Big Apple

A mere passion for computer development is not enough. In the case of Apple, it was coupled with an Aristotelean pursuit of excellence, something Wozniak encourages in the younger generation.

"Don't do just average work," he advises. "Aim to produce something that you'd be proud to show off to others. You have to believe in yourself and that your ideas are better for the world."

Jobs is of the same belief. "[Steve wants to be one of] the Shakespeares, the Einsteins; great people leading the world forward," says Wozniak. "Steve pushes engineers so hard that at the end of some projects, some swear that they'll never work with him again."

Despite the different approaches of the two Steves, they have worked together harmoniously for many years and continue to have a good relationship to this day.

After so long in the field, hasn't he got a bit jaded? He shakes his head. Not at all. So how does he stay motivated?

"It's the joy of loving what I do, like musicians. I've got some friends who are grammy musicians and when you go around to their house, they'll just pull a guitar out and start playing," he insists. "You do it because you love it."

In fact, he has noticed a strong correlation between music and computer engineering.

"Lots of Apple employees come from music backgrounds," he observes. "I'm not sure what it is but there is some sort of ‘art' connection between the two." Something about the musical mindset - maybe the ability to make sense of complex patterns in a highly-specialised language - transposes well into the world of computers.

The variety of his current lifestyle must also keep him interested. His days are a whirlwind which would sweep many up in a sense of self-importance but he is a curiously grounded character, despite moving in the circles of the rich, influential and famous.

You might also be forgiven for thinking that his position in the upper echelons of computer wizardry would squirrel him away in an untouchable ivory tower - but Wozniak is quite the opposite. He is affable, great with people (especially children) and disarmingly prefers to be known as ‘the Woz'.

As with his professional calling, he has not allowed himself any boundaries when it comes to pursuing other personal goals.

His degree from Berkeley is one example. He didn't manage to finish it the first time round so several years into the Apple venture he decided to return to his studies. But the company and its leaders were by then recognised names.

So he went back under a pseudonym - ‘Rocky Raccoon Clark'. Where did the obscure name come from? "It's the combination of a Beatles song and my [second] wife's maiden name," he tells me.

"The certificate is hanging up in my house," he nods, as if eager to authenticate his claim.

Another ambition was teaching, a pastime perhaps fitting for a man with boundless enthusiasm for learning. "I always wanted to teach," he reveals.

So he did. For eight years, away from the glare of the media, he taught fifth grade students, hoping to imbue them with the same passion for learning and investigation that he has.

"In teaching, it's less important what you teach them and more important to motivate [the kids] to want to learn. The smart ones will figure it out."

The jet lag is kicking in and ‘the Woz' needs some reprieve from the barrage of questions that curious journalists and entrepreneurs have been flinging at him.

On the subject of rest, Wozniak is a big fan of the Segway personal transporter. "I normally try to ship my Segway ahead of me, as it only costs about US$50," he explains. "It enhances and improves my life. I have a herniated disc so I can't walk or cycle so well."

It is practical - he uses it most days to get around, be it for errands, trips to the cinema - and it is fun. Somewhat bizarrely, he is on a Segway polo team, which he says is not as easy as it looks. "You use all your muscles, you're reaching for the ball - it's exhausting," he laughs.

And you would expect nothing less from a brilliant man who has made his fortune from thinking outside the box.

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