I look at it this way: both controlled massive, evil companies--MS and its monopoly, Apple and its patent and lawsuit madness. Both were of the same generation, both in the same industry, both were about the same age when Jobs died, both were super-rich.

But one of them was a douchebag: denying the paternity of his daughter for years and acknowledged by all and sundry to be an asshole through and through. As far as we can know he died with his claws on his fortune. (Though it's possible he was an anonymous philanthropist.) Hell, he's a jerk from beyond the grave: he stiffed the guy who built is ulta-yacht!

The other was acknowledged to be difficult to work with in his day (though I've read few descriptions of him that would qualify him as Jobs-level douchiness), but since then has gone to become one of the biggest philanthropists in the history of the world, making contributions to education, science, and medicine that will be felt for generations to come.

I think these two figures are in a uniquely similar position to be judged side by side. Personally I would rather idolize the one who helped humanity, not the one who helped himself by making toys for rich people. (And hipsters.)