If Woz wants to contribute then he should go back to Apple. He should stop firing spitballs from the outside. It's not helpful to his legacy and it's not helpful to Apple's.
Jobs has wanted to go back to Apple for years, but they apparently don't want him. No wonder.
I said it before he died and I'll say it again....Jobs was a dick, a good salesman with grand ideas, but still a dick.
If you think Jobs was only a salesman, you must have slept through the last 15 years. Jobs showed a masterful ability to lead and manage that is far beyond being a good salesman.
I said it before he died and I'll say it again....Jobs was a dick, a good salesman with grand ideas, but still a dick. I still love the quote about his anger towards Google "copying" iOS and wanting to waste every penny of Apple's money to go "thermonuclear" on Google. Real level-headed guy. I hope people still remember where Jobs got the idea of the Macintosh OS from...oh the irony (and yes I lived through that time).
Jobs, surprisingly, was human, and comprised of both good and bad elements, just like the rest of us.
However, you are seriously underselling him.
You should read up on him more, as there is a wealth of information, from multiple sources, that directly contradicts much of the information in your post.
A one-hit wonder? lol. You obviously have no idea what took place in the computer industry before you were born -- what 13 years ago?
Woz, from everything that I've ever seen or read, is the exact opposite of pompous. He's self-effacing and self-deprecating.
As compared to the pompous gasbags commenting here who are nothing but self-defecating...
So what have you done that is world changing?
It's just a comment and everyone is entitled to his own.
Yes what had woz done lately that is world changing, he was moving from one company to another like a rolling stone and nothing he had done lately that is note worthy.
Im sorry but aside from the iPad I like the Nexus 7. The surface isn't even on my radar at this point but the keyboard case idea was almost clever if it weren't for the fact that someone is doing it already for the iPad.
While I think Woz's comment was a bit over the top, he is perfectly free to speak his mind. People can either take it or leave it.
Fusion IO, where he's the chief scientist, builds solid state storage that sit directly on the PCIe bus. Unlike SSD's a Fusion IO card doesn't go through a SAS or SATA controller and thus has much lower latency. Many of the more well-known search engines, cloud providers, and social networks are Fusion IO customers.
Wozniak is no idiot. He knows good engineering. I may not agree with him on Surface, but perhaps Microsoft will get it right.
Woz never was, or wanted to be, in management -- he is an excellent engineer... He understands and accepts that, what's your problem?
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
I see the Surface has a last ditch effort to gain some traction in the tablet market (a market MS entered in the 1990s). I see it much like the Zune was a last ditch effort to use their 900 pound gorilla influence to gain some traction in the PMP market. This meant pissing off their Play4Sure OEMs but that wasn't a big deal because those vendors were already failing.
Of course, a key difference between then and now is that 1) MS's size pales in comparison to Apple's size and 2) losing the PMP market really only mean losing the internet music market from MS's PoV but losing Windows on tablets which are replacing PC sales for many will be a huge longterm issue for MS if the Surface doesn't work out. You didn't say that specifically but I have a feeling that is what you were eluding to in your post.
I'm not sure Ballmer will be gone in a couple years. I'd like him to be since I have a feeling he is the poison of many of their bad choices but if he's still there now I wonder if the board ever push him out. They have money and they have shown they have the ability to grow and adapt (e.g.: WinNT kernel on WinPh8 and Metro UI); I just hope they can fix their problems before it's too late.
That is precisely what I was alluding to actually. It seems counterintuitive (Ballmer-esque) in that they are literally competing with themselves every time they sell one of these devices. It is going to hurt OEM relationships, and possibly drive alternative OS adoption. I think Ballmer, knowing the stakes, is trying to hedge his bets.
I do, for the record, like that Microsoft is attempting to created integrated solutions. Problem is, if I can't easily explain to my grandmother which tablet she should buy, why wouldn't she just choose an iPad. The grandma factor, to me, is a huge metric by which devices and tech should be measured.
The problem is these guys you mentioned were not with them when they are tinkering with the Apple 1. Woz wanted to give it away for free.
If not for SJ there would be no Apple.
It could just as easily be said that without Woz there would be no Apple -- there would be nothing [hardware or software] for Jobs to market -- nothing for Markkula, et al to use to build a company.
1. Why does Woz keep talking about technology as if he is relevant and influencing innovation?
2. Why do people keep quoting Woz as if he is relevant and influencing innovation?
Same things I've ben asking. Wozniak has been utterly irrelevant for more than 2 decades when it comes to tech, so I never understood why reporters keep frothing at the mouth to get his take on every single new development and release when it comes to Apple products and the tech industry. Yes, he did co-found Apple, but that means very little now he his contributions to the tech landscape after that point have been absolutely nil. Also, this quote is in incredibly, incredibly bad taste, and rather classless. His choice of words especially are nauseating, he could have got the same point across without being so sensational, and talking about the reincarnation of a recently deceased man. Woz has said some rather incredibly idiotic thing the past few years, but this one is up there with the worst. He seems to love to call anything that comes out as a competitor to an Apple product the best thing ever.
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
Oh how wrong you are. If anything it is a step back in time.
The Surface is different from the iPad because it is trying to be a fully integrated computer for office and other business work. The iPad has evolved into a good business tool through apps. The Surface Pro is the equivalent of a laptop computer with all of the productivity programs on it. Of course we don't know if it really works yet but it is still a step above the iPad in concept. It is the future of computing by combining high power with a touch interface within a small package.
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
Ahh... the IWM...
I don't know if it is still being used but it was used in Apple ][ and early Mac computers.
Here is the first version of the Apple ][ Floppy Disk Controller card:
Here is the version of the same card with a single IWM chip that incorporated several other chips... 8 chips replaced by 3 chips:
This was typical of what Woz prided himself with... he would poor over chip specs and circuit diagrams to see if he could simplify and improve on complex designs -- sound familiar?
To really appreciate what Woz did, you have to understand the "microcomputer world" as it existed in 1977.
Most "serious" computers were built to the S100* standard -- you had a [mostly] empty box called a "card cage" that contained a series of 100-pin connectors soldered to a backplane circuit board. Usually, the card cage included a power supply and fan. Here is a card cage populated with several S100 circuit boards.
* the 100 in S100 referred to the fact that each connector and circuit board had 100 distinct pinouts -- 50 per side. The contacts were all gold plated -- which made the boards and connectors quite expensive. By comparison Apple boards had 50 pinouts and were about 1/4 the size.
The S100 Card Cage
The S100* boards were inserted into the card cage to assemble a computer. In the above image, the S100 cards are plugged in to the backplane at the bottom (and interconnected). In addition, S100 cards, often, were interconnected with special [non-standard] cables shown at the top,
The typical S100 board was about the size of a sheet of paper -- about 4 times the size of an Apple ][ card shown earlier.
To build a workable computer, the card cage would be filled with several S100 boards -- each providing a separate function:
-- CPU Board
-- RAM
-- Tape and Serial I/O
-- Color/Graphics
-- Floppy Disk Controller
In addition, most S100 computers used an external CRT Terminal/KB for I/O.
So, here are some typical S100 boards (many of the boards have chips on both sides):
CPU Board:
RAM Board
Serial I/O Board
Color Graphics - 2 board set
Floppy Disk Controller Board
Now, compare the above Floppy Disk Controller card with Woz' 3-chip equivalent at 1/4 the size (and a fraction of the cost and power/heat dissipation requirements).
Finally, Here's the Apple ][ motherboard which incorporates all of the above backplane and S100 boards (except the Floppy Disk Controller) into a single board.
That's the microcomputer state of the art circa 1977...
I like rubbish cheap wine - does not make me a wine connoiseur, Woz likes rubbish gadgets that aren't developed + produced = ignore him, just another cupboard closet MS geek who has a grudge against Apple.
Comments
Every time Woz opens his mouth these days, something idiotic comes out.
I've lost all respect for you, Steve.
Jobs has wanted to go back to Apple for years, but they apparently don't want him. No wonder.
If you think Jobs was only a salesman, you must have slept through the last 15 years. Jobs showed a masterful ability to lead and manage that is far beyond being a good salesman.
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
Woz has some problems IMHO.
I think he's finally getting back at Apple for canceling the Apple II...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whitey Burke
He acts retarded and looks like a bloated buffoooooon.
Oooh - excellent critique!
Good thing Einstein didn't look "different", or we'd never have had modern physics.
And, while I'm at it, why would I ever question the credibility of a caricature from the "southeastern US" named "Whitey"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lamewing
I said it before he died and I'll say it again....Jobs was a dick, a good salesman with grand ideas, but still a dick. I still love the quote about his anger towards Google "copying" iOS and wanting to waste every penny of Apple's money to go "thermonuclear" on Google. Real level-headed guy. I hope people still remember where Jobs got the idea of the Macintosh OS from...oh the irony (and yes I lived through that time).
Jobs, surprisingly, was human, and comprised of both good and bad elements, just like the rest of us.
However, you are seriously underselling him.
You should read up on him more, as there is a wealth of information, from multiple sources, that directly contradicts much of the information in your post.
So what have you done that is world changing?
It's just a comment and everyone is entitled to his own.
Yes what had woz done lately that is world changing, he was moving from one company to another like a rolling stone and nothing he had done lately that is note worthy.
I may not be a footnote in history so what?
Im sorry but aside from the iPad I like the Nexus 7. The surface isn't even on my radar at this point but the keyboard case idea was almost clever if it weren't for the fact that someone is doing it already for the iPad.
With him there might be no Apple too.
First he wanted to give away whatever he had created for free.
Secondly he wanted to have HP first crack at what he had created.
If not for SJ there is no Apple.
Fusion IO, where he's the chief scientist, builds solid state storage that sit directly on the PCIe bus. Unlike SSD's a Fusion IO card doesn't go through a SAS or SATA controller and thus has much lower latency. Many of the more well-known search engines, cloud providers, and social networks are Fusion IO customers.
Wozniak is no idiot. He knows good engineering. I may not agree with him on Surface, but perhaps Microsoft will get it right.
The problem is these guys you mentioned were not with them when they are tinkering with the Apple 1. Woz wanted to give it away for free.
If not for SJ there would be no Apple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum
Woz never was, or wanted to be, in management -- he is an excellent engineer... He understands and accepts that, what's your problem?
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
I see the Surface has a last ditch effort to gain some traction in the tablet market (a market MS entered in the 1990s). I see it much like the Zune was a last ditch effort to use their 900 pound gorilla influence to gain some traction in the PMP market. This meant pissing off their Play4Sure OEMs but that wasn't a big deal because those vendors were already failing.
Of course, a key difference between then and now is that 1) MS's size pales in comparison to Apple's size and 2) losing the PMP market really only mean losing the internet music market from MS's PoV but losing Windows on tablets which are replacing PC sales for many will be a huge longterm issue for MS if the Surface doesn't work out. You didn't say that specifically but I have a feeling that is what you were eluding to in your post.
I'm not sure Ballmer will be gone in a couple years. I'd like him to be since I have a feeling he is the poison of many of their bad choices but if he's still there now I wonder if the board ever push him out. They have money and they have shown they have the ability to grow and adapt (e.g.: WinNT kernel on WinPh8 and Metro UI); I just hope they can fix their problems before it's too late.
That is precisely what I was alluding to actually. It seems counterintuitive (Ballmer-esque) in that they are literally competing with themselves every time they sell one of these devices. It is going to hurt OEM relationships, and possibly drive alternative OS adoption. I think Ballmer, knowing the stakes, is trying to hedge his bets.
I do, for the record, like that Microsoft is attempting to created integrated solutions. Problem is, if I can't easily explain to my grandmother which tablet she should buy, why wouldn't she just choose an iPad. The grandma factor, to me, is a huge metric by which devices and tech should be measured.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maccherry
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.
I'm confused; does he get paid by Ballmer to say things for Microsoft's benefit, or does he have enough money to say what he pleases?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamC
The problem is these guys you mentioned were not with them when they are tinkering with the Apple 1. Woz wanted to give it away for free.
If not for SJ there would be no Apple.
It could just as easily be said that without Woz there would be no Apple -- there would be nothing [hardware or software] for Jobs to market -- nothing for Markkula, et al to use to build a company.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cronked
Two questions:
1. Why does Woz keep talking about technology as if he is relevant and influencing innovation?
2. Why do people keep quoting Woz as if he is relevant and influencing innovation?
Same things I've ben asking. Wozniak has been utterly irrelevant for more than 2 decades when it comes to tech, so I never understood why reporters keep frothing at the mouth to get his take on every single new development and release when it comes to Apple products and the tech industry. Yes, he did co-found Apple, but that means very little now he his contributions to the tech landscape after that point have been absolutely nil. Also, this quote is in incredibly, incredibly bad taste, and rather classless. His choice of words especially are nauseating, he could have got the same point across without being so sensational, and talking about the reincarnation of a recently deceased man. Woz has said some rather incredibly idiotic thing the past few years, but this one is up there with the worst. He seems to love to call anything that comes out as a competitor to an Apple product the best thing ever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65C816
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
Ahh... the IWM...
replaced... incomplete
Quote:
Originally Posted by monstrosity
Oh how wrong you are. If anything it is a step back in time.
The Surface is different from the iPad because it is trying to be a fully integrated computer for office and other business work. The iPad has evolved into a good business tool through apps. The Surface Pro is the equivalent of a laptop computer with all of the productivity programs on it. Of course we don't know if it really works yet but it is still a step above the iPad in concept. It is the future of computing by combining high power with a touch interface within a small package.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum
Ahh... the IWM...
I don't know if it is still being used but it was used in Apple ][ and earlyMac computers.
Here is the first version of the Apple ][ Floppy Disk Controller card:
When Apple came out with the Floppy drives on rg===
As much as I enjoy reading your contributions here at AI... I sure do hope that your book is coming along on time?
From one ol' tech-geezer to the other.... the wheel keeps on a turnin'... but far too fast to be a wastin' time about it...!
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65C816
There was a great story of Woz going back to work after his plane crash. As an engineer. Not as a department head. As an engineer.
His manager was supposed to have said - WTF am I supposed to do with him? He's the fucking founder of the company!!!
Hey D.A. - is it still true that all systems have a WOZ machine built in to them? I know in the past, the disk interface on the Macs were called the Integrated WOZ machine.
Ahh... the IWM...
I don't know if it is still being used but it was used in Apple ][ and early Mac computers.
Here is the first version of the Apple ][ Floppy Disk Controller card:
Here is the version of the same card with a single IWM chip that incorporated several other chips... 8 chips replaced by 3 chips:
This was typical of what Woz prided himself with... he would poor over chip specs and circuit diagrams to see if he could simplify and improve on complex designs -- sound familiar?
To really appreciate what Woz did, you have to understand the "microcomputer world" as it existed in 1977.
Most "serious" computers were built to the S100* standard -- you had a [mostly] empty box called a "card cage" that contained a series of 100-pin connectors soldered to a backplane circuit board. Usually, the card cage included a power supply and fan. Here is a card cage populated with several S100 circuit boards.
* the 100 in S100 referred to the fact that each connector and circuit board had 100 distinct pinouts -- 50 per side. The contacts were all gold plated -- which made the boards and connectors quite expensive. By comparison Apple boards had 50 pinouts and were about 1/4 the size.
The S100 Card Cage
The S100* boards were inserted into the card cage to assemble a computer. In the above image, the S100 cards are plugged in to the backplane at the bottom (and interconnected). In addition, S100 cards, often, were interconnected with special [non-standard] cables shown at the top,
The typical S100 board was about the size of a sheet of paper -- about 4 times the size of an Apple ][ card shown earlier.
To build a workable computer, the card cage would be filled with several S100 boards -- each providing a separate function:
-- CPU Board
-- RAM
-- Tape and Serial I/O
-- Color/Graphics
-- Floppy Disk Controller
In addition, most S100 computers used an external CRT Terminal/KB for I/O.
So, here are some typical S100 boards (many of the boards have chips on both sides):
CPU Board:
RAM Board
Serial I/O Board
Color Graphics - 2 board set
Floppy Disk Controller Board
Now, compare the above Floppy Disk Controller card with Woz' 3-chip equivalent at 1/4 the size (and a fraction of the cost and power/heat dissipation requirements).
Finally, Here's the Apple ][ motherboard which incorporates all of the above backplane and S100 boards (except the Floppy Disk Controller) into a single board.
That's the microcomputer state of the art circa 1977...
That's the genius of Woz!
I like rubbish cheap wine - does not make me a wine connoiseur, Woz likes rubbish gadgets that aren't developed + produced = ignore him, just another cupboard closet MS geek who has a grudge against Apple.