Steve Wozniak says would consider return to Apple

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/us-apple-wozniak-idUSTRE7375PU20110408

by srikar • 15 years ago

45 32 15 years ago

In a number of ways I think Woz actually seems like an interesting fit for Microsoft, in terms of compatibility of culture and bringing values to the table that could move the business forward.

I'd be quicker to buy stock in Microsoft if Woz were signing on, than I would Apple.

CamperBob• 15 years ago

I'd be quicker to buy stock in Microsoft if Woz were signing on, than I would Apple.

I'd be quicker to buy canned goods and ammunition in such a scenario, because the next thing coming over the mountain will be either zombies or Jesus.

xiaoma2• 15 years ago

Thank you for that. I'm not normally a fan of humorous posts on here, but that was the best laugh I've had all week!

jaysonelliot• 15 years ago

I'm impressed to see a news article about Apple actually list Ronald Wayne as one of the original founders.

He might be the fifth Beatle in some ways, but he was there at the start.

spinchange• 15 years ago

Like Monte Davidoff at Microsoft.

shii• 15 years ago

Like Craig at Google.

michaelpinto• 15 years ago

He may not be the 5th Beatle, but here's a guy who could be the George Martin of Apple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Markkula

redstripe• 15 years ago

"In this episode, while investigating the 75 year old wreck of a Federation transport vessel, the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise-D crew discovers the former Chief Engineer of the Constitution class starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), alive in a transporter buffer. After being cleared by Dr. Crusher, Scott is eager to see the advances in technology including a tour of the Engineering deck, but quickly finds that his old knowledge has long been surpassed and his efforts to help are instead getting in the way of normal operations..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_G...

jrockway4• 15 years ago

Indeed, Apple is no longer a tech company, they are now a brand like Coke and Nike.

pstuart• 15 years ago

<sarcasm> Indeed! Tablets have been around for years and suddenly there's an Apple logo on one and the fanboys act like it's some sort of technical advance.... </sarcasm>

EdwardMSmith• 15 years ago

hmm, despite the downvotes, you're right. They're really a lifestyle company - for a lifestyle that deeply embeds usable technology in all aspects of your life.

But, the actual technology is 2nd to the experience of the lifestyle.

trythis2• 15 years ago

Please stop trolling.

hristov• 15 years ago

I don't know about that. I think a good hacker like Woz can be very very useful for Apple. While Apple are very good at creating a perception of perfection around their products, some of their stuff is definitely not perfect, or not even very good. This is especially true of things that are no longer in the spotlight.

Somebody like Woz that knows technology, is very practical, has common sense and a good eye for usability can be incredibly useful for Apple if put in the correct position.

But it ain't gonna happen. Jobs does not want to share the Apple creation myth with anyone.

moe• 15 years ago

spotlight

Also true for things that are it.

krakensden• 15 years ago

Is today Star Trek day? This is the second top-ranked Star Trek reference I've seen on HN today.

xiaoma2• 15 years ago

And in the end, his insights were invaluable. Scotty helped save the day.

sambeau• 15 years ago

This is a very typical Woz story. A reporter asks Woz a hypothetical question. Woz gives an honest answer. Reporter ignores the statistical insignificance of the hypothetical scenario and reports result as if it has 100% probability of happening.

This happens to many great thinkers.

Obligatory made-up scenario:

Reporter: "If you were in a plane crash in the Andes and the only food you could find was bodies of dead passengers would you eat them?"

Thinker: "Hmm.. interesting hypothetical scenario. It is of course impossible to know what anyone would do in such a situation without experiencing it, but it is obvious that the logical thing to do is to eat the bodies so you can be strong enough to seek help. Whether I personally could eat a human is not yet proven."

Reporter: "Cannibal!!!"

skymt• 15 years ago

Of course there's an XKCD comic about that: http://xkcd.com/799/

bcrawford• 15 years ago

I've had the opportunity to meet with and talk with Woz before. The man really can't be anything but honest and he just loves talking - to anyone - about technology. He's almost the anti-Apple in that respect.

gojomo• 15 years ago

But would Woz join the Google Android team?

rmason• 15 years ago

Where I think Woz would be a good fit for Apple would be speaking on college campuses and indirectly recruting the best talent for Apple.

But the biggest challenge would be for him to stay on message. First time he disagreed with Jobs in public as an Apple employee it would be very awkward. For that reason alone I don't think it would ever happen.

Woz is going to be the commencement speaker on May 6th at my alma mater, Michigan State University. They're planning a livestream of his commencement address and I will post the URL on here as soon as I receive it.

yuhong• 15 years ago

>First time he disagreed with Jobs in public as an Apple employee it would be very awkward.

Yea, but the illusion that celebrities are perfect is IMO ridiculous, and dates back to what I call "legacy" PR based on controlling the message.

totalforge• 15 years ago

Woz went back once before, and at one point his manager actually gave him a bad review. Good thing it was pre-internet, or the mgr would never live it down.

shawndumas• 15 years ago

Source?

garindra• 15 years ago

The first question that came to mind: Does his early computing technical whiz still live up to today's Apple and industry standards?

gobongo• 15 years ago

Abused housewife says would consider return to husband.

Steve Wozniak says would consider return to Apple

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