I may have never personally owned an Apple product (although that is likely to change in the near future) but there is no denying the passion they instill which, no doubt, stems from the passion with which they were created. Steve's passion.

Without Apple the world would be a different place: Microsoft would not have been driven to develop Windows as much as it has without MacOS; there would likely have been no Zune (and consequently Windows Phone 7 would probably have been completely different) without the iPod; and Google may not have invested in Android were there no iPhone.

Even if you have never used an Apple product you are reaping the benefits of at least one due to the wide reaching influence Apple has exerted on the modern world.

I had always been quite anti, resenting the tie-in to iTunes and the App Store but the release of the iPad caused me to begin re-evaluating how I looked at the iOS ecosystem. Having been a staunch Tablet PC enthusiast ever since seeing a prototype before their release I always appreciated the value that a tablet could provide - it was just unfortunate that Windows could never match my expectations or the potential of a tablet product. By completely re-thinking the experience Apple instantly made tablets cool and did the one thing Microsoft or its OEMs never could: strike a chord with the consumer.

When my wife purchased an iPad 2 earlier this year my re-evaluation was complete and, while iTunes may not be the best piece of software going, I came to appreciate the iOS ecosystem for what it really is. The likelihood is that I will now get an iPhone 4S as my next device.

So, I say thank you Steve Jobs for your vision and passion and may you rest in peace. Your legacy will live on for many years to come.