An interview with Steve Wozniak
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Below, is the interview I conducted between Steve Wozniak and myself. Here are some of the answers he wrote responding to my questions.
"Apple I changed the world. I gave it away free. Apple did not own the design. Every computer before it had a front panel of switches and lights that a normal person could not possibly understand. Every computer since has had a keyboard and video display.
Apple ][ made the whole personal computer revolution happen and created Apple as a huge successful company. Nobody ever imagined a low cost computer with instant boot, programmable, color, graphics, hi-res, game controls. No bugs in the software or hardware ever found. Apple ][ worked every time. Like all technology, eventually it gets replaced by newer things.
The LISA was a great computer but a total failure for Apple. Personal computers couldn't sell for $20,000 of today's dollars. The LISA was right but too early, mainly due to RAM memory prices which would drop over time.
I'm a loyal founder. There have been many great things about what Apple, the company, has meant to the world, in terms of inspiration, revolution (social and technical), and great products that change life.
Someone suggested the name Apple Computer to Steve Jobs at an orchard up in Oregon where he lived and worked. The name sounds good, just like Apple Records did for the Beatles. Our paid agency, with the Apple ][, said that the name was not good because it didn't suggest computer 'power'. Steve and I came back by saying that computers were now going into normal homes and Apple is a good name there.
In recent times we changed the name to Apple Inc. because we have products that are other than normal computers. This would largely mean the iPods but could be expanded into other areas. We also have the Apple TV."
5. What do you think Apple can do next?
"Try to be the leader. Innovate in important areas first. Make Apple devices understand what users speak better.
Computers have gotten more and more like human friends. There is a huge road to go. Try speaking to SIRI and you'll see so many areas that it gets things wrong. Eventually our devices should be smarter and friendlier than people. So far, the only replacement for brains is things like Google and SIRI."
6. Do you think that if Steve Jobs were here, then Apple would be more successful?
"No idea. Maybe more. Maybe less. Who knows?"
7. Do you think Apple TV will be a success?
"Yes. To the extent other Apple products are. All Apple products, including computers, OS, hardware, apps like iTunes, retails stores, iTunes stores, iPods, iPhones, iPhone apps, iPads, Apple TV all work together. It's like one large structure that works well if you stay within it."
"Apple I changed the world. I gave it away free. Apple did not own the design. Every computer before it had a front panel of switches and lights that a normal person could not possibly understand. Every computer since has had a keyboard and video display.
Apple ][ made the whole personal computer revolution happen and created Apple as a huge successful company. Nobody ever imagined a low cost computer with instant boot, programmable, color, graphics, hi-res, game controls. No bugs in the software or hardware ever found. Apple ][ worked every time. Like all technology, eventually it gets replaced by newer things.
The LISA was a great computer but a total failure for Apple. Personal computers couldn't sell for $20,000 of today's dollars. The LISA was right but too early, mainly due to RAM memory prices which would drop over time.
I'm a loyal founder. There have been many great things about what Apple, the company, has meant to the world, in terms of inspiration, revolution (social and technical), and great products that change life.
Someone suggested the name Apple Computer to Steve Jobs at an orchard up in Oregon where he lived and worked. The name sounds good, just like Apple Records did for the Beatles. Our paid agency, with the Apple ][, said that the name was not good because it didn't suggest computer 'power'. Steve and I came back by saying that computers were now going into normal homes and Apple is a good name there.
In recent times we changed the name to Apple Inc. because we have products that are other than normal computers. This would largely mean the iPods but could be expanded into other areas. We also have the Apple TV."
5. What do you think Apple can do next?
"Try to be the leader. Innovate in important areas first. Make Apple devices understand what users speak better.
Computers have gotten more and more like human friends. There is a huge road to go. Try speaking to SIRI and you'll see so many areas that it gets things wrong. Eventually our devices should be smarter and friendlier than people. So far, the only replacement for brains is things like Google and SIRI."
6. Do you think that if Steve Jobs were here, then Apple would be more successful?
"No idea. Maybe more. Maybe less. Who knows?"
7. Do you think Apple TV will be a success?
"Yes. To the extent other Apple products are. All Apple products, including computers, OS, hardware, apps like iTunes, retails stores, iTunes stores, iPods, iPhones, iPhone apps, iPads, Apple TV all work together. It's like one large structure that works well if you stay within it."