Steve Jobs Medical Leave

Rico · January 17, 2011, 09:53:11 AM

Kind of shocked Bryan didn't post this one yet, but Steve Jobs is gone on medical leave again and Tim Cook is back in charge of Apple. Looks like their stock took a little hit too.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-17/u-s-stock-futures-drop-as-apple-s-jobs-takes-medical-leave.html

billybob476 · January 17, 2011, 10:03:36 AM

It's unfortunate that things like this have to make big news. I guess that's the problem when a company's identity is centered around an individual as opposed to a team, products or ideas. I hope Steve gets well and I also hope that Apple has some succession planning in case Steve can't come back for any reason.

I'd hate to revert to Apple of the 90's.

Rico · January 17, 2011, 10:11:22 AM

Yep. I hope Steve gets well too. I greatly admire what he has done with Apple. But he is certainly "the man in charge there" and that's why this becomes big news for such a high profile company.

KingIsaacLinksr · January 17, 2011, 10:28:26 AM

Someone commented he's like the Rock Star of the tech world. Not really that surprising though, Jobs holds a lot of weight and influence in the tech industry which isn't undeserved. Considering where Apple was before he returned...

Hope he gets better. It would really suck to lose him. (Although I hope he has taken time to make sure he has backup...)

King

Bryancd · January 17, 2011, 11:28:56 AM

I was at the dentist this morning when I heard this. It is a concern for the company, no doubt, although most analysts are not viewing this departure in the same fashion as last time in 2008. The stock was down only 1.3% in future trading here int he US today as regular market is closed. I wouldn't be surprised to see follow on selling when markets reopen in the morning, even a 5% decline is less then what it was up just last week. But, it is something to keep an eye on and I will lighten up for clients if the rumor mongering starts. I wouldn't but in front of this kind of news.

Bromptonboy · January 17, 2011, 11:46:28 AM

I wish him well. It will be interesting to see if anyone else in the company has his vision. Hopefully he'll be fully back at the helm soon.

billybob476 · January 17, 2011, 11:49:06 AM

Quote from: Bromptonboy on January 17, 2011, 11:46:28 AM
I wish him well. It will be interesting to see if anyone else in the company has his vision. Hopefully he'll be fully back at the helm soon.

Historically at least, it appears that no one at the company has his vision.

X · January 17, 2011, 12:39:50 PM

Quote from: billybob476 on January 17, 2011, 11:49:06 AM
Quote from: Bromptonboy on January 17, 2011, 11:46:28 AM
I wish him well. It will be interesting to see if anyone else in the company has his vision. Hopefully he'll be fully back at the helm soon.
Historically at least, it appears that no one at the company has his vision.

I think that's the problem with Apple. I highly doubt that all of these innovation are his personal ideas. I think he has a structure that lets his people come up with these ideas. He also doesn't take credit for them, but because he's the face of the company, people assume that the ideas are all his and Apple will fail if something happens to him.

It's great to have a face, but it also becomes a double edged sword at times.

billybob476 · January 17, 2011, 12:46:16 PM

Perhaps but if you look at Apple through the 90's, it was a very different and much less successful company. Whether he comes up with ideas on his own or he creates an environment which allows others to come up with amazing ideas, you can't argue that his return and Apple becoming incredibly successful are unrelated.

Bryancd · January 17, 2011, 01:16:48 PM

This is the million dollar debate, actually the multi-billion dollar debate that has always been issue for the company. Is it the man or not? Without a doubt, most of the products the company sells today aren't Steve's ideas or designs per se. He does have a huge amount of input, clearly, and his influence can been seen in all their products. It's rumored that is was his on design decision that resulted int he reception problem for some iPhone 4's, he insisted the antennae be placed where it was for a personal design preference reason. Where Steve really shines is in the marketing. He is the ultimate hype/pitch man. He MAKES you think you can't live without Apple's products. His loss would be a very material event for the company, but not the end of the company or it's position in the consumer electronics market.

Bromptonboy · January 17, 2011, 01:41:53 PM

I agree - look how far ahead of the curve they were in PDA's in the early to mid-90's with the Newton. Steve (if he had endorsed that product) would have had everyone wanting one -while John Sculley just couldn't get the world too excited.

RickPeete · January 17, 2011, 06:55:05 PM

I agree that Steve is the master salesman. Losing him would be a significant blow to Apple. I think he inspires people to do their best and he promotes an atmosphere that fosters creativity and risk-taking. And I think Steve inspires the kind of innovation by competitors to keep new gadgets coming that push the limits.

But by the same token, people used to think that Microsoft couldn't be led by anyone other than Bill Gates. And look, it is still there and still earning billions.

Bryancd · January 17, 2011, 07:01:48 PM

Quote from: RickPeete on January 17, 2011, 06:55:05 PM

But by the same token, people used to think that Microsoft couldn't be led by anyone other than Bill Gates. And look, it is still there and still earning billions.

Actually, that's the worst example! Balmer is not well respected by investors and I think MSFT has suffered innovation stagnation since he assumed control. Besides XBox and an update to Windows that's just an Apple OS clone, he's failed at everything. Just look at the stock price since Balmer took over...DEAD MONEY. The chance that that might happen to Apple will send investors to the sidelines. I'm selling some in the morning for sure., I can manage business risk, and in that Apple is way ahead of the competition as I have always said. But I can't manage the health of one man.

RickPeete · January 17, 2011, 07:23:40 PM

My comment was not to compare 'innovation' between Apple and Microsoft (something that is difficult to do evenly given that Microsoft is primarily a software company, not a hardware company like Apple) but to make the point that Steve Jobs retiring from Apple will not spell the death nell for the company.

Hopefully, this is not related to his recent transplant. I read somewhere that it might be an organ rejection. Hopefully that is not the case. More importantly, I pray it is not related to his pancreatic problems. I hope that Steve will continue to influence technology because everyone benefits from his work -- Apple fans and competitors alike. In the end, consumers win when strong and creative ideas come to fruition.

KingIsaacLinksr · January 17, 2011, 08:51:32 PM

Hmm, I'm not sure if I agree with your point Bryan on Microsoft, I'm going to reserve judgment on that until the next windows release. So far, the current production isn't unusual for Windows so Bill Gates leaving hasn't been felt yet. What will be telling is how the next OS is received by the general community at large. So far the Windows 7 phone has met with success and Windows 7 has been a very good OS compared to Vista and prior incarnations of the operating system.

King