Ronald G Wayne, the third founding partner of Apple Computer, has released his autobiography.
Adventures of an Apple Founder contains a foreword by Steve Wozniak – Apple employee number one – and tells the story of Wayne, who founded Apple Computer with Wozniak and Steve Jobs, only to leave the company a matter of days later.
Wayne, now 77, worked with Jobs at Atari before helping to set up the company. He also drew the first Apple logo and compiled the partnership agreement between himself, Jobs and Woz.
He quit Apple Computer as unlike Jobs and Wozniak he had personal assets that could have been seized by potential creditors. He sold his 10 per cent stake in the company for $800 – if he had hung on to it, it would have been worth around $35bn, it is estimated.
Jobs tried to tempt Wayne back, but he resisted, instead continuing his career in scientific research and building Las Vegas-style gambling machines. He holds a dozen patents, though apparently never had the capital to make any money from them.
Adventures of an Apple Founder is available through iTunes for £5.99 for the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
“In the spring of 1976 while working as chief draftsman and product development engineer at the video game maker Atari, Ron assisted a co-worker with the subtle intricacies of forming a small business. It was with Ron’s natural sensibilities, experiences, and skills honed over a lifelong career in many disciplines that he offered himself openly as a resource to two much-younger entrepreneurs: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. These same traits would drive Ron’s decision to leave a short time later,” the book’s iTunes description reads.
A Kindle edition is available for £7.12 through Amazon.co.uk and it is available in paperback too, though only in the US. It can be bought through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.</P.