"We used to take long walks and talk about philosophy and the meaning of life," Fernandez said. "We didn't really fit in, in the normal scenes that kids try to fit in with, and we ended up being kind of loners."
Fernandez said he and Jobs were loners who loved technology.
"This was his note to me: 'To a transistorized brain, Bill Fernandez. Steve Jobs.' I guess I was showing signs of engineering greatness, even then," Fernandez said.
Fernandez said he introduced Jobs to his neighbor, Steve Wozniak, and when the two later created Apple, Fernandez was their first technician.
"Woz was next door, washing his car, and I said, 'You know, you'll probably like this guy because you're both interested in electronics,'" Fernandez said. "I have to tell you, there was magic in the air. I would drive up and park in the front of Jobs' family home, and there was magic. To me, it was palpable."