AppleComputer

　　JobsandWozniakputtogethertheirfirstcomputer,calledAppleI.Theymarketeditin1976atapriceof$666.AppleIwasthefirstsingle-boardcomputerwithbuilt-invideointerface,andon-boardROM,whichtoldthemachinehowtoloadotherprogramsfromanexternalsource.JobswasmarketingAppleIathobbyistslikemembersoftheHomebrewComputerClubwhocouldnowperformtheirownoperationsontheirpersonalcomputers.

　　TheNextStep

　　Jobssoldover$20millionofhisApplestock,spentdaysbicyclingalongthebeach,feelingsadandlost,touredParis,andjourneyedontoItaly.ItwasnotuntillateAugustthathebegantocatchhisbreath.ThenJobsthoughtbackonhisexperienceatApple.Thoughheisnotanengineer,hefelthisgreatesttalenthadbeenspearheadingdevelopmentofnewproducts.Jobsalsorecalledwithspecialpridethathehadhelpedintroducepersonalcomputersintoeducation.Tocollecthisthoughtsoneday,hetookuppenandpaperandbegantowritedownthethingsthatwereimportanttohim.AlongwiththedevelopmentofMacintosh,helistedthreeeducationalprojectshehadlaunched:KidsCan'tWait,AppleEducationFoundation,andtheAppleUniversityConsortium.

　　ASoftwareCompany

　　AfterleavingApple,Jobs'newrevolutionaryideaswerenotinhardwarebutsoftwareofthecomputerindustry.In1989JobstriedalloveragainwithanewcompanycalledNextStep.HeplannedtobuildthenextgenerationofpersonalcomputersthatwouldputAppletoshame.Itfailed.Aftereightlongyearsofstruggleandafterspendingsome$250million,NextStepcloseddownitshardwaredivisionin1993.Jobsrealizedthathewasnotgoingtorevolutionizethehardwareindustry.Heturnedhisattentiontothesoftwaresideofthecomputerindustry.

　　Honors

　　HewasawardedtheNationalMedalofTechnologyfromPresidentRonaldReaganin1985withSteveWozniak(thefirstpeopletoeverreceivethehonor),andtheJeffersonAwardforPublicServiceinthecategory"GreatestPublicServicebyanIndividual35YearsorUnder"in1987.OnNovember27,2007,JobswasnamedthemostpowerfulpersoninbusinessbyFortuneMagazine.OnDecember5,2007,CaliforniaGovernorArnoldSchwarzeneggerandFirstLadyMariaShriverinductedJobsintotheCaliforniaHallofFame,locatedatTheCaliforniaMuseumforHistory,WomenandtheArts.