(This is the letter I sent to rememberingsteve at apple.com)
Dear Steve,
It was all of a sudden. I know everybody has expected this to happen, but I guess everybody did not expect that to happen this early.
I have tons of stuffs to finish by today, but could not stop writing something about you, or more precisely the impact of you on my life.
Why? It’s not just because I am a long-term user of Apple products. It is also because your way of living and working deeply inspired my way of living and working. That is not surprising. I don’t think you will be surprised. I am for sure billions of people on this planet agree this. I am just one of them.
The first invention of you for me was Macintosh SE. I was 2nd grade in an elementary school. The graphical interface, keyboard, and mouse allow even a tiny kid to understand the science of computing, even with out any documents to explain how that works. I was just random playing with Tetris game or just writing diary or that sort of stuff. But it was the starting point. The icon product fascinated me, and it indeed started to change my life.
Let me just count how many Apple products I own/owned: Macintosh SE, Macintosh 2, Performa 575, Performa 6410, PowerMac 8600, PowerBook G3/333, PowerBook G4/400, Powerbook G4/867, iBook G4/1.33, MacBook Air/1.8, MacBook Pro/2.66, MacBook Air 11/1.6, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4. 12 Macs and 3 iPhones: thousands of documents, movies, photos, and other arts have been produced from the devices. I can still remember drawing posters and shooting videos for the high school festival. I can’t count how many times I tried to convince the others who don’t know the beauty of the forbidden Apple to change their religion and start new life.
Especially when I was young, Apple products were always dominating my brain and everyday life. Of course, I am still fascinated by your vision and products. Do you know what? I was talking to my family how great iPhone is. I am repeating the same sentence again and again, as I did in my childhood. I have not met you. I just know you from thousands of articles, books, media coverage, and your products and services. But that does not matter.
I know you are a believer of innovation and technology. I know you think new innovation comes from destruction. I am very sad you have finished your job, your time, your duty, and your life. But I was, and I am, very happy to live with your vision. Your job as an innovator has been completed. But your passion, your way of living, and whatsoever you have left in this world will certainly keep changing us.
Thank you, Steve. I remember you. I will be mentioning what you have done to the following generations. I will tell what you thought and what you believed, in the way I understand and interpret you. In this way, I remember you and the people who will be influenced by me will be remembering you.
Good sleep. See you soon. Thank you, again and again.
With Best Regards,
Masahiro Kotosaka, a fun of Steve.
