the internet and spew their hatred against anything that isn't from their chosen camp. 

 

I'm looking forward to using a Surface for myself, as should anyone who is interested in technology.

I'm curious, kotatus.  Is your eagerness to use the Surface based on Microsoft's PROMISES of what it may--or may not--be, or what you have seen firsthand with your own eyes?  If you're going strictly on the (hilariously bad) LA demo session and the Potemkin Village website MS has put up, don't hold your breath for the remainder of this year.  Remember the Courier?  How did that turn out after Big Stevie's announcement at CES a few years back?  How's Project Pink doing right now on the Redmond campus?  Does it make us, one and all, "blind fanboys" because we believe in testing, using, and judging REAL products from REPUTABLE companies and not ghost-units from vaporware producers of the past?  The Surface does not exist.  Period.  And no one this side of Redmond knows what it will be like . . . if it ever actually ships.

Not being snarky.  Just realistic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65C816 

Seriously?  You honestly think he hasn't done anything else with his life?

Well "anything" was used in the colloquial sense of course.  

I'm sure he got up every day and drove somewhere and ate some stuff and then pooped it out again later on.  He has also been active in some companies and had that whole thing with the programmable remote he was inventing which would have been cool if it had came out when he first thought of it. Personally, I was seriously impressed by the Kathy Griffiths thing also.  

He seems like a nice guy etc. and I know he's a genius etc.  I don't mean any particular personal insult to him, just that yeah, he "hasn't done much since the glory days" AFAIK.  

A part of this perception is fuelled by the fact that the person he is easiest to compare to is Steve Jobs since they started out together and Steve Jobs kept right on doing all kinds of interesting world-shaking things for many years after they split.  That's a hard act to follow of course and hard to look good in comparison.    

And Mr. Wozniak has done what since leaving Apple? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunazuna 

And Mr. Wozniak has done what since leaving Apple? 

He collects phones and likes to wait outside Apple stores during product launches.

Woz was a one-hit-wonder - 30 years ago. now he's just a pompous gasbag still trying to live off that. he should be on the oldies geezer rock circuit.

i wish he would just go away, but i know he can't ever shut up.

Woz continues to enlarge & redefine what it means to be a "loose cannon."

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalclips 

Woz has some problems IMHO.

Wozniak is an idiot sometimes.  Wozniak's biggest claim to fame was the original Apple and that's about it.  Woz wasn't part of the Mac team that I know of.  Woz hasn't done anything successful since and I think he is trying to use the media to get attention and he says some of the STOOPIDIST things.  In order for Steve Jobs to be re-incarnated, he has to be reborn into another physical body and that person has to grow old enough to walk, talk, understand technology, etc.  Sometimes, Woz says things that just want to make one hit him over the head to knock some sense into him.  I personally think he should get 1,000 lashes with a wet noodle award.

Maybe Microsoft should hire Steve Wozniak.  Personally, that might PROVE he's an idiot if he takes the job.

Contrary to popular belief, not everybody should try to be like Mike...

I like Woz just like the next guy.  His contributions to Apple in the early years was something we all will forever be grateful for.  That being said, thank goodness that Steve Jobs was the one running Apple and not Woz.  Woz is a tinkerer and if it were up to him, he would never have capitalized on his invention and would have given it away for free and there would be no Apple.  He would have ran Apple right into the ground.  He has no business sense whatsoever and as big a heart that he has, he is not cut out to run with the big boys.  He's like a big, gullible teddy bear.

His description about Steve Jobs being at Microsoft is a downright shame I think.  While Microsoft is trying to get back on its feet, to even imply that Microsoft is on the same playing field innovation-wise as what Apple is doing is downright insulting.

Let's not forget that Monkey-boy Ballmer is at the helm and so long as he's calling the shots, innovation will always take a back seat.

Good luck to you Woz, but please stop trying to be something you're not.  

I just lost all respect for that man.

He is obviously paid up nicely by  Ballmer and company. 

He always talks this sh**. I guess because he has so much effing money he can say and do what he pleases.

Poor Woz. His elevator just can't make it to the top floor. Modern computer design has passed his technical limit long ago and his sense of esthetics never did develop

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmgregory1 

Woz gets quoted because of his past connection to Apple and the fact that he says good things about brands other than Apple.  And I appreciate that he appreciates all sorts of tech from all sorts of companies.  He'll try out just about anything tech, regardless of brand - I assume because he's interested and can afford to do so.  He comes off as being less biased that way.  If I had the money, I would likely do the same.

I was completely with you about how he's not brand-biased and keeps an open mind to any/all new technology. But this "reincarnated" thing leaves a horrible taste in my mouth for reasons it's hard to put into words. It just feels... really wrong. I truly wish he'd not said what he said, and he makes me sad.

"[Microsoft's latest products] have such a strikingly good visual appearance which is a lot of what Steve Jobs always looked for, the art and technology; the convergence of art and technology," Wozniak said.

This is a completely non-sensical statement from Woz and explains the complete disconnect he's had with Steve since the Mac was created. Steve doesn't look for a good visual appearance. The man always had the look he wanted when he worked on refinining the engineering necessary [with his teams] to create what he envisioned.
 

Steve Wozniak 99.9% brilliant engineer, 0.1% tact

Why Apple wouldn't have gone anywhere without Jobs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazoobee 

Other than dating Kathy Griffiths he hasn't done anything of note for at least 30 years, so he's pretty much open to any and all job offers.  

 

That's why he's in the news a lot.  He's just another minor celebrity who never turns down a free lunch or a speaking engagement and will allow himself to be interviewed for anything from a high school newspaper to the National news.  Sad really, and this latest pronouncement just makes him look like an old fool.  He's naive enough to not even notice when others are using him to their own ends also.  

 

Both Wozniak and Jobs started out working their asses off in that garage, Steve was still working right up to the day he died, whereas Wozniak hasn't done anything at all with the rest of his life.  It escapes me why he is idolised so much.   

Actually Woz has done quite a bit:

1) Technology:  In the mid 1980s he developed the CL-9 programmable universal remote control:

http://myoldmac.net/share/RC08_W/WOZ_CORE_CL9_RemoteControll.php

This was a pocket computer way ahead of its time.  It consisted of an Apple //c, RAM, ROM, LCD Display, KB, an OS, Timers, amplified IR, modem...  You could attach it to a Mac to program it.  It was also programmable through its KB or could learn [other remotes] through IR.  It was thinner and weighed less than the early iPods which came 16 years later.

2) Family:  He gifted each of his family members with multiple millions of dollars -- making each independently wealthy.

3) Humanitarian:  He supports the local Opera and Ballet.

4) Education:  Various contributions and participation (time and money) in k-12 education.

5) Charity:  Librally supports various charities.

6) Music/Entertainment:  Financed and provided personal backing to two US Festivals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Festival

Through all of this, Woz has remained down to earth, approachable and helpful...  Woz never knew a stranger.

When my story is written, I would be proud to have accomplished 1/10 of what Woz has done!

Well, if I had money to burn I'd buy one to just to say I had one.  The Surface has some interesting design qualities that can't be denied.  Even so, marketing and pricing are key to its success.  Unfortunately, MS already made enemies with this device of its OEMs.  Plus, the device crashing during a demo wasn't a good thing.  We'll see if this takes off when/if it becomes available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmhisey 


Which you're able to observe because you're standing in the ground-floor lobby watching the numbers go up on all the elevators around you. Looking up from below is usually a pretty weak vantage point to hold when you're throwing stones.

You should quit defending the guy. Woz made a really retarded statement, and he's taking the flack for it now, deservedly so.

Woz is right!  Steve Jobs MUST have been reincarnated at Microsoft in order for the Surface to be getting any traction.   Definitely a case of the reality distortion field at play!

Plus we know that Woz waits in line at the Apple Store to get the latest stuff -- like for the new iPad he waited *overnight* at the Century City store.  And we know he won't be waiting overnight to get an i5 surface when it comes out next February or whatever -- brilliantly timed just after the 2012 Christmas buying season. Dudes!  You are dissing Steve Ballmer way too much -- especially when he is so obviously "Think Different".  Who would think of timing like that ?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

2) Family:  He gifted each of his family members with multiple millions of dollars -- making each independently wealthy.

 

3) Humanitarian:  He supports the local Opera and Ballet.

 

4) Education:  Various contributions and participation (time and money) in k-12 education.

 

5) Charity:  Librally supports various charities.

 

6) Music/Entertainment:  Financed and provided personal backing to two US Festivals.

 

I'm not diminishing what Woz has accomplished in the past, but numbers 2 - 6 require zero talent or effort in my opinion. Anybody with money can accomplish those. Of course, he had the talent to acquire that money in the first place, but somebody just giving away money or donating money is not impressive in my view and pales in comparison to the actual work that he did when he was still involved in the tech business.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

That's not the problem!

 

I had fairly regular contact with Woz before and after the accident.  He was a little spacey right after he got out of the hospital, but after a few weeks he was back to his normal self.

Woz is such a prankster, surely we don't see this is yet another one of his sly jokes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitey Burke 

This Wozzie IMO is a disgruntled X apple employee who blew it. He acts retarded and looks like a bloated buffoooooon.

He's just being a jokester, I think. He likes anything that tweaks the status quo (even when it makes no sense whatsoever).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple ][ 

I'm sorry to say, but Woz seems to be quite loony. I remember watching some video where he was talking about counterfeiting bills before and actually using them. 

 

Woz has not been involved with Apple for a long, long time and this statement about Steve Jobs coming back reincarnated at Microsoft is just pure wacky, not to mention offensive. Those ugly tablets with a kickstand? Really?

 

Woz is also the guy who likes some Android phones, so I don't really care about what Woz thinks. What was the last good thing that Woz actually was involved in, the Apple ][?

You should really learn to read.  He never counterfeit $2 bills.  Others thought he did, and he had an interesting chat with a Secret Service Agent (or FBI, forgot).

Also, liking some android phones is illegal, immoral or unethical nowadays?  WTF?  I swear some of you are worse than android fanbois.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazoobee 

 

Well "anything" was used in the colloquial sense of course.  

[...]

 

A part of this perception is fuelled by the fact that the person he is easiest to compare to is Steve Jobs since they started out together and Steve Jobs kept right on doing all kinds of interesting world-shaking things for many years after they split.  That's a hard act to follow of course and hard to look good in comparison.    

You do realize he's been seriously involved in education, and used his own money to fund a school and helps them out from a technology point of view, etc etc, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmhisey 


You or anyone else should feel completely free to criticize his comment/joke. I'm pretty sure that can be done however without the childish attacks on Woz, himself. Right? Glass houses and all that?
Like I've said, anyone who is insulting Woz really should bolster their own credibility first with a few bullet points of their own accomplishments so that we know the relevance of their opinion. After all, it's easy to google "steve wozniak" and get thousands of hits so we know all about him. The rest of you on here, not so much...

Your particular line of defence is kind of silly, in my opinion. If somebody is a sports fan, are they not allowed to criticize an NBA player or a team, because the person criticizing has never played in the NBA?

I'm not the President of the USA, but does that mean that I can not criticize the President, because he has accomplished more than me, by simply being elected?

I don't care who makes retarded statements. If somebody makes a retarded statement, which Woz did in this case, then people have every right to criticize him for making that statement, regardless if the people criticizing have accomplished more or less than him. That's completely irrelevant. What is relevant is his retarded statement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

Actually Woz has done quite a bit:

 

...

I said he was a great guy.  I meant "accomplishments" not a laundry list of his personal attributes.  

Lots of us are nice people that donate money and help out our families.  No one should really get kudos for such things, it's a given that we all should do them.  

In terms of concrete accomplishments in the field of technology though you'd be hard pressed to find anything other than the remote which was a market failure in that it never really got to market in a useable or saleable form.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65C816 

You do realize he's been seriously involved in education, and used his own money to fund a school and helps them out from a technology point of view, etc etc, right?

Giving away money is not an "accomplishment."  

It's base actually.