Steve Jobs "proud of being an a**hole"
updated 07:40 am EDT, Fri April 30, 2004
Steve Jobs an \"a**hole\"
Robert X. Cringely, one of Apple's first employees back in 1977 and author of Accidental Empires, a history of the personal computer industry, says Apple founder and CEO The remark came in an interview published in today's Sydney Morning Herald. It's unclear whether Cringely was referring to Jobs 25 years ago, today, or both. He also explains that Microsoft founder Bill Gates "doesn't mind his actions being described but he doesn't like people to characterize him (say why he does what he does)." Cringely also says that innovation has been stunted since the development of the World Wide Web and that growth will remain confined largely to processors and system software, since that's where the money is.
so what?
04/30, 08:29am reply
Well if I was a billionaire I wouldn't be bothered about whether or not people thought I was an a******.
On the other hand, people who don't suffer idiots lightly do sometime get called a*******.
Steve knows what he wants and what he expects. Those who don't deliver would get what they deserve.
I'm just the same most of the time, except with out the money, influence or power :-)
Xirt
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Do your math...
04/30, 08:44am reply
It's 1977, not 1997 - 25 years ago, right?
kirkmc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004
hmm...
04/30, 08:53am reply
steve jobs is an a******. yeah, that's news...
elblanco
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Yep...
04/30, 09:10am reply
... that's our Steve.
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
World class a**hole
04/30, 09:17am reply
Larry Ellison told me some great Steve stories. Seems he's capable of being a serious prick (though, I must admit, nice to me.) As for the 1st comment, I don't see why being a billionaire or an innovator makes it ok to be an a******.
ericwass
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2000
Personally...
04/30, 09:31am reply
if that's what it takes to get Apple to where they are now...ok. This is a non-issue...at least until someone outlaws being an a**hole.
macimmortal
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
business
04/30, 09:31am reply
It's business. Everyone thinks their boss is an a-hole, this isn't news. Steve wasn't this guys buddy - he was his boss. Sounds like a whiner to me.
dampeoples
Mac Elite
Joined: Jul 2002
So what ?
04/30, 09:37am reply
Let's hope for more a**holes like Steve Jobes, and less a**holes like M. Dell, S. Balmer & B. Gates...
There are worlds of differences between a**holes and a**holes... :-)
-t
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Joined: Jun 2001
RE: Business
04/30, 10:21am reply
Being a businessman doesn't free one from the obligation to treat people respectfully. Steve Jobs frequently crosses the line. In the early days he would push good people and if he pushed them over the edge he didn't care - he was focused on getting what he wanted. Keep in mind that Apple isn't a total success story. Apple (and most employees, no doubt) were so fed up with him that after the release of the Mac he was fired.
Of my last 4 bosses, only one was a prick, and I quit because of him. As a boss, I am not a prick - I can be tough, but being a prick is something else. Anyone who hides behind "It's just business" is a coward.
absmiths
Mac Elite
Joined: Sep 2000
to quote or not to quote
04/30, 10:48am reply
Once again MacNN proves that they are not good journalists.
Their title for this news item has quotes around "a real a**hole" which would imply that they are quoting someone, but nowhere in the referenced article does anyone say that.
the Rebel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2000