Jobs, Steven Paul (1955- )

US computer scientist. He co-founded Apple Computer Inc with Steve Wozniak 1976, and founded NeXT Technology Inc.
Jobs holds a unique position in the personal computer industry, having been responsible for the creation of three different types of computer. He produced the popular Apple II personal computer, but his greatest success came with the Apple Macintosh 1984, marketed as 'the computer for the rest of us'. A decline in Apple's fortunes led to Jobs' departure and the setting up of NeXT. The NeXT computer met limited commercial success, but its many innovative ideas, particularly in the use of object-oriented technology, have found their way into mainstream computing.