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Letter to the editor

Always Woz, always will be

The geek behind Apple Computer's initial success remains the incurable tinkerer.

By MADHUSMITA BORA, Times Staff Writer
Published September 25, 2007

TAMPA - He invented the personal computer, but Steve Wozniak is still a kid when it comes to the latest gizmos.

Take the time Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, pulled an all-nighter in June before the iPhone debut.

Ask him and he'll tell you in his rapid-fire style how at 4 a.m. he sneaked through an open door at his local shopping mall and rode to the Apple Storeon his Segway to make sure he was first in line when the store opened.

Then he bought not one or two but 20 iPhones as gifts -- perhaps one for each of the 20 years he's been away from Apple. At retail, that's at least $10,000 before Apple's huge refunds.

"I felt it was worth a party," Wozniak said in an interview in Tampa on Saturday after addressing a technology convention. "It was like waiting up all night in college for the Rolling Stones tickets."

Perhaps it's that childlike obsession and fascination with technology that drove the Woz, as he's mostly known, to help start a company that's now a household name. Wozniak handled the engineering tasks at Apple while friend and co-founder Steve Jobs became the company's face and CEO.

Wozniak, 57, says he's a shy guy who doesn't like managing or firing people. His passion is tinkering with technology, and he is content doing just that.

This while Jobs continues to run a successful company enhancing his reputation as a marketing guru.

Since Wozniak retired from Apple in 1987, he's started a few companies, written a book, received a few awards and is traveling worldwide on speaking engagements.

His audienceslove him. At his appearance in Tampa on Saturday before the annual ConnectWise Partner Summit conference, the crowd gave him a standing ovation for his remarks about the inspiration, passion and goals that led to the invention of the personal computer.

For the Silicon Valley icon and a self-professed Segway fan -- his exploits in Segway polo games can be viewed on YouTube -- any hint of new technology still drives his passion. His eyes light up when he talks about his iPhone. He gets animated when he shows off his geeky Nixie Tube digital wristwatch. And he's obviously smitten by comedian Kathy Griffin, who was seen with Wozniak at the recent Emmy awards ceremony sporting a ring on her wedding finger. No word yet, say the entertainment media, of a possible union.

He dreams of a day computers could take over the classroom from teachers and talks excitedly about new nanotechnology approaches that would make computer memories very small and hard discs disappear.

His other obsession is nabbing the favorite versions of his name on new e-mail systems.

"Sometimes, a new service will start up and they (other people) will have (picked e-mail names such as) Woz and Steve Woz, and I am all pissed," he said. "I want to nail down my name."

What's on his wish list for future gadgets? Stuff we all can appreciate.

A personal robot that would clean the dishes, or a machine that could wash, scrub and clean his car right in the driveway.

"I would love that," Wozniak said. "I am hoping we get involved in lots of artificial intelligence, something that really mimics the brain or takes neural networks farther than where they already are."

Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.

The Woz in Tampa Bay this week

Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak will speak at the "Taking the Next Step" Business and Education Summit at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the St. Petersburg College EpiCenter in Clearwater. The summit is hosted by WorkNet Pinellas in an effort to bring together education and business communities to promote partnerships. The free event is open to business owners and executives. Call Kristin Dailey at (727) 507-4300, ext. 3004.

[Last modified September 24, 2007, 23:15:09]