The mouse, the GUI were “borrowed” from PARC/Xerox. The touchpad technology was borrowed as well although improved upon a little. Almost all of that technology has been around for 10 years. Gates also did some liberal borrowing, sometimes from the same sources. Gates actually did develop/coinvent some of the original technology he employed. Considering the economic and business history of the two firms I would say that Gates was more of a genius without the acid than Jobs was stoned. MS thrived and grew while Apple almost went under with their overpriced and proprietary hardware and software. Jobs was probably always a bit jealous and it showed, for instance, when Apple built a huge base of users by giving away hardware and software to schools and then years later sued MS for anti-competitive practices for setting up the same type of program. He was an overhyped, hippie, pimple on the ass of time. By the way; Dennis Ritchie who died the same week was a real inventor and creator of technology without which Apple and MS would have never been successful.
Thanks for the insight, RJS950. Sorry to hear about Mr. Ritchie.
Apple did not invent the touchpad. Apple contracted with Synaptics, my hubby’s company.