Steve Jobs Taking New Medical Leave of Absence

[NAG]

Are you kidding?

Microsoft's Enterprise apps have gotten better on a massive order of magnitude. SharePoint 2010, Lync Server, Search Server, Exchange 2010.

Huge improvements and listening to exactly what the business customer wants. Even the Win7Mobile devices are decent, need some tweaks, but they are solid products.

Windows Phone 7 was massively delayed and they had the disaster of the Kin. I doubt the all of the management missteps were completely Ballmer's fault but so far he doesn't really seem to have full control over the company or he has a completely schizo vision (e.g. insistence that desktop Windows run on tablets or slates or whatever they're calling them now).

As far as Jobs, hope he gets better (and not because I like Apple but anyone dying due to cancer/recovering from cancer is a horrible thing).

 

[paw73]

IMO, the big question is what role Phil and Peter will fill if Steve retires.

Rest Steve. We understand.

Trust me Apple has an iron-clad succession plan in place.

 

[aplqna]

Maybe it's an American thing, but for us Europeans, a message beginning simply with "Team,..." instead of something like "Dear Team,..." sounds rather, let's say, disrespectful. You'd only do this in the military.

You have got to be kidding me.

Can you not imagine Steve saying "Team, I have something unfortunate to tell you". It is not rude in the slightest. The man is ill and it is a serious message. How the hell can you read into it that he is unappreciative?

Seriously, the things people nit-pick during a serious situation astounds me.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

One is never really "cured" of cancer, maybe he just needs more chemo...chemotherapy is HARD

 

[sconnor99]

I'm quite surprised about how many Doctors there are on this board giving us their prognosis on the man's health.

 

[DrFrankTM]

I hope you get better soon, Steve! You've made - and are still making - a hell of a dent in the universe. Your name is written in big neon letters on the very fabric of the universe. And things will be a little less bright, a little more boring while you're away. Rest as much as you need and come back to us stronger than ever.

I know you've never been much on upgradable systems, but maybe it's time to build an iRoboticBody that will take you through the next billion years or so...

 

[newdeal]

...

although I hope for the best at this point it has to be assumed they found metastasis of his cancer and he is going to be gone in 6 months. What a shame, I am sure his legacy at Apple will be remembered and the company will do just fine but man that sucks

 

[Chalkperson]

I'm sure many others will join me by saying that he will be in our thoughts and prayers, not much else we can do really except to say thanks for all you have given us Mac fans...

 

[jtropeano]

You've made - and are still making - a hell of a dent in the universe. Your name is written in big neon letters on the very fabric of the universe.

Perfectly said.

 

[Bluisnblklungs]

I can see Tim Cook taking over as CEO along with the day to day operations, thats a no brainer. He did a great job, when Jobs took his last leave of absence. While I do think Jobs will "retire", he'll give himself a new title like Apple Overlord . He'll still have final say in the products without having to be there everyday.

EDIT: He'll also come back for the MAJOR keynotes

 

[iOrlando]

Let's face it folks. This is it for Steve. He will NOT come back. They are smart by announcing a 'medical leave of absence' as to not shake up the investors too much (but their stock will take a hit). They will let Tim Cook run things during some successful launches to show people he can get the job done.. then later announce Steve's retirement.

if I had a dime for every time this was said during his last leave of absence...
no one knows what will happen, not even Steve.

 

[Eric-PTEK]

Windows Phone 7 was massively delayed and they had the disaster of the Kin. I doubt the all of the management missteps were completely Ballmer's fault but so far he doesn't really seem to have full control over the company or he has a completely schizo vision (e.g. insistence that desktop Windows run on tablets or slates or whatever they're calling them now).

As far as Jobs, hope he gets better (and not because I like Apple but anyone dying due to cancer/recovering from cancer is a horrible thing).

Ballmer needs to go for sure. But as far as convergence in their products they are doing the right things.

For sure the tablet situation is a mess and will continue to be until they put the stuff they need into the core of the OS, not patching it endlessly to make it work.

Business products though are solid.

I do too wish Steve and his family all the best. He believed in what he did and as bad as this may sound, his early return to Apple after his illness I'm sure cost him some time in the end.

 

[BriChi]

my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

so much for that huh, LOL

Get better Steve!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Maybe it's an American thing, but for us Europeans, a message beginning simply with "Team,..." instead of something like "Dear Team,..." sounds rather, let's say, disrespectful. You'd only do this in the military.

Besides that, I think one does not need a a PhD in Mathematics to calculate the probability of Steve's health forcing him to retire permanently in the very near future.

I don't think that Apple will stay a shining star without him, but it would still be interesting to know who will be in charge once he's left the company.

1) It's a Steve thing -- he is not known to be one for gentility or formalities and Apple engineers are not so sensitive to be offended by the lack of "Dear" preceding "Team."

2) Math can calculate a lot of things but the human spirit is not one of them. Check out that BOTH #1 NFL seeds were eliminated this weekend. Math did not predict that, yet it happened because the #6 teams were better prepared. So I would not be counting Steve down and out just yet.

3) When Steve does leave Apple, Apple will be just fine. It had some of its greatest growth during Steve's last medical leave. No one can give a presentation like Steve, but the Apple brain trust is deeper than Steve just the same.

 

[Collected]

Well I hope this is more of a 'You need to slow down Steve, seriously' from his doctor rather than a 'It's bad news, Steve' type situation. Let's hope he recovers and even if he doesn't return to Apple, he has many happy years ahead with his family.

 

[Reach9]

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C'mon guys, we all know that Steve Jobs won't remain CEO forever. That being said, I'm sure he has discussed his visions with the other board of directors, for Apple to prosper even after he leaves.
Sadly Apple stocks will decline because of this, but I think Steve Jobs will guide the future CEO of Apple really well to take over his mantel. Apple will not fall, Steve Jobs wouldn't let it become a run-off-the-mill company.
Bill Gates retired, and Steve Jobs will be next. It makes sense because these two have been around for a while.

 

[Apple...]

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One of Steve Job's strengths was in building extremely competent management and creative teams. I have a lot of faith in the guys running the show in Steve's absence.

I met Steve during his NeXT years when I was developing for the platform. He's quite a dynamic guy in person.

I hope the leave helps him get through this health issue, and back on his feet.

Get well soon, Steve.

Wow. I wish I could meet him some day...

 

[gregorsamsa]

The New York Times article just appearing on the front page points out that his friends say he has been looking increasingly frail. I am worried.

That tallies with general observations one reads from elsewhere. Definitely not good news for Apple.

Someone like Cook is okay for holding the reins on a temporary basis as during his previous stint, but he's mostly an accounts guy. The undoubted genius behind the products is Steve Jobs.

I wish Steve only the very best. Though I'm hoping for good news later, sadly the reality in due course may very well be otherwise.

 

[Queso]

I have to say guys, for all the speculation we actually don't have a clue whether this is related to his previous health issues. For all we know he's just had a minor stroke, hence the timing of the announcement.

(NOTE: just using the stroke as a possible example. Do NOT repeat across the Internet as if fact).

 

[Creator3571]

God, I hope not.

I say that because there are so many positive comments here.

 

[Glideslope]

Is it relevant that today is a market holiday in the US?

Yes

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Sell sell sell!

Not til it hits $400

 

[KandyKane]

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How sad, get well Steve.

Keynotes won't be the same!
(maybe I'll be able to save some money instead of rushing off to buy the latest Apple product)

 

[SactoGuy18]

I do think that unlike what happened in 2004 and 2009, Jobs has a real succession plan now in place, especially with Chief Operating Officer (COO) Timothy D. Cook ready to permanently take over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Cook has worked closely with Jobs over a number of recent projects, including the iPhone and iPad. As such, I expect Apple to do okay, since Cook pretty much shares the same philosophy with Jobs in regards to a "total ecosystem" for Apple hardware and software.

 

[Nameci]

He still not dead yet. He is still much alive. Wish the man good health.