For many years, I hated Apple.

It’s ironic, because my first computer I ever owned was an Apple IIc that my dad bought me after relentless begging and whining.

I was 14 years old, and about to enter the information age.

It was on that IIc that I learned how to approach the world through a keyboard and digital thinking.

That computer took me into the world of computerized bulletin boards, where I would connect to hosted chat forums and file servers and “meet” others around the world I’d otherwise never cross paths with.

I met one of my best friends and the best man at my wedding Lyndon Ward through that computer.

But as the PC emerged and became popular (because of Microsoft’s clever marketing strategy for DOS), I only ever owned that one Apple.  I switched to PCs, and never looked back.

I had no idea how impactful Apple would later become on me .. and here’s how it did.

I loved computers and was often the one to turn to for my family and friends when they ran into a computer problem.

Over the years, if I could have figured out how to charge tech support for my dad, my wife and my mother-in-law, I would have been set.

My friend Lyndon went on to become a graphic designer and bought every new Mac that came out.  I thought he was crazy.  Who would want to own one of those?

No one did.

Unless you were a graphics geek, or a real glutton for punishment (because everyone made fun of you).

Of course, that was true during the time Steve Jobs had left Apple.

And so it was for almost 25 years, my commitment to PC and distaste for Apple.

But when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he put into motion the strategy of creating a new company.  It was 90 days from bankruptcy, and few people even gave it a chance.

His “big idea” was that if he could make computers so that they were not only beautiful from a design perspective, but that they simplified the computing experience, there was a market for that.

At the time, PCs had become so complicated, bloated and frustrating to use, you could get the “blue screen of death” every hour almost like clockwork.

He saw a gap in the market.  And he set about filling it.

Jobs mobilized the Apple movement to focus on amazing design, wrapped around a product that actually made it easier to do what you wanted, not harder.

Unlike Microsoft, which relied on its near-monopoly status and a complete lack of commitment to real innovation, Apple decided it would do things to improve the future, not just to sell products and software.

And my collision course with Apple was set into motion.

Apple became known for innovative designs, amazingly simple and intuitive interfaces, and began to get a lot of attention through the tech bubble and beyond.

They released the industry-changing iPod along with iTunes, which together completely reformed the core of the music industry.

Above all else, Apple products were cool.

From a business perspective, they took the high end of the electronics market.  Their pricing was 100% non-negotiable, and you always knew that their product was going to be the most expensive of any of the options.

They communicated “we’re the best” on every level, without bragging about it.

Their stock continued to rise, and you could almost feel an “Apple movement” take shape through the first decade of the new millenium.

The legendary Apple vs. PC ads began, and focused on what most people thought about computers – that Apple was easy, and PC was hard.

Which of course, was true.

But I was still resisting.  They hadn’t won we over.  Yet.

And then finally in 2007, they released the iPhone, which truly was a revolution in the communications world.

I bought my first iPhone, and immediately fell in love with the interface.  It was so easy to use.

It felt like this was the way it was supposed to work, and I had just waited all this time for someone to give it to me.

And I became an iPhone fan.  I bought each version that came out, excited about the new interface, features and capabilities.

I even convinced my wife to get one after watching her get so frustrated with her Blackberry.  And as soon as she made the shift, she “got it”.

She was a convert (and I do need to point out, was smart enough to have bought Apple stock several years ago when it was about $25, just before they launched the first iPhone.)

And then they announced the iPad.

And I thought to myself, “who on earth would buy a little video player they can haul around for hundreds of dollars?”

I thought it was crazy.  I had a laptop and if I ever wanted to surf the internet or watch a movie, I could do it on that PC.

And this revealed the true brilliance of Apple – they created completely new categories of products we didn’t even realize we wanted.

The moment you touched an iPad, you saw the magic and simplicity.

And you wanted one.

As it turns out, I was wrong.

Apparently, people did really want this product – including me.  Today, I own 3 iPads (driven in my part by my wife Raylene and my son Cooper falling in love with it as well).

With my iPhones and iPads, I was still holding out on the computers.

And in March this year, I finally made the switch to “the dark side“.

I’m writing this article on my MacBook Pro, which I love.

I’m now a complete Mac fanatic. 

I coerced my business partner and best friend Kourosh to get a MacBook Pro.  I’ve almost convinced my wife.

I just wish I would have switched a long time ago.

I LOVE it.

And the reason I love it is this:  it makes my life easier.

I know that sounds dumb, but it’s true.

My devices all easily connect to each other.

My iPad is helping teach my 3 year old how to read, how to solve puzzles and getting him interested in music.

My iPad kept us sane during the l-o-o-o-o-n-g car trip to the cabin this summer (as Cooper watched all his favorite movies).

In fact, as I write this, Cooper is lying beside me, watching Kung Fu Panda on his iPad.

I now spend far more of my time on doing working and creating than I do screwing around with software glitches, virus software and waiting for my computer to start up.

While Steve Jobs did a lot of things for this world, I think the ultimate gift he gave me was that he literally made my life easier.

He helped the world realize that technology didn’t have to be complicated and frustrating.  That it could actually make your life better, not more frustrating.

Steve Jobs has been a hero of mine for many years, and it was a sad day this week when I learned of his passing.

But I am tremendously grateful for the impact he had on me.  And on my family.

Without him, I may not have met one of my earliest best friends.

I wouldn’t be easily capturing photos and memories as my son grows up far too fast, and catching my wife in moments of simple grace and appreciation.

The ultimate impact Steve Jobs has had on our world is that he left it a better place, and allowed us to focus on the things that matter most – innovation, simplicity, and connecting with those we care about.

Ultimately, he guided us through the Information Age, and I believe he helped us realize that technology’s greatest ability is to help us get the transformations we want in our life.

No tribute article would be complete without a quote, so this is my favorite quote from Steve Jobs (among many great ones):

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you want to become.”

Thank you Steve for all that you’ve done for me, and the world.  You’ll be deeply missed.