No one is indispensable. Ive created a good team and deserves to be able to spend his time now more however he'd like to, no? There comes a time when the nestlings must try their wings. Sure there's risk if they're not ready. But Ive hanging around "just in case" is not going to make them more ready in the end.
I too think a company has to change itself up, or die. And agree that they were going nowhere on design with Sculley at the helm even if he put a floor back under the company. But I do think Apple's changing it up now. They're living in the real world --today's real world, not that of 2011-- and positioning themselves for it in extending their service endeavors, in my opinion.
I wasn't a fan of the Watch although if I were 20 years younger I'd be wearing one. I'm still looking forward to seeing whatever they do with mobile devices and laptops... and maybe more wearables, I suppose. Hell I still like my little shuffles. One that hooked to the net or had BT like the 7th gen nano would be fun.
But I don't think Apple believes it can "just" be a manufacturer of very cool and very pricey computing gear as it prepares for competition in the next decade. Gear is still fun for kids now just on cosmetic tweaks, and geeks still want more power under the hood and a battery that can keep it together for 48 hours? However, it seems to me the consumer tech industry is almost to that deadly point that kitchen appliance manufacturers reached back whenever they started pitching the idea that you weren't keeping up with the Joneses unless you too had an avocado-themed kitchen... or later on, a stainless steel one. Shrug... my range is white and my refrigerator is black. They cook and store food just fine.
Right, so today's kid in high school has his gear tab picked up by his parents and he likely wants a new phone every year and it better look new at that. But soon enough he's out there with college debt payments, and expecting his phone to last for 3 years. So the spec matters when he upgrades. In the meantime he expects the device to serve him up what he wants in the way of information and entertainment. Apple seems to be trying to make sure it can figure into his plans no matter whether the look and feel or the services offered are what matter most to him with respect to his gear as he and the company move on. I see that sort of strategy as sustainable.
