With the not entirely shocking news that Steve Jobs is stepping down as the CEO Apple, we’ve been captivated by the number of thoughtful and often moving articles, blog posts, and opinion pieces about the legacy he has left.

It’s clear that is a man who has not only changed technology, he’s touched lives.

As for me, I’ve been an Apple evangelist since back before there was such a thing. I remember my mother bringing home a clunky old Apple IIc from her elementary school job over the summer break in the mid-80s, and my brother and I eagerly trying our hands at (very) basic word processing, and goofing around with basic gosub commands that generated lists of random numbers for no good reason. We were the most popular kids on the block that summer.

Now all these years later, I can look back at my purchases through powerbooks and MacBooks, to iPhones, iPods and iPads with nary a regret. To say nothing of my abiding love for Pixar–lest we forget that Jobs was the animation company’s cofounder.

I owe a lot of delight (and yes, productivity) to to the vision, perfectionism, and audacity of Steve Jobs.

Some of my favorite posts about him this week:

Steve Jobs Reshaped Industries – David Pogue, New York Times

Thank You Steve Jobs – Stefania Butler, Citymama

Steve Jobs is Apple’s Dumbledore – Melissa Ford, Blogher

Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech – YouTube, via Stanford University

The Life and Career of Steve Jobs, a 2 Minute Animation – Next Media Animation, via Mashable

A young Steve Jobs introduces the Macintosh in 1984 – Simon Dumenco, AdAge

Thanks Steve pic of the day (above)- by Steve Troyan, via Cult of Mac

Any more you’d like to add? –Liz

[image © Julian Stratenschulte/DPA/ZUMAPRESS.com via blogher]