For the 75th by Steve Wozniak: short high flight, a crash, but always on top

Never trust a computer that you cannot throw out of the window. This quote from Steve “Woz” Wozniak says a lot about the Apple co-founder. First of all, there is his nerdy sense of humor, which distinguishes WOZ to this day and makes him a welcome interlocutor. But his philosophy and his claim also shimmers through not only to use technology, but also to understand and control them. Today the Californian is 75 years old.

However, the quote with the computer also shows nicely which worlds are between the legendary garage in which WOZ and Steve Jobs assembled the first Apple computers, and today’s Apple, which is worth the trillions of US dollar. Part of today’s recipe for success is the closed system that critics and politicians worldwide bite their teeth. And that also contradicts WOZ ‘claim to be able to completely control technology.

Circuit circles soldered early on

Woz, who still receives a small salary check from Cupertino for occasional appearances, but sold most of his Apple shares in the 1980s, sees it: “Apple is still the best,” he said in an interview some time ago. “And if Apple does things that I don’t like and I would like more openness given the lock, I will comment on it.” Is Apple listening to him? “Oh, no,” he laughs.

In 1976 Stephen Gary Wozniak founded Apple together with Ron Wayne and Steve Jobs. Wayne rose quickly, the two steves stayed. Just a year earlier, in the Homebrew Computer Club, which is considered to be formative for the development of the PC, the Computerbau project started. But it was more than a personal passion: computer technology, the enthusiasts wanted it, should be open to everyone. So Wozniak, born on August 11, 1950 in Sunnyvale, built Apple I. As a teenager, Woz liked to solder and dream of reaching them inaccessible to normal people. In the five years younger jobs who died in 2011, he found a colleague.

Gray zones also stripped

On the way to the first Apple computer, the two also roamed gray areas. In a first project, they manipulated the former monopolist’s telephone network and found out how free phone calls were possible using tax frequencies. The division of tasks between the two was clear: Woz was the inventor, jobs of the businessman. In the meantime, Wozniak started a job at Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1973, where he participated in the design of circuits.

After Apple I, which had no keyboard and no housing, Apple II followed in 1977, which was also aimed at buyers outside the hobby scene. The computer, which came out with a few components, was considered versatile and was a great commercial success for Apple. Wozniak and jobs became millionaires as early as the IPO in 1980.

Withdrawn after an accident

In February 1981, an accident with a small plane ensured that the paths of the two Steves later separated again. Hobby pilot Wozniak had a serious accident and suffered from memory disorders for weeks as a result of a head injury. After the incident, he took a break, returned again for two years in 1983 and then finally said goodbye to the active service at Apple. To date, he is committed to technology projects and start-up companies. He has three children and is married in fourth marriage.