After leaving Apple in 1985, Steve Jobs embarked on a journey that would shape his legacy even further. His time away from Apple marked a period of reinvention, creativity, and strategic risk-taking. Jobs founded NeXT, a computer company focused on creating high-performance workstations for higher education and business markets. At the same time, he also made a significant investment in Pixar, a decision that would eventually lead to one of the most successful ventures of his career. Here’s an in-depth look at the “NeXT” era and how it contributed to Steve Jobs’ growth as a visionary and ultimately played a crucial role in his return to Apple.
Founding NeXT: Vision for a New Kind of Computer
After his ousting from Apple, Jobs wanted to build something entirely new. He founded NeXT in 1985 with the goal of creating a high-end computer that could revolutionize the education and business sectors. His vision was not just to produce another personal computer, but to design a machine that was powerful enough for professionals and researchers, yet accessible to the academic world. This vision would later set the foundation for the kind of software and hardware design excellence that would later characterize his return to Apple.
The NeXT Computer, launched in 1988, was a bold innovation. It featured cutting-edge hardware, including a Motorola 68030 processor and a unique optical drive. The machine had a black, cube-shaped design that made it stand out, but it was also costly. At $6,500, the NeXT Computer was priced far beyond what most consumers or small businesses could afford. Despite its remarkable design and engineering, the NeXT Computer never achieved mass-market success.
However, the NeXT era was not just about hardware; it was about a vision for software. The company developed the NeXTSTEP operating system, which was revolutionary for its time. NeXTSTEP was an object-oriented operating system with a graphical user interface (GUI) and an innovative developer environment. This OS would go on to influence the development of future operating systems, including macOS and iOS, making NeXT’s impact far-reaching in the tech industry.
NeXT’s Role in the Development of Modern Software
While the hardware was a commercial failure, the software developed by NeXT proved to be much more influential. NeXTSTEP’s architecture was groundbreaking, and it became a critical part of the software landscape. The object-oriented design of NeXTSTEP would later influence major operating systems, including macOS, which would be developed by Apple after Jobs returned to the company in the late 1990s.
In addition to the hardware and software, NeXT was one of the first companies to offer web development tools. In the early ’90s, NeXTSTEP provided an integrated web server, which played a significant role in the early days of the World Wide Web. The software developed at NeXT was also important in the rise of the internet. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, used a NeXT workstation to create the first web browser and server. The fact that NeXT provided the tools for such a groundbreaking development in technology was a testament to Jobs’ foresight and understanding of the future of computing.
Pixar: A Game-Changing Investment
In addition to NeXT, Jobs also made a critical investment in Pixar. In 1986, Jobs bought the company from Lucasfilm for $10 million, becoming its primary shareholder. Pixar initially focused on developing cutting-edge animation technology, with a goal of creating computer-animated films. However, Jobs quickly saw the potential for Pixar to create not just technology, but also entertainment content.
For years, Pixar struggled to gain traction in the film industry, with Jobs often having to step in and provide financial backing. The turning point came in 1995 when Pixar released Toy Story, the first full-length computer-animated film. The success of Toy Story revolutionized the animation industry and cemented Pixar’s place as one of the most innovative film studios in the world.
Pixar’s partnership with Disney proved to be pivotal. After years of negotiating, Disney and Pixar struck a deal to co-produce films. In 2006, Disney purchased Pixar for $7.4 billion, making Jobs the largest individual shareholder in Disney. This acquisition was a major success for Jobs, both financially and professionally, and it set the stage for his return to Apple.
The Strategic Return to Apple
Despite his success with NeXT and Pixar, Jobs still maintained a deep connection with Apple. In 1996, Apple acquired NeXT for $429 million, bringing Jobs back to the company he had founded. When Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was in disarray, with financial struggles, outdated products, and a lack of clear direction.
Jobs took over as interim CEO, and his first move was to streamline the company’s product line. He also focused on simplifying Apple’s branding and marketing, making it more user-centric. The result was the creation of the iconic iMac, which debuted in 1998 and was a commercial success.
In the years that followed, Jobs’ return to Apple would usher in a new era of innovation. He oversaw the development of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, products that revolutionized multiple industries and transformed Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world. The lessons he learned during his time with NeXT and Pixar—about creating beautiful, functional products, understanding the importance of software, and knowing the future of computing—would be fundamental to his success at Apple.
Lessons from NeXT
Steve Jobs’ time at NeXT was transformative in several ways. While NeXT itself was not a commercial success, it gave Jobs invaluable experience in creating high-quality software and understanding the future of computing. It also taught him the importance of perseverance. Despite NeXT’s commercial failure, Jobs refused to give up on his vision. He continued to push forward, learning from his mistakes, which would ultimately pay off when he returned to Apple.
Additionally, NeXT highlighted the importance of design. Jobs always had an eye for aesthetics, and this became more pronounced during his time with NeXT. He became obsessed with creating products that were not only functional but also visually appealing. This focus on design would come to define Apple’s products in the years to come.
Lastly, Jobs’ investment in Pixar demonstrated his ability to see opportunities that others missed. He believed in Pixar’s potential long before it became the animation powerhouse that it is today. His success with Pixar helped him build financial independence, which in turn allowed him to take more risks and be more creative with his future ventures.
Conclusion
The NeXT era was a crucial part of Steve Jobs’ journey. It was during this time that he refined his vision for technology, software, and design. The lessons he learned, the risks he took, and the innovations he championed during this period played a pivotal role in shaping not just his legacy but the future of technology as a whole. His time away from Apple was not a break from innovation; it was a chance for him to gather new ideas, experiences, and perspectives that would later propel him to even greater success when he returned to the company he had founded. The NeXT era demonstrated that failure does not necessarily mean the end—it can, in fact, be the foundation for future success.
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