

I used my first Macintosh at the age of two – a Mac LC III, purchased in early 1993 along with an expanded hard drive. In elementary school, my friends and I stayed in during recess to install and play games on the classroom Macs. I learned to type on the early iMac G3s. I got my very own MacBook Pro in late high school, and upgraded to another Pro last year. I own an iPhone 3GS and iPad, and will place a preorder for the 4S tomorrow.

Steve Jobs and Apple brought something special to each one of these moments.

More importantly, Steve and his company made each of these moments possible. I couldn’t imagine getting my computing start on Windows 3.1 in ’93, or hacking on a Linux box in fifth grade. Steve, and Apple, had the unique ability to take computing, devices, programs, and UI, and make them simple. And elegant. And fun.

I’ve played with a number of systems and machines in the past 18 years. Never have I found one that’s had the same feeling as a Mac, the same intuition or style. I use a Mac now, and it’s made everything – from just plain browsing to intense coding sessions – feel incredibly natural. And it was Jobs’ skill, vision, and intellect that helped guide today’s Mac into that place.

Apple – and the world – has lost a true leader in the technology industry. We can only hope his influence and passion remain.