[abritinthebay]

I think this isn't so much Jobs lying as it is him doing his normal embellishment.

Rod Holts design wasn't electrically unique, but it was extremely light and small. The Apple II wasn't the first computer to use a switching supply but it was shockingly light of a power supply which really helped the Apple II's reputation.

Which... as far as Jobs was likely concerned was all that mattered, but it wasn't the rip-off he claimed, it was just the start of the trend and Holt was at the right time to be one of the first on that wave.

[somedudethere]

Yeah. When Apple claims to have invented something, they don't mean that they invented the very first instance of it, they mean that they invented a practical and transformative consumer implementation, which depending on who you are can be viewed as just as important (because what use is a technology if it can't be used on a practical level?)

[ksk]

"popularized" and "invented" are two words which would be useful in this situation. Hopefully, we can all agree on the distinct meaning of those words.

>because what use is a technology if it can't be used on a practical level?

I know you meant it in a general sense, but the act of demonstrating something can also be useful. It could be that its not very profitable to manufacture or that it could serve as an inspiration for others to improve upon the idea itself.

[weland]

It's a case of not really telling the truth, which is pretty much what lying means.