Apple's Jobs to take Medical leave

[burn_this_city]

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/tech...ion=2009011418

This guy had a nasty form of cancer before. I wouldnt be surprised if its back, he might be dying but wont admit it.

[bluejays]

I don't know if it's major. I know you can't believe everything people say, but a couple weeks back he dispelled rumors of his cancer coming back. To be honest, CEO or not, it's nobody's business of his medical condition, but he did nip it at the bud and I'd tend to believe somebody if they were talking about their health. Hopefully, whatever it is, he'll be fine.

[Hack&Lube]

I thought that Jobs was a smart guy but he avoided medication and surgery and tried to fight his first cancer with a magical herbal quack medicine diet. That failed and it got quite severe before he relented to get real medical help. This time around, he claims that it's a hormone imbalance.



to

[burn_this_city]

I think hes being secretive about it to spare their stock value.. Wacky but also understandable since most of their most popular products were his brainchild.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I think hes being secretive about it to spare their stock value.. Wacky but also understandable since most of their most popular products were his brainchild.

It almost seems impossible that a company with 30 000 employees is the the result of one rather old man. I'm sure they have people working for them now that are much more valuable to their success...

That said, when Jobs took over the company in 1997, it was his vision that got the company to where it is today.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I thought that Jobs was a smart guy but he avoided medication and surgery and tried to fight his first cancer with a magical herbal quack medicine diet.

You just don't get it because you're not a graphics designer.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I thought that Jobs was a smart guy...

If we had to rely on "smart people" to be our geniuses, we'd all still be banging rocks together in a cave somewhere.

[corporatejay]

If he is lying about his medical condition Apple could be in legal trouble for disclosing this. While it is "private" if he's dying I bet that would have a dramatic effect on the stock price. There might be an obligation to disclose it.

[redforever]

Speculation is that if he dies or can not continue in his present capacity, Apple stock will drop by over 10%.

[FanIn80]

Truth: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/te...pple.html?_r=1

Also, I think it's important to remember that, while Jobs has very much been the guiding light, Apple is not a one-man show. It may take a quarter or two, but the market will adjust and people will move on.

I know the last time Apple went Jobsless they practically fell of the face of the Earth, but they fired Jobs then... this time around, he'll have the ability to transition someone in. If Gates did it, Jobs can do it.

[BlackArcher101]

One could say that in this case, an apple a day did not keep the doctor away.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Truth: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/te...pple.html?_r=1

Also, I think it's important to remember that, while Jobs has very much been the guiding light, Apple is not a one-man show. It may take a quarter or two, but the market will adjust and people will move on.

I know the last time Apple went Jobsless they practically fell of the face of the Earth, but they fired Jobs then... this time around, he'll have the ability to transition someone in. If Gates did it, Jobs can do it.

The difference between Gates and Jobs is that Microsoft never left the Gates way of thinking. Steve Job's has a very particular and decisive concept for Apple's business plan and has very much determined the course of Apple's product design and marketing since the late 90's.

If Apple as a whole hasn't started thinking along the same lines as Jobs, their products might revert back to the prior direction they were headed in before Jobs came back on the scene. Basically, if they start to market low cost "beige" PC's and no longer cater to the "cool" factor, they lose their niche and will get buried by competition.

But, most analysts tend to forecast that Job's vision has become corporate culture so the fanatics don't need to stress too much (or sell their stock...).

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by llama64

The difference between Gates and Jobs is that Microsoft never left the Gates way of thinking. Steve Job's has a very particular and decisive concept for Apple's business plan and has very much determined the course of Apple's product design and marketing since the late 90's.

If Apple as a whole hasn't started thinking along the same lines as Jobs, their products might revert back to the prior direction they were headed in before Jobs came back on the scene. Basically, if they start to market low cost "beige" PC's and no longer cater to the "cool" factor, they lose their niche and will get buried by competition.

But, most analysts tend to forecast that Job's vision has become corporate culture so the fanatics don't need to stress too much (or sell their stock...).

Everything you said was pretty much answered by my assertion that (unlike the last time), Jobs will be allowed to transition someone into his role... if he hasn't been doing that already (which I'm sure he has).

Edit: nm, figured it out.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

If he is lying about his medical condition Apple could be in legal trouble for disclosing this. While it is "private" if he's dying I bet that would have a dramatic effect on the stock price. There might be an obligation to disclose it.

This has been discussed to death on twit podcasts the last few months, the consensus of people who know say shareholdes dont have a leg to stand on, but that a case might be made due to the controlling nature of Job's and vis a vi where the company was before he took over and where they are now.

All Apple hate aside, he has turned apple into a very powerful company from a running joke.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by llama64

the difference between gates and jobs is that microsoft never left the gates way of thinking. Steve job's has a very particular and decisive concept for apple's business plan and has very much determined the course of apple's product design and marketing since the late 90's.

If apple as a whole hasn't started thinking along the same lines as jobs, their products might revert back to the prior direction they were headed in before jobs came back on the scene. Basically, if they start to market one high cost "beige" pc under 346 different squ's and no longer cater to the "cool" factor, they lose their niche and will get buried by competition.

But, most analysts tend to forecast that job's vision has become corporate culture so the fanatics don't need to stress too much (or sell their stock...).

fixed!

[Titan]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

This has been discussed to death on twit podcasts the last few months, the consensus of people who know say shareholdes dont have a leg to stand on, but that a case might be made due to the controlling nature of Job's and vis a vi where the company was before he took over and where they are now.

All Apple hate aside, he has turned apple into a very powerful company from a running joke.

A spokesman for the Securities and Exchange Commission, John J. Nester, declined to comment on Apple’s situation. But he said that in general, while there were no specific requirements for companies to disclose the health of their officers or directors, companies needed to assess whether health problems could have a material impact on results.

i think this is the key. Jobs is Apple in a lot of people's eyes. If he died tomorrow what would the stock do? Tank. Therefore, his illnes is/would have a material impact.

Long way of saying I agree.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Titan

A spokesman for the Securities and Exchange Commission, John J. Nester, declined to comment on Apple’s situation. But he said that in general, while there were no specific requirements for companies to disclose the health of their officers or directors, companies needed to assess whether health problems could have a material impact on results.

i think this is the key. Jobs is Apple in a lot of people's eyes. If he died tomorrow what would the stock do? Tank. Therefore, his illnes is/would have a material impact.

Long way of saying I agree.

I thought he as referring to financial results vis a vi balance sheet, and not stock preformance. At least I hope he was, a capable manager of a coprporation should have somewhat control over balance sheet, but I dont think you can expect them to guess human reaction to non fancial, albeit important results to a company per say.

I dont think Steve Jobs dying is going to affect ipod, iphone, sales. It will affect the stock price, but its not like investors can or should be trusted to make the right decision especially given the recent track record.

[Bobblehead]

As long as none of the Apple brass who may have been privy to Jobs' health have sold any of their stock lately, then I don't think that this will matter too much to the SEC.

However, if someone has sold off stock then I think the SEC will look very closely. After previous Jobs health scares caused the stock price to drop, it isn't a surprise how the market would react. To take advantage of that would be insider trading, I think.

[Hack&Lube]

He also used to own Pixar and when he sold it to Disney, he's also the biggest Disney shareholder. Jobs also has an a SECC problem with stock options before that is still being dealt with in court.