> For one, Apple was unwilling to have visible barcodes printed on the envelopes — but it wanted every step of the shipping and delivery of your card tracked. That wasn’t something the US Postal Service did. Apple and the printing company created an invisible barcode that was sprayed on the envelope, visible only under certain UV light, so that the envelope itself would remain unadulterated. And the USPS agreed to scan cards when sent, when processed at mail facilities, up to and including when they went out on a mail truck for delivery.
Arrogance and stubborness would be insisting on doing things that are literally impossible. This is pushing people to go beyond "computer says no" attitude.
The problem with Steve Jobs and his insistence on doing things his way is that other people were like ants to him. He made other people's lives hell when they had to follow his borderline insane orders. He'd yell at people, belittle them, insult them, and he got away with it every time because he was a billionaire and those other people depended on their paychecks.
And it was often for details that didn't matter. Like the exact shape of the curve of the plastic housing of some long-forgotten iMac. People just want computers that work and that don't look like total crap, they don't even notice the corner radius or whether the motherboard (excuse me, "logic board") is aesthetically pleasing according to the genius that took one class on calligraphy at Reed College.
I like these comments that basically say working for Steve Jobs was hard. They carry a legend that is almost creative writing. Every year Steve Jobs becomes more of an evil genius villain-bastard hobbit-creature spreading the seeds of every sadistic personality disorder.
I'm starting to read the Isaacson bio. There are many small moments where you literally shake your head and think "oh no, did he really do that now"
You’re just assuming everyone else shares your personal opinions on computers and design, but that’s not the case. There are people admiring the exact radius on the motherboard or that iMac shape, just like they absolutely value an envelope without a barcode.
Details that don’t matter to you might matter to someone else, and vice versa.
woadwarrior01 · · focus · HN ↗
This is classic Steve Jobs. Sheer force of will.
VCFundedGenYer · · focus · HN ↗
Reminder that Jobs is not a good role model. A lot of his decisions were erratic and based on what might as well have been undiagnosed BPD.
rrjjww · · focus · HN ↗
chihuahua · · focus · HN ↗
And it was often for details that didn't matter. Like the exact shape of the curve of the plastic housing of some long-forgotten iMac. People just want computers that work and that don't look like total crap, they don't even notice the corner radius or whether the motherboard (excuse me, "logic board") is aesthetically pleasing according to the genius that took one class on calligraphy at Reed College.
frumplestlatz · · focus · HN ↗
hyperhello · · focus · HN ↗
frumplestlatz · · focus · HN ↗
I once saw him absolutely dismantle, over the course of an hour, an intern that made the mistake of asking one stupid question.
hyperhello · · focus · HN ↗
frumplestlatz · · focus · HN ↗
hobo123 · · focus · HN ↗
9dev · · focus · HN ↗
Details that don’t matter to you might matter to someone else, and vice versa.