Jobs takes health break from Apple

godtabh

Apple computer founder and chief executive Steve Jobs is taking medical leave from work to concentrate on his health.



http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/jobs-takes-health-break-from-apple-489671.html

BrianJD

I wonder can he claim sick pay

whiterebel

BrianJD wrote: »

I wonder can he claim sick pay

Bet he's checking his PRSI payments as we speak.......


On a more serious note, he hasn't looked well in a long time now. Its one thing after another for him.

enda1

Yeah, gotta feel for the guy a bit. All the care and attention and effort he puts into the company, love even. You gotta wonder if he has paid enough attention to his health over the years, whether the stress of it all is taking its toll.

Sad Professor

Poor Steve. As CEO I think the writing is probably on the wall for him at this stage. He will most likely never be back to his old self and he can't keep doing this.

BrianD

Apple shares dipped 7.6% in Frankfurt as a result. Poor chap has had some serious medical issues in the past but will continue with a strategic input into the company. Fair play to him.

BBMcQ

BrianJD wrote: »

I wonder can he claim sick pay

He only gets paid one dollar a year!

BrianD

Well he has $5bn and apparently he's tight with the cash.

Dave!

BrianD wrote: »

Apple shares dipped 7.6% in Frankfurt as a result. Poor chap has had some serious medical issues in the past but will continue with a strategic input into the company. Fair play to him.

Why is Apple's financial fate so tied to Jobs as CEO? He's a good one alright, but surely there's a huge team responsible for pitching product ideas, design, etc., and he just gives the okay?

I can't say I'm clued up on how Apple works, so go easy , but I was just surprised to see that share prices fell because of this.

Is it maybe because Jobs is so good at creating hype and energizing the Mac faithful with his presentations, etc.?

(I'm an Apple fan BTW)

Sad Professor

Jobs has always had a reputation for being extremely hands-on. He's not like other CEOs. Apple don't do focus groups and aren't interested in what people think they want. Jobs has always quoted Henry Ford who famously said that if he had asked people what they wanted they would have said "faster horses". So while there is a big team, they are all basically working to make Steve Jobs happy.

Jobs is also attributed with having saved the company from the brink of bankruptcy in 1997 and getting it to where it is today. As far as most people are concerned: Steve Jobs is Apple. So there's a lot of nervousness about how the company will manage without him.

whiterebel

Sad Professor wrote: »

Jobs has always had a reputation for being extremely hands-on. He's not like other CEOs. Apple don't do focus groups and aren't interested in what people think they want. Jobs has always quoted Henry Ford who famously said that if he had asked people what they wanted they would have said "faster horses". So while there is a big team, they are all basically working to make Steve Jobs happy.

Jobs is also attributed with having saved the company from the brink of bankruptcy in 1997 and getting it to where it is today. As far as most people are concerned: Steve Jobs is Apple. So there's a lot of nervousness about how the company will manage without him.

Aye, as good a designer as Jonny Ives is, Jobs is supposed to be the one that has the "idea" and everyone else gets it to fit.

Jakmeehan

Here's a very interesting article on Steve's achievements to date.

http://gizmodo.com/5301470/the-life-of-steve-jobs-+-so-far

sombaht

Why is Apple's financial fate so tied to Jobs as CEO?

Apple doesn't sell products, it sells an image. Jobs is intrinsically linked to that image. If something threatens Jobs it threatens the image and ultimately profits.

Cheers,
sombaht

fairchild

sombaht wrote: »

Apple doesn't sell products, it sells an image. Jobs is intrinsically linked to that image. If something threatens Jobs it threatens the image and ultimately profits.

Cheers,
sombaht

i don't agree- holding the machines in your hand, they are extraordinary products. i'm not going back to a squeaky asus cheap plastic set up.

but they slap on 20% for the name , agreed (and get away with it)

Oafley Jones

Jakmeehan wrote: »

Here's a very interesting article on Steve's achievements to date.

http://gizmodo.com/5301470/the-life-of-steve-jobs-+-so-far

Giz showing their usual lack of tact by basically doing an obit.

Jakmeehan

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Giz showing their usual lack of tact by basically doing an obit.

Ha yeah, interesting read all the same.

sombaht

holding the machines in your hand, they are extraordinary products.

Plenty of other companies make very high quality products yet their share price doesn't dip (to the same extent) as Apples does when Jobs goes on extended leave. Granted when you get an iPod/iPhone/iPad whatever, you may have bought a physical product but Apple sold you an image and Jobs was/is responsible for creating that image. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just is what it is.

Cheers,
sombaht

Sad Professor

sombaht wrote: »

Apple doesn't sell products, it sells an image. Jobs is intrinsically linked to that image. If something threatens Jobs it threatens the image and ultimately profits.

Sorry, but this is crap.

The vast majority of Mac users are people who have switched from using Windows PCs. If they switch from one computer they could just as easily switch back a few years later, or switch to something else, but the vast majority don't. Most of them stay with the Mac - the reason being that (shock, horror) most of them actually think Macs are better. Similarly, most iPhone users almost certainly have experience with several other mobile phones manufacturers, but again most of them would say that after using the iPhone they could never use another phone.

Apple have extremely high customer loyalty. This is because they make such high quality products. Image and marketing might get somebody to buy something, but it won't get them to keep using it - unless they are all sheep, which is what you are basically implying. Of course image plays a role. Everyone tries to sell an image. Google sells an image of openness which is a load of bs. Apple sell an image of coolness or whatever which is bs as well. But to say that Apple sell an image and not a product is rubbish.

Suggesting that Jobs is primarily a sales guy is also a mistake. In fact, the key thing that differentiates Jobs from CEO-apes like Ballmer is that Jobs is a product guy. Apple's share price is dipping because people have serious concerns about the future of Apple's products without him.

sombaht

Sorry, but this is crap

Right back at you! :P

most of them actually think Macs are better.

Sorry but this sort of generalisation does not wash. Macs are better at *some* areas than WinPCs. Win PCs are better in other areas.

but again most of them would say that after using the iPhone they could never use another phone.

Again a generalisation and as anex-iPhone user (now Android) I certainly would not agree with this. You need only visit the Android forum to see the number of ex-iPhone users and those considering the jump to Android from Apple.

they make such high quality products.

Completely agree with this, they are beautiful no doubt about it.

but it won't get them to keep using it - unless they are all sheep, which is what you are basically implying.

Well . . I suppose it does. It wasn't intentional but in the early days especially with the iPod and later the iPhone there certainly was that sheep mentality about. People who never before had/wanted/or even knew about mp3 players all of a sudden were clamouring for iPods. Thats down to image. These are people who wouldn't know what an mp3 was if it jumped up and bit them on the arse.

Suggesting that Jobs is primarily a sales guy

I never did. I said his presence is directly linked to sales. Theres a difference. In fact every CEO is linked to sales, its just that Jobs there is a stronger link and it manifests itself in situations like this, Jobs leaves (temporarily) and share price takes a hit, quite a significant hit.

the future of Apple's products without him.

This is exactly the point I am making! If as you say (and I agree) they make such "high quality products" it should not matter who is at the head of the company, people will continue to buy Apple because of brand loyalty. Jobs is not responsible (directly) for the quality/design of the products. He presents an idea then has a design/engineering team who develop the physical product. Many people fear that without Jobs the ideas will dry up, or wont have the same impact as previous products.

Just like to clarify I am not Apple bashing, and I am certainly not a Win PC fanboy. I'll use whatever product suits me at the time. That will be, Unix, Windows, iPhone, and now Android. If Apple come out with a new phone that blows away my current phone (doubt it) I would quite happily use it, if it suited my needs.

Saying Apple sell an image is not a "bad thing". Its just business.

Cheers,
sombaht

Sad Professor

sombaht, I didn't make any generalisations. "Macs are better than PCs" is a generalisation. I didn't say that. I said that most people that switch to Macs think they are better and decide to continue using Macs. And I said that most iPhone users are happy with their device. I don't have statistical evidence to hand to back up either of these statements, but there's plenty of reports that show Apple has very strong customer loyalty with both products. You're the one who is pointing to a few posts in the Android forum to suggest that iPhone users aren't happy. That's closer to a generalisation than anything I said.

As for people not knowing that they needed an iPad until Apple made told them they did - absolutely true. But you could say that about anything. At one point people didn't know they "needed" cars, washing machines, televisions or personal computers. Then American advertisers sold them an image/lifestyle of why they did need one. And whaddya know, people found them kinda useful. Do we really, really "need" any of them? Probably not, but what is considered a "need" and a "want" changes all the time. Advertisers would get very far if they presented everything as a luxury item. So imo this whole "you don't need an iPad so therefore it's all lifestyle marketing" argument that is often made by iPad-detractors doesn't stand up to much scrutiny.

Anyway, I don't want to get into a big debate with you about this. I was just responding to a (silly) comment you made about Apple not making products, which you have sufficiently back-pedalled from to satisfy me. You now admit that Apple do make products and they are good, you just don't like them, which is fine with me. :P

And I agree with your last point. I'm the same. If Apple went and screwed up the Mac/iPhone tomorrow, or if there was an alternative to either that suited my needs better, I'd have no issue with switching to it. I've no doubt that there are people who buy Apple products because of the logo, but I think they are few and far between.

sombaht

people that switch to Macs think they are better

Better than . . . ?

That's closer to a generalisation than anything I said.

Not quite you said most people would never use another phone after getting an iPhone. I pointed to evidence to suggest that some do switch from iPhones to other platforms. And pointed to my own personal experience.

"you don't need an iPad so therefore it's all lifestyle marketing"

But I really dont see a need for an iPad, or any other tab for that matter. I honestly don't see what niche it serves in an age of smartphones and netbooks. Not trying to be awkward here but it is genuinely lost on me.

I was just responding to a (silly) comment

Factual comment. :P

which you have sufficiently back-pedalled from to satisfy me.

Haha, nice try but I don't think I have!

You now admit that Apple do make products

I never said the didn't make products!!

and they are good, you just don't like them

Nor did I say I don't like them. If that were the case why do I have 2 iPods and an iPhone!!??


I think people took me up wrong when I said Apple sells an image. Perhaps I should have been more clear. First and foremost Apple sell an image. Of course the sell a product. But show me one other company whose share price drops to the extent that Apples does when their CEO takes a sickie!

Cheers,
sombaht

cornbb

Jobs is really a legendary CEO, you've gotta give him credit for that whether you love/loathe him or Apple. His greatness isn't in his ability to design/engineer great products, its in his ability to make monumental ballsy decisions and get them right. These decisions have led to revolutions in multiple major markets since the early 80's (personal computing, portable media players, online media retailing, smartphones and now tablet computing). He has brought Apple from the brink of bankruptcy to being the 2nd most valuable company in the world. Anyone who thinks Jobs isn't a great CEO really needs to open their eyes.

The share price didn't exactly plunge btw. It dropped by max 4% and has already recovered most of that. Its still 60% up on what it was 6 months ago... Jobs has surrounded himself with excellent execs and beancounters, the market is obviously confident of that.

Edit: just checking the share price again, it has actually recovered completely from the drop after Jobs announced his break.

sombaht

Anyone who thinks Jobs isn't a great CEO really needs to open their eyes.

Agree with this 100% actually.

Cheers,
sombaht

Odaise Gaelach

Poor guy. I hope that he feels better again soon.

enda1

Henry Ford famously said, "if I asked the people what they wanted, they would have said 'faster horses'".

Jobs is so forward thinking that he has created a Market for consumer pcs, consumer mp3 players, consumer smart phones and now consumer tablets. It's just phenomenal how accreted he has tended to be in his predictions of what will work and what not, and when it's time for a technology to hit the market.