What Steve Jobs Thinks of Your Industry (1996)
Summary
Steve Hayman recounts a 1996 visit to NeXT where Steve Jobs bluntly told a retail customer they were "too stupid" to value their technology, a remark that surprisingly resonated with the client. The episode also features John Roenestein discussing Jobs’ disinterest in enterprise sales and his absence from a major CIO event. Additionally, a 1996 clip showcases Jobs demonstrating WebObjects, highlighting its speed and ability to build dynamic web pages on the fly.
Topics discussed
Introduction and 1996 context at NeXT
WebObjects product and pricing history
Post-merger price drop and team reactions
Customer visit format and Steve Jobs' role
Retail chain customer and project background
Steve Jobs joins the Q&A session
Customer asks about retail market struggles
Steve Jobs' blunt response about retail CIOs
Customer's positive reaction and relationship saved
Steve Jobs demonstrates WebObjects framework
Dynamic database publishing and FedEx example
Browser compatibility and on-the-fly page building
Live demo of flight booking application
WebObjects bundled with Mac OS 10 Server
John Ruestein on NeXT's enterprise transition
Steve Jobs' disinterest in enterprise sales
Outro and podcast resources
Closing thought on developer efficiency
Listen ad-free on Castria