What do rock stars do when they get old? If you're David Bowie, you just keep getting better and better, and perhaps invent YAP (Yet Another Persona). If you're Mick Jagger, you look and act pretty much the same as you did 20-40 years ago, but with a "Sir" in front of your name.

If you're Paul McCartney, also a "Sir" these days, you start suing people and/or companies that vaguely threaten you, thus proving that you are actually part of the same machine you used to mock when you were young and cool.

Speaking of Apple, Steve Jobs is, for all intents and purposes, a rock star in the tech world, or rather, the tech world's equivalent of a rock star; and, he is aging. Can it really be 49 years ago last week that he was born? Happy (belated) Birthday, Mr. Jobs!

Also last week in Apple History, it was last week in 1981 that Apple laid off 40 employees. That day became known as "Black Wednesday."

Another black day in Apple history happened last week in 1998, when Steve Jobs ordered the Newton be discontinued. That was a black day indeed, and many still wish Apple would reenter the PDA market.

In yet another sad day in Apple history, it was last week in 2000 that long time Mac writer and personality Don Crabb passed away.

Last week in Apple History:

February 22-29

1955: Steven Paul Jobs is born, then adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs of San Francisco.

1981: Apple lays off 40 of 1,500 employees on "Black Wednesday," a highly-unpopular move that led to the removal of Mike Scott as president.

1998: With Steve Jobs at the helm, Apple discontinues Newton development. Although it had created the personal digital assistant (PDA) market, the Newton's installed base never exceeded an estimated 300,000 units.

1999: Former Apple CEO Gil Amelio joins the board of directors of Owners.com.

2000: Long time Apple writer and personality Don Crabb passes away. His obituary in long-time home the Chicago Sun-Times is penned by famed film critic Roger Ebert.

is the author of Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World’s Most Colorful Company, published by No Starch Press earlier this year (US$13.97 - Amazon).

is the editor of The Mac Observer, and was egged on, in-part, in his obsession with the Mac by Owen's first book, The Mac Bathroom Reader.

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