By David Grossman

Last week the world lost one of its greatest thinkers of all time. I realize that Steve Jobs was an inventor and that he left Apple and came back. He was also a genius retailer: the Apple franchise makes more money per square foot that any other store on the planet. He could see around corners and he gave us things that we didn’t know we needed.
    And that includes me. When I first got my iPod a few years ago, the iPhone was already on the market. Most people my age use cell phones like telephones, so I didn’t get one right away. But I bought an iPod shuffle. I couldn’t believe that Steve Jobs and Apple could get all that music into a little box. I could listen to most of the music I had stored on vinyl. I heard music I hadn’t heard in 30 years. Naturally, I ran out of memory. So I bought an iPod classic. And that wasn’t much bigger, but I could see the icons of albums I downloaded. I didn’t walk around with the speakers in my ears, but it sure did beat blasting my Bose Wave radio when I was on the treadmill.
    Then I read about the iPad. I just couldn’t believe that Steve Jobs and his Apple team could invent a small computer that I could actually hold in my hands. To be able to sit back in my living room chair with the touch screen, the keyboard, the simplicity, and the ease of use just intrigued me. I didn’t need one right away as I have my Gateway laptop.
    After the iPad was on the market for 9 months and I saw the commercials, I had to get one. From the moment I saw the little Apple icon start the tablet, my life changed. Let me repeat. My life changed. I used to read newspapers, books and magazines, but I often had to adjust the light. Do I go with one lamp over each shoulder? If I move, the light doesn’t go with me.
    No more worries. Just turn on the iPad. The light comes from the tablet. I could even read in the dark!
    I may never buy another “book” again. I have iBooks. I can even read samples. I bought a book from the iTunes store. I don’t need a dictionary nearby. I can just look up anything while I read. No more bookmarks. I can bookmark with my finger. No more highlighter. I can make notes. And guess what! I can multitask with ease. So if I’m reading about a stock I can just tap out and tap into Yahoo and do some research.
    I saw a movie on my iPad a month after I bought it. I can email, find recipes, listen to music, check out the weather all while relaxing in my chair.  I can find a phone number on my iPad faster than looking in the phone book.
    So a few months after the iPad I had to get the iPhone and now I have evolved into an Apple afficionado!
    If Steve Jobs could bring about such change into my life, just think what he has done for the rest of you. I wish I had met him. I was at a Red Sox game this summer checking out stuff on my iPhone and the guy next to me was having problems trying to take a picture with an Android. “Should have bought the iPhone,” he said.
    People may try to copy Apple products, but that is futile.  Steve Jobs knew what we wanted before we knew we wanted it. Who else can do that? Last week we lost the greatest thinker, inventor, marketer, visionary and CEO that I have ever known. God Bless Steve Jobs.  May he rest in peace and be an inspiration to all.