HOME IS WHERE THE WOZ IS Apple Computer cofounder and Silicon Valley pioneer Steve "Woz" Wozniak is counted among the most influential--and perhaps eccentric--leaders of the PC revolution. Woz's accomplishments range from his obvious contributions to the Apple I, Apple II, Lisa, and Macintosh personal computers to programming the fondly remembered and highly successful video game, Breakout.
Of course, his early years weren't as accomplished, or above board. Wozniak and Apple partner Steve Jobs first went into business together during their time at the University of California at Berkeley by designing and selling so-called "blue boxes," devices that let users make free long distance phone calls. It should come as no surprise, then, that Steve Wozniak contributed some of the original funding for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a computer First Amendment advocacy group that has made headlines for providing legal counsel to computer hackers. Wozniak's charitable interests hardly end with the EFF. During the 1980s, he underwrote the US music festivals in San Bernardino, CA; he also put in extended duty as teacher and technology adviser with his local school district. Still, perhaps nothing better demonstrates Woz's whimsical and boisterous nature than the fact that he maintains two multimillion-dollar mansions: the one he lives in and the one he keeps for parties. Ironically, it's Woz's work, rather than play, that recently forced him to switch residences. A common technological quirk prevents Wozniak from undertaking his latest development efforts from his "lived-in" mansion. WHAT COINCIDENCE FORCED STEVE WOZNIAK TO SWITCH MANSIONS? answer below: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wozniak's latest endeavor is a wireless electronics startup called Wheels of Zeus (a play on his nickname), but his home sits in a GSM wireless coverage black spot, forcing Wozniak to move into his other house a few miles away. Woz used the ironically named Blackberry Hill residence to throw lavish parties. During the Super Bowl, Wozniak was known to place a large-screen TV in virtually every room. Otherwise, the Blackberry Hill Mansion sat empty for months at a time--a state of affairs that will change this spring. Woz is having the GSM-friendly residence extensively rewired and refurbished to serve as his full-time home. Still, one wonders if Blackberry Hill could ever replace Wozniak's current mansion, an eccentric funhouse that some compare to the legendary Winchester Mystery House. The home, designed to appeal to Wozniak's six children (five of whom have since left home), includes a mock indoor castle, replica volcano, LED-coated walls, and an artificial cave in the back yard. Alas, Woz will have to make do with the Blackberry Hill house's elaborate waterfall-enhanced, indoor-outdoor saltwater pool, fully stocked basement video arcade, a three-car garage capable of accommodating his Hummers, and a palatial view of the Valley. And, if he's bored, Woz could always throw another party. ________________________________ Changes to your subscription (unsubs, nomail, digest) can be made by going to http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
