Friday, October 7, 2011

Computation

With the recent passing of Steve Jobs, I felt I should say a few words about him and his legacy. After all, this blog does try its best to keep up with current events, and his demise made the front page in newpapers all over the world. In what newspapers his products haven't driven out of business. But what to say? I'm rather ignorant on the subject. You see, I don't own an iMac, iPod, Mac Pro, iPhone, MacBook Air, or iPad. I'm not even sure what some of those things are.

It's not that I wouldn't mind owning all that (according to some obits I've read) civilization-revolutionizing stuff. It's just that...

iMac............................................................................$1199
iPod.............................................................................$299
Mac Pro......................................................................$2499
iPhone.........................................................................$199
MacBook Air................................................................$999
iPad..............................................................................$499

...I'm on a budget.

My wallet could use some revolutionizing.

12 comments:

  1. OMG you poor thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apple deprivation in this day and age... it shouldn't happen.

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  2. Someone just told me an old woman is selling Apples on the street corner at a reasonable--oh, wait, that's something different.

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  3. Well put, Kirk. As much as the so-called world might owe a debt of gratitude to Steve Jobs, there are many today who cannot directly benefit from his influence, not only in the way you describe: they cannot afford an Apple, but also there would have to be as many people living in the world who would not even know what these things are or what technology looks like. But not to be too churlish, such is the price of 'civilsation'. It can increase the divide between the haves and have-nots.

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  4. I am sorry to hear of any one dieing from cancer.
    I have family and friends who have died or are in a battle to stay alive from cancer.
    I wonder about all the other people who die yesterday who were loved and leave behind grieving families. The families who may or not even be able to afford to bury their loved ones.
    I am sadden by his death but everyone is important if only to one person.

    Very interesting list you provided.

    cheers, parsnip

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  5. @Elisabeth--"so-called world" I like that!

    @parsnip--Very true, parsnip. Each of us is famous--and with any luck, important--to somebody.

    I guess people--strangers--felt they knew Steve Jobs through his hardware, just as they feel they know Bill Gates through his software. Or is that the other way around?

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  6. Forgot to directly acknowledge Jane Lancaster by name in my reponse to her comment. No offense intended.

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  7. no offense taken. Did you know Mike Daisey is doing a one man show about Steve Jobs? He said after Steve's death he's received his first genuine death threat.. Mike that is..

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. @Jane Lancaster: I did not know that Mike Daisey was doing a one-man show, but I'm glad you told me. I did a bit of googling, and came across this:

    http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1735220

    Death threats, you say? Was a fatwah issued from Silicon Valley? Will Mike Daisey have to go into hiding the way Salmon Rushdie once did? Are reproductions of Steve Job's image still allowed? Just asking.

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  10. very interesting article..I wonder how many of these factory workers own an ianything? You are not alone.

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  11. Who will innovate such technologies now? Maybe my 11 year old...

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  12. @Akeru--Who knows? Sitting here in the library, I've seen a girl, 11 or maybe even younger, peck away at a keyboard faster than Woody Woodpecker can peck through a broom handle.

    Does your 11-year old spend a lot of time in the garage? That's where they say technological innovators get their start--in the garage (of course, they say rock stars sometimes get their start there, too. You never know)

    Thanks for dropping by, Akeru.

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