Respect.

the-life-and-awesomeness-of-steve-jobs — Jobs during the mac development era

If you got the idea of empowering people through a friendly, logical computer interface, you’ve liked this guy for a long time.

If you got the idea that UNIX power should have a mainstream use, you’ve liked this guy for a long time.

If you or your kids enjoy certain computer animation films, you’ve liked this guy for a long time.

steve-jobs-png — Jobs during the NeXT years, planting seeds for the networking and digital media future.

If you appreciate the design that goes into products that become an extension or a tool, rather than an enemy, you’ve liked this guy for a long time.

If you appreciate progressive business ideals (at least for america) you’ve liked this guy for a long time.

steve-jobs-vinyl-records-fsmdotcom — Jobs unveiling an early iPod, the device that changed everything.

If you think all of the above is crap and he’s just another business man trying to make a buck, you’ve come to appreciate this guy recently.

Today he announced he was unable to continue as CEO. Cancer is a bitch, even to one of the most compelling business leaders the world has seen in generations.

15 years ago the company he founded was a punch line in the very industry it created. Then Think Different happened. iMac. iPod. iPhone. iTouch. iPad. A 10-year run even the biggest fan boy couldn’t have imagined.

The man’s grand design came together and prevailed over FUD.

Jobs during a recent event for Apple, visibly thin and weak.

All that said, the iCloud is on the horizon, and my friends and I have taken to calling it SkyNet. Apple without Jobs could possibly revert to bad strategies.