If you want to learn about programming -- I'd say Objective-C and (Objective-C++) using XCode is the way to go.
If you want to write a program that does stuff and get on with your life -- RealBasic ($99 for standard edition).
If you want to write games -- BlitzMax.
Coincidentally...
The first chapter of the book is online and features things like random folks who barely knew him in high school calling him a "cry baby". I'm sure that you could probably find similar garbage out about anyone who wasn't the school bully.
The story about Jobs cheating Woz over their first...
These will do it on the Windows side:
http://www.riverpast.com/en/support/tutorials/convert/wmv/mov.php $80
http://www.imagespro.com/programs/2833/ $30 (shareware)
http://www.imagespro.com/programs/2726/ $30 (shareware)
The title of the book is "iCon", which, aside from being so 1999, implies Apple's CEO is a con-artist. I think that's probably at the heart of the bad reaction, even though I agree that all they've really done is generate publicity for the book.