[magkelly]

Actually I can think of one more company manufacturer that fits the bill...

Ruth Handler, the woman who took (blatantly ripped off actually) a German sex joke doll (Lili) and made it into an item that kids around the world have been playing with since 1959. That iconic doll has inspired countless kids to endless hours of play, but it has also inspired artists, comedians, movies, books, great clothing designers, even the design of million dollar houses. Feminists hate her, and the people at MGA, Spinmaster, etc desperately want to tumble her empire once and for all, but Barbie still rules.

Barbie is the queen of pop culture, a sort of cultural ambassador everywhere she goes. Kids love her still, Bratz notwithstanding, adult people all over the world collect her. People just relate to her. I did this little experiment once. I went walking around with a Barbie in the pocket of my purse or backpack for a week. You wouldn't believe the people who came to me who wanted to play with her for a moment or who at least smiled and gave me a thumbs up at seeing her.

Now I'm not saying that Handler inventing Barbie was as important as inventing the personal computer. Personal computers led to almost every modern communication device we use today and to the internet which is arguably the greatest tech invention, ever, but people who have never seen a computer, and who likely will never own one still know the Barbara Millicent Roberts doll aka the Barbie and I'd be willing to bet that 150 years from now Barbie will still be around in some form or another.

I'd say Ruth for all her bad ways (and she had plenty of them business-wise) had a significant impact on us all, and I don't think anyone can deny she certainly made billions doing it too.

[jogiba]

Bill Ruger

Whatever floats your boat. But there were only two people that started from scratch in the 1970's and made their companies the richest on the planet, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Microsoft was the only company to hit a $600 Billion market cap back in 1999 and Apple today is now #1 with $391 Billion compared to #2 Exxon Mobil with $379 Billion.

[Blue]

Whatever floats your boat. But there were only two people that started from scratch in the 1970's and made their companies the richest on the planet, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Microsoft was the only company to hit a $600 Billion market cap back in 1999 and Apple today is now #1 with $391 Billion compared to #2 Exxon Mobil with $379 Billion.

This post has nothing to do with my response. I have had a few mac computers over the years but have had far more Rugers. Furthermore, Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm started in Bill Ruger's garage then moved to a small machine shop in 1949. That is starting from scratch hoss. I never said anything about straight revenue. Money isn't the sole measure of success. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started out the old fashioned way, they stole it. That said, I liked Steve Jobs.

I merely answered this:

Sad, truly sad.

Name one other company CEO who had such impact on the company's products and you as a result...

[jogiba]

This post has nothing to do with my response. I have had a few mac computers over the years but have had far more Rugers. Furthermore, Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm started in Bill Ruger's garage then moved to a small machine shop in 1949. That is starting from scratch hoss. I never said anything about straight revenue. Money isn't the sole measure of success. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started out the old fashioned way, they stole it. That said, I liked Steve Jobs.

I merely answered this:

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs made products that changed peoples lives and Bill Ruger made products that ended them.

[Blue]

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs made products that changed peoples lives and Bill Ruger made products that ended them.

Actually, that is an incorrect assessment. Truthfully answer these questions. How many people saved their own lives or family members or others by being able to defend themselves? How many military weapons system are controlled by computers? How many stalkers and kiddie porn scum bags use computers? How many people have had money stolen via computers? Where do you think police get some of their armaments? Furthermore, the many of Rugers are used in hunting, competition and target shooting.

Computers are tools just like every thing else and can be misused for evil.

[Blue]

O.k. Henry Ford

[jogiba]

Actually, that is an incorrect assessment. Truthfully answer these questions. How many people saved their own lives or family members or others by being able to defend themselves? How many military weapons system are controlled by computers? How many stalkers and kiddie porn scum bags use computers? How many people have had money stolen via computers? Where do you think police get some of their armaments? Furthermore, the many of Rugers are used in hunting, competition and target shooting.

Computers are tools just like every thing else and can be misused for evil.

:koolaid:

How many people were killed with a PC or Mac ? The low life gun lover who killed 9 people in a womans beauty salon used 3 guns and had body armor. It seems like the biggest weenies on the planet are gun lovers.

[RioRico]

How many people were killed with a PC or Mac ?

By the machines exploding or igniting? Probably not too many. Be being clobbered with a keyboard, monitor, box, laptop? Maybe a few more. By the machine being used to deliver evil data or malware that led to fatalaties? That's a good question. But it's probably non-zero.

It seems like the biggest weenies on the planet are gun lovers.

I won't argue with you there. Firearms as objects of devotion and worship? [.me shudders] Confession: I was trained to kill. It's an Army thang, y'know? But I was not brainwashed into worshiping pistols, rifles, grenade launchers, etc. Not kewl.

But that's not why I'm commenting here.
____________________________________________________

ObTopic:
I've always like beating dead horses. They don't kick back. Steve Jobs is a perfect target now. Thus, this headline:

Steve Jobs Was a "Nightmare" to Photograph

Turns out that amongst photographers, Steve Jobs was notorious for being a "nightmare subject," to the point where it was a "joke" within the industry — despite being one of the most powerful leaders in the world.

PDN spoke to various photographers who worked with Jobs over the years, with one 'tog, Ed Kashi, recalling a time that "there was one time I had to get a picture with him and Ross Perot [who ran for US presidency in 1992 and 1996] and when Jobs acted up Perot turned to him and like a stern parent said ‘Steve, Grow up!!'"

OK everybody, get your baseball bats, approach the equine corpse, and let fly!

[jogiba]

I once bumped into Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive walking out the front door at the Apple Headquarters in Cupertino.

Almost literally bumped into them. I had my head buried in a text message on my iPhone.

I looked up. Mr. Ive held the door open for me as I passed through on the way in before I really knew what was up. He and Jobs passed through on the way out just behind me. I was mysteriously compelled by something and I snapped a photo of their backs as they walked away since my phone was in my hand.

Click.

“Why did I just do that?” I thought to myself embarrassingly, even though no one noticed. “Don’t be such fool, Chase…”

And just then one of his famous one-liners lept into my head.

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

And so I will.

Thanks for everything Steve. You made your dent in the universe — and then some. RIP.

***UPdate: I didn’t originally post the image because I didn’t think it was relevant, but so many requests from you have changed my mind. It’s not an image whose quality I’m proud of, but that wasn’t the point. It’s my only shot of Steve. Again, RIP…

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish. The Day I Bumped Into Steve Jobs | Chase Jarvis Blog

So I’m in San Francisco with my mother & sister for a few days, visiting my other sister and newborn nephew. Today, they decide to join me on a geek excursion to 1 Infinite Loop (aka. Apple headquarters.)

After a 45-minute drive to Cupertino, we arrive at the campus then proceed to spend quite a bit of time (and money) in The Company Store – it’s like an Apple Store but with exclusive clothing and merchandise with Apple logos plastered all over them.

I take some pics outside and we’re just about to leave, but I decide that I may as well see how far I can walk into the campus building before being confronted by security. So I walk up to the front entrance, open the door, take a step inside, and unsurprisingly there’s a security desk just steps away. Without walking further, I stand and look up at the architecture of the building. As my head makes its way back down, something else appears right in front of me…

It’s Steve Jobs.

You know how people do a double-take? I probably do a hundred-take, staring at him, gradually realizing that Steve was actually standing five feet in front of me. His demeanor and appearance was surprising in that it was exactly as you would expect.. Almost ‘cliche’.. Flashing his charismatic smile while decked out in his trademark black turtleneck, jeans and white sneakers.. as if he had just walked off the stage of his latest keynote presentation.

Steve was chatting with what appeared to be an Apple employee and they both passed me then exited the same door I entered through. Of course I followed, and as soon as I got outside, I pulled out my Flip cam and shot this video:

You Tube

You Tube

In this short clip, you can see my mother and sister in the background waiting for me on the sidewalk. What you can’t see is me behind the camera, desperately trying to grab their attention to let them know that the CEO of Apple is walking right towards them.

Once Steve and the employee reach the sidewalk, I put away my camera. He finishes up his conversation then starts crossing the street by himself. I’m just about to yell out and ask for a picture but he pulls out his iPhone and gets on a call. I’m already hesitant to stop him for a photo, there’s no way I’m going to interrupt him on a phone call to do it. So my courtesy allows him to turn around and pass right by me again, then walk away continuing up the campus sidewalk.

Anyone who knows me is all too familiar with my appreciation — okay, adoration.. okay, borderline obsession — for Apple’s products, the company, and its head honcho. I was already stoked to be visiting the Apple campus, and needless to say, seeing Steve was icing on the cake; in fact as my brother-in-law extended the metaphor, the icing was in a big dump truck that swallowed the cake whole.

You can’t ask for much more from a visit to the Mothership.

Today I Visited The Mothership.. Oh, And I Saw Steve Too | WhatTheHunt.com