“The manual for WordStar, the most popular word-processing program, is 400 pages thick. To write a novel, you have to read a novel – one that reads like a mystery to most people. They’re not going to learn slash q-z any more than they’re going to learn Morse code. That is what Macintosh is all about.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
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Quote
“The manual for WordStar, the most popular word-processing program, is 400 pages thick. To write a novel, you have to read a novel – one that reads like a mystery to most people. They’re not going to learn slash q-z any more than they’re going to learn Morse code. That is what Macintosh is all about.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs critiques the complexity and user-unfriendliness of existing software, specifically WordStar, a popular word-processing program at the time. Jobs emphasizes that traditional software often required users to learn arcane commands and convoluted shortcuts, making even simple tasks feel like a challenge. He compares it to reading a mystery novel—something that most users would find confusing and intimidating. The Macintosh, on the other hand, was designed to be intuitive and easy to use, with a focus on simplifying the user experience. Jobs suggests that just like you don’t need to learn Morse code to communicate, users shouldn’t have to memorize a complicated set of commands to write a document.
Jobs’ statement highlights one of the core principles behind the Macintosh: user-centered design. Apple’s goal was to make technology accessible to everyone, not just those with technical expertise. The Macintosh introduced a graphical user interface (GUI), which allowed users to interact with their computers using a mouse and icons, rather than having to memorize commands. This innovation made computing much more accessible to the general public.
In today’s world, the principles Jobs described are foundational to modern user experience (UX) design. The focus on creating products that are intuitive and easy to use continues to drive tech innovation in everything from smartphones to apps. Jobs’ quote is a reminder that simplicity and usability should always be at the forefront of product development, ensuring that technology serves people rather than frustrating them.
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