Larry Ellison Hints at Bleak Future For Apple Without Steve Jobs

[Technarchy]

Apple does have a lesser future without Steve. Cook is nothing more than a numbers guys. That does not translate into new and exciting products. Nor does it keep the leads Steve gave Apple. The success of Android has proven that.

Steve was a perfectionist, but not all ideas came from Steve Jobs.

Cook is a business manager first and foremost and that is why he is in charge. However the same creative people, which fuel Apple's technology are all still there. That's where the meat is.

Tim is primarily there to ensure the lights stay on while the creative people conjure up new toys.

You want to ruin Apple, put a fake Steve Jobs in charge.

 

[donutbagel]

Apple is doomed.

Hey, Larry, how's that Sun acquisition working out for you? Things running smoothly on the Java team? Image

Wait, I didn't know he was the CEO of Oracle. Now that I do, I don't think this guy has a right to speak.

 

[Rogifan]

I'm sorry, that makes no sense. Why would I post that if I hadn't accepted his death?

What I mean is of course Apple isn't the same. Doesn't mean they still can't be a great company. And Larry's analogy sucks. The people running Apple now were hand picked by Steve. Not the same when he left the first time.

 

[sesnir]

Except for the fact that Apple leadership respects Steve, and there's "Apple University", and Steve hand-picked his successor... it's not as though they're going to start saying, "Oh that SJ didn't know what he was talking about, let's release an Apple Bike, VCR, Refrigerator..."

They're probably treading carefully and don't want to make any mistakes.

 

[sigamy]

I usually put my money on the exact opposite of what Ellison says but this time I'm worried that he is right.

It is very hard for corporations to run the way Apple has/does unless there are very strong personalities (typically founders) in charge. Most corporations are filled with Executive MBAs and lawyers who live to serve Wall Street in order to pad their own bonuses.

If you believe that Tim Cook believes his own "Cook Manifesto" then maybe Apple will be OK for the next 10 years or so...

 

[jamiemcd]

Translation: Exceptional CEOs like Steve and I (especially I) are worth every damn penny and Oracle would be lost without me.

I don't invest in Oracle specifically because of Larry Ellison.

 

[jclardy]

Yup it's happening. Just look at the state of iOS 7 and the cheap plastic rumoured iPhones. Steve Jobs would have never allowed this.

Yeah, Jobs would never go from a high class aluminum phone to cheap plastic...oh wait.

 

[jav6454]

Reminds me of when Michael Dell started pontificating a similar rhetoric back in the day.

This is a different story and scenario we see.

 

[JAT]

Cue the Apple fans in denial.

Thank you! I completely agree and it seems that nobody around here can this through their heads.

Completely agree, people around here are like "Tim's just as good!" And then there they're like "Why the hell is the stock value going down? Apple's doing just fine!" They can't accept the fact that Apple isn't the same.

You may not know this, but both membership and visitation to this site is 100% voluntary.

 

[xNYMetsx]

What I mean is of course Apple isn't the same. Doesn't mean they still can't be a great company. And Larry's analogy sucks. The people running Apple now were hand picked by Steve. Not the same when he left the first time.

You're right, it can run, they just haven't figured it out yet.

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You may not know this, but both membership and visitation to this site is 100% voluntary.

You're correct. Even though I joined last month, I've been following this website for quite a while. I'm a long time fan of Apple.

 

[JayJayAbels]

Hubris. Just because he may have been involved with the "inner workings" of Apple a decade ago does not mean he is still "in the know".
Apple has changed dramatically in the past decade but still, even with the passing of Jobs, retains the core elements that make the company what it is and what it will be in the future.

Do NOT doubt Apple.

 

[SusanK]

After Steve everybody's tied for second place.

Sadly Steve is gone. Tim Cook has many strengths. His not being a product guy was a known prior to making him CEO. Hopefully he will be able to keep the business strong until the product people wow us with something new and spectacular.

 

[BlaqkAudio]

You're correct. Even though I joined last month, I've been following this website for quite a while. I'm a long time fan of Apple.

No, it seems like you're a long time fan of Steve Jobs.

 

[atlatnesiti]

This topic (here and in the media) will be like crack for trolls.

... and heartbreak/reality check for Apple fanboys...

 

[ghost187]

I'm disappointed that macrumors did not report the news that appl reclaimed the market cap crown, while they report baseless claims and DOA android phones such as Facebook phone and moto x.

 

[maxosx]

Reminds me of when Michael Dell started pontificating a similar rhetoric back in the day.

Lets be clear, I have a strong dislike for Ellison. Yet the undeniable fact is he's built a veritable empire that's runs in an exemplary fashion whether he's there or not. Never one to micromanage I've witnessed his accomplishments for years. Those who bad mouth this brilliant man are mere paupers when it comes to intellectual skills. As an Apple / Microsoft / Oracle shareholder of many years they've made more money for me than even my wildest imagination would never have dreamed of.

 

[H2SO4]

Translation: Exceptional CEOs like Steve and I (especially I) are worth every damn penny and Oracle would be lost without me.

I don't invest in Oracle specifically because of Larry Ellison.

If that's the same Oracle that makes the database software I use at work then yep, his products are ****.

 

[rydewnd2]

Cue the Apple fans in denial.

Says the guy on macrumors.com

 

[nutmac]

John Sculley < Tim Cooks < Steve Jobs 1.0 < Steve Jobs 2.0

 

[darkslide29]

He's just still bitter he wasn't able to buy the Golden State Warriors, even tho he offered the most money. LOL.

 

[Kabeyun]

Even if its true, and I dont believe it is, what a dou***bag. If he was really Steve's friend he wouldn't be puking up chum to bait the market sharks.

Just look at the state of iOS 7

Please, tell us all about the state of iOS 7. You said it, so now put up or pipe down.

 

[firewood]

And Larry's analogy sucks. The people running Apple now were hand picked by Steve. Not the same when he left the first time.

Markkula and Scully were picked by Steve as well. The ones after Scully ran Apple into the ground.

 

[zioxide]

Yeah, because Apple and every product they ever made was created by Steve Jobs alone

This guy sounds like an idiot.


Apple has had hundreds (now thousands) of employees working on developing their products for the past couple decades. You're kidding yourself if you think all the decisions were made by Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs alone.

All the major decisions for products, retail, marketing, or whatever were made collectively by the executive team and board of directors. That's how big companies work. It's not just one guy.

 

[PrinsBAMO]

With all respect to Jobs but he could have also said: "We saw — we conducted the experiment. I mean, it's been done. We saw Apple without Ellison. We saw Apple with Ellison. We saw Apple without Ellison. Now, we continue gonna see Apple without Ellison."

 

[Rogifan]

Markkula and Scully were picked by Steve as well. The ones after Scully ran Apple into the ground.

Did Jobs pick the people around Sculley? All the current SVPs either worked for Jobs or for someone who reported to Jobs.