Steve Jobs in Exile – New book on his years at NeXT Computer
Steve Jobs’s turbulent years at NeXT are revisited as a pivotal period that both nearly sank his venture and laid the technical and cultural foundations for modern Apple, from macOS’s NeXTSTEP heritage to WebObjects and Objective-C. Commenters contrast differing biographies and accounts of the era, debating how much credit Jobs deserves versus the engineers and executives around him, and how fair “hit piece” portrayals really are. The thread also situates NeXT within broader industry history—Microsoft’s antitrust-driven support of Apple, the BeOS near-miss, and iconic NeXT-powered work like Doom and the first web browser—to argue that this “exile” phase was central, not peripheral, to today’s computing landscape.
NeXT’s Influence on Apple and Computing
- Many commenters argue NeXT is far from “forgotten”: its OS and tools heavily shaped Mac OS X/macOS (e.g., NS-prefixed APIs, BSD command line, NeXTSTEP UI ideas).
- NeXTSTEP/OpenStep were important in 3D/graphics in the 90s and used at Pixar and in early web and game history (Doom/Quake, first web browser/server).
- Some wish the NeXT and classic Mac lines had continued separately; others say NeXT would have died and classic Mac would have needed any modern kernel anyway.
Success, Failure, and Business Outcomes
- NeXT is described as both a financial/operational mess and a long‑term success because its tech, people, and WebObjects effectively saved Apple.
- Question raised whether NeXT investors did well; unclear from thread.
- Comparison to BeOS: several think an Apple–BeOS path would likely have failed or led to acquisition by another company.
Jobs’ Evolution and Management
- NeXT years are seen as crucial in reshaping Jobs’ leadership, giving him space to learn from failure and constraint.
- Some books and accounts paint NeXT as a disaster and Jobs as a poor manager; others say that underscores how hard startups are and how learning from setbacks matters.
- Debate over whether biographies are “hit pieces” or necessary corrections to the Jobs distortion field.
Apple’s Near‑Collapse and Turnaround
- Disagreement on how close Apple was to “days away” vs. “months away” from bankruptcy in the 90s, but consensus that the situation was dire.
- Microsoft’s investment is framed both as antitrust-motivated lifeline and as over‑credited in later Apple mythology.
- Jobs’ product focus (iMac/iBook, simplified lineup) and Tim Cook’s supply-chain mastery are both cited as central to the turnaround.
Technical and Design Legacies
- NeXT is praised for advanced APIs, Interface Builder, Display PostScript, WebObjects, and influential apps (e.g., Improv, Virtuoso).
- Discussion of NeXT morphing from workstation maker into an enterprise software/tools company before Apple acquisition.
- Projects like GNUstep, Window Maker, and NEXTSPACE aim to recreate NeXTSTEP’s look/feel on modern systems.
Apple’s Current Direction and Products
- Some see modern Apple as “post‑NeXT” after key people left, with software now less “cutting edge” despite world‑class hardware (Apple Silicon, MacBooks, AirPods).
- Vision Pro is criticized as powerful hardware with conservative, iOS‑style software and missed opportunities for truly spatial, developer‑centric computing.
- Magic Mouse and other Apple pointing devices draw ergonomic complaints; many users replace them with third‑party mice or trackpads.
Jobs, Musk, and Legacy Debates
- Comparisons to Elon Musk focus mainly on mass firings, but many argue their goals, ethics, and outcomes differ sharply.
- Some contend Jobs is now underrated, reduced to “asshole genius” clichés; others emphasize his exceptional taste, ability to recruit top talent, and cultural impact.
- Claims that early Apple (“version one”) or the original Macintosh “weren’t commercial successes” are disputed as historically inaccurate within the thread.