Closer Look: Steve Jobs Mac

This Macintosh SE computer, the cover lot of our History of Science and Technology, including Space History auction on 25 October, presents a unique opportunity to own an intimate historical relic from one of the greatest innovators of our time.

The computer was used by Steve Jobs during his tenure at NeXT, the company he founded after he left Apple in 1985 – and the company that Apple bought in 1997. Here, we take a closer look at the item that represents one of the most pivotal moments in Jobs' career trajectory.

A Glimpse Into the Mind of Steve Jobs

In January 1981 while at Apple and after being ousted from the Lisa project, Steve Jobs came across the Macintosh project and it wasn’t long before he pushed out originator Jef Raskin, drastically changing the direction.

However, he was ultimately pushed out of any meaningful role at Apple in mid-1985 and after a trip to Moscow and Europe he began to consider his next steps. Jobs began to enlist some of the disgruntled employees from Apple's Macintosh division, several of whom had been urging him to start a new company and offering to join him. After resigning from Apple in September of 1985, Jobs began NeXT directly afterwards and brought some of those key members of the original Macintosh team with him.

As the NeXT Computer was not introduced until October of 1988 and in the meantime Jobs could have purchased any computer that he wanted so it's extremely telling that he choose to stock his office with this Macintosh. Even after the NeXT Computer was released, Jobs continued to use this Macintosh as it likely fit certain needs far better than a UNIX-based workstation (or "personal mainframe" as Jobs himself called it during the October 1988 launch) and it still represented an achievement of which he was proud. The Macintosh SE retains the same artfully compact form factor and ease of use as the original Macintosh, but has increased power and memory and a hard drive.

The present Macintosh SE was initially set up for use by his assistant in late 1987/early 1988. She had been with him since 1986 and remained in the position until late 1989/early 1990. Its hard drive provides significant insight into Steve Jobs' work at NeXT including his weekly tasks, recruiting, travel and even a missed meeting with King Charles III (then Charles, Prince of Wales). The computer also saw the move from the original NeXT office on 3475 Deer Creek Road in Palo Alto to 900 Chesapeake Drive in Redwood City as evidenced by the inventory of Jobs' office that is present.

It was still on Steve Jobs desk when the current owner began working with him in 1993, when Jobs continued using it for tasks such as accessing his private rolodex. Between 1990-1993, there is also compelling evidence that Jobs' daughter Lisa Brennan-Jobs used it when she visited the office. The InterMail system is registered under the name "Lisa" and Microsoft Word was registered in 1992 under the name "Lisa / Life." In 1993, Jobs' executive assistant transferred his private rolodex to Jobs' NeXT computer and the Macintosh SE was taken out of his office. It was last used for a marketing project that he oversaw in 1994.

Jobs offered it to the present owner later that year, mentioning that it may have value someday. Now, as a fresh-to-market offer, Jobs' prediction about remains accurate with its estimate placed at $200,000 - $300,000.

"The best thing to ever happen to Steve is when we fired him, told him to get lost."
Arthur Rock

It cannot be overstated how important a time this was for Steve Jobs' development. While his early success at Apple made him millions, jump started the personal computer revolution and brought accessibility to that market with the Macintosh and its graphical user interface (GUI), it was everything that he had learned from his struggles at NeXT and Pixar that led to the world-changing company that he built after his return to Apple.

Randall Stross in his 2010 New York Times article on Jobs perhaps captured it best: "Kevin Compton, who was a senior executive at Businessland during the Next years, described Mr. Jobs after returning to Apple: 'He's the same Steve in his passion for excellence, but a new Steve in his understanding of how to empower a large company to realize his vision.' Mr. Jobs had learned from Next not to try to do everything himself, Mr. Compton said."

This Macintosh SE was there for much of that important time, an astounding piece of Jobs' history, bearing evidence of his transformation.

Register to bid in History of Science and Technology, including Space History before 25 October, or for more information please contact adam.stackhouse@bonhams.com.