Rare Apple Mac OS X Administration Basics spiral-bound manual published in 2001, 338 pages 10 x 11, signed on the front cover in black ballpoint, "All the best, Steve Jobs." The cover bears the recipient's affixed visitor pass sticker, dated June 6, 2001. The book is sparsely annotated throughout with training course notes. In fine condition, with general expected handling wear from use. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from PSA/DNA and Beckett Authentication Services. The consignor notes: "I met Steve Jobs, founder & then-CEO of Apple, Inc. in 2001 when I went to Cupertino, CA to get my technical training to become an Apple Technician. That day I had inadvertently parked my rental car beside his (a silver Mercedes Benz S500 with no license plate). It was afternoon, the end of my training day and I just got into my car when I saw Mr. Steve Jobs walking into his car. I rolled down my window and called up his name. He asked me whether he knew me. I told him I certainly knew who he was and immediately asked him if he would be kind enough to sign my Mac OS X Administration technical manual. He refused and said ‘I feel weird doing that.’ I refused to back down. After a bit of cajoling on my part, he finally told me to hand over the manual and pen. He said ‘give me those’ and he autographed my manual."
Steve Jobs was a notoriously difficult signer—evinced by his reluctance to sign this OS X guide in 2001—and his autograph is incredibly scarce among contemporary figures. Mac OS X was released to the public in March 2001, only months before he signed this manual. The innovative operating system was based on the NeXTSTEP system developed by Jobs following his departure from Apple, who then purchased NeXT in 1997 in order to bring Jobs back into the fold. Hotly anticipated by Mac fanatics around the globe, the operating system introduced the slick 'Aqua' graphical user interface that remains the basis for Apple's products today. Despite being met with mixed reviews upon its release, OS X now stands as an undisputed story of success—the foundation upon which Apple's modern empire has been built. A truly remarkable Jobs-signed piece.
