The Tallies: Steve Jobs & Bill Gates

I guess its time for me to jump on the bandwagon and post my commentary on the life of Steve Jobs like everyone else on the web. Originally, I resolved to keep my mouth shut, but after seeing this article on Forbes, I decided to comment on an angle most seem to be ignoring. Now before I get to far, I am sorry about his untimely passing, and I’m certainly not pulling a Stallman. However, as pasbesoin states on Hacker News ”…there needs to be room for a larger conversation. In part precisely because and as a reflection of this influence, there are important matter to discuss. Not all aspects will be flattering of Mr. Jobs. But that is the nature of the position he inhabited and the decisions he made.”

Bill Gates & Co helped made a product (Windows) which can be used on almost any computing device. By that, I mean you can go down to Best Buy, buy all the pieces you need, and build a Windows computer (shut up Linux users: you require too much tinkering for the average Joe). This helped bring the personal computer to the masses. For a number of reasons, this brought Gates tremendous wealth. Now, certainly, Jobs & Co played a role in that as well, but their paths diverge quickly.

Some make the argument that Job’s contributions to the world made it a better place. The iPad didn’t make the world any healthier or smarter. Perhaps the developers who created applications to use on the iPad did. The only world that Jobs really improved with his products are the worlds of those who directly benefited from the money tree. Is there anything wrong with this? Absolutely not. I only take issue with those who praise him as the savior. Let’s just refer to him as what he really was: Jobs was an excellent capitalist.  He spent his time figuring out how to create another piece of consumerism plastic with built-in obsolesce. I don’t buy into the “genius” of Jobs. He wasn’t by himself, sitting atop of mountain, stepping down once a year to give us mere mortals a piece of hand-crafted brilliance. He had an excellent team of creative individuals who probably endured an immense amount of stress as Jobs thought himself perfect and demanded the same everyone around him. For whatever reason, Apple decided to create an image of an ultimate, infallible leader. Corporations don’t put creative geniuses at their helms, they put cutthroat capitalists in those seats. Jobs was celebrated for working, right up to the end, on creating more wealth for Apple’s shareholders. Then, it happened. Consumers around the world wept. Why? Because they weren’t sure they were going to get another cool product to spend too much on. Jobs was stinking rich, and he knew it. With his over-reactive legal department suing anything with a fruit on it, he attacked Android for stealing everything from him. Apple’s entire culture is built around exclusivity, being a walled-garden with complete control over what you can do with what you own. You can’t play unless you pay. Windows has to play with everyone, lest they be taken to court again. Apple can force consumers to use iTunes with their iStuff. Meanwhile, Microsoft has to be cut up into several business units and pander to governments around the world because of “anti-trust” issues. Apple’s no underdog, nor a champion for them, they just have a better legal department.

Since stepping down as Microsoft’s CEO, Gates now spends his days literally giving away his wealth which saves lives around the world and teaches computer literacy to children who would otherwise never have the opportunity. And, not just giving the money away, but taking the time to research and invest in long-term strategies to better the lives of the underprivileged.

Which of these men is worshiped?

It says a lot about who we are as a people.

There, I’ve said it.