Steve Jobs made technology fun. The co-founder of Apple died October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. He fought for years against cancer. People gathered outside his house in Palo Alto, California, and at Apple stores around the world to say good-bye.
Tim Bajarin is president of Creative Strategies, a high-tech research and consulting company.
"If you actually look at a tech leader, they’re really happy if they have one hit in their life. Steve Jobs has the Apple II, the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and Pixar.”
Although Steve Jobs’ parents supported his early interest in electronics, he was a college dropout.
He and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer -- now just called Apple -- in 1976. They stayed at the company until 1985. That year, Steve Wozniak went back to college and Steve Jobs left in a fight with the chief executive.
Mr. Jobs then formed his own company, called NeXT Computer. He rejoined Apple in 1997 after it bought NeXT. Apple was in bad shape then. Jobs helped turn it into one of the most valuable companies in the world today.
Steve Wozniak, speaking on CNN, talked about his longtime friend as a "great leader" and a "marketing genius."
President Obama said that Steve Jobs made computers personal, and that he put the Internet in our pockets. Obama said that he made the information revolution accessible and fun."
Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple's chief executive in August because of his health.
