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Apple's Life After Steve Jobs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cut-the-turtleneck-budget-in-half dept.

animusCollards writes "Slate ponders a post-Steve Jobs Apple, including possible successors, and the future is... boring. '..it's certainly true that Jobs' style is central to the company's brand and the fierce connection it forges with its customers. His product announcements prompt hundreds of millions of dollars worth of free press coverage and whip up greater and more loyal fans, generating ever-greater interest in the company. ... At some point, all that will end. Jobs will eventually leave the company. There are no obvious plans for succession; in addition to Schiller, observers finger Tim Cook, Apple's COO, and Scott Forstall, who helped develop Mac OS X and the iPhone's software, as contenders for the job. But Tuesday's keynote illustrated how difficult it will be for any of those guys to replace Jobs.'"

7 of 405 comments (clear)

  1. Really? by Dupple · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How did Tuesdays Keynote illustrate 'how difficult it will be for any of those guys to replace Jobs.'? Just a bloggers opinion, nothing to see here, please move along

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    Watch those corners
    1. Re:Really? by El+Yanqui · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Codswallop.

      We know who Steve Jobs is because we're nerdy, we follow things like Apple's keynote address and read /. Do you honestly think the average consumer out there, you know, the ones who are buying up iPods, iPhones and switching to Macs are doing so out of adoration for Steve Jobs? They might be doing it on the merits, for fashion to follow the trends or whatever other reason but I seriously doubt it's due to a crush on a guy in a black turtleneck. Most people couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

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      Well, thanks to the Internet, I'm now bored with sex.
    2. Re:Really? by moderatorrater · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They might be doing it on the merits, for fashion to follow the trends or whatever other reason but I seriously doubt it's due to a crush on a guy in a black turtleneck. Most people couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

      You might be right, but the people who are setting the trend and extolling Apple's merits are those who do know who Jobs is. Apple can likely keep the position it has right now without Jobs, but if they can't replace his expertise, then they'll have a hard time expanding their product line like they've done in the past few years. Steve Jobs has an amazing ability to relate to the crowd, he's good at producing soundbites so he can relate to people on the internet, and he's already cultivated an image of excellence that's largely linked to the man himself.

      Whether the average consumer knows it or not, the people that make the decisions and recommendations know who Steve Jobs is, and it's undoubtedly helped with their success.

  2. Re:No one lives for ever ... by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But a less charismatic person could make different decisions that get Apple way more into the main stream.

    Like Dell or Gateway?

    No, thanks.

    -jcr

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    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  3. Re:Jobs leaving? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So a post-Jobs Apple will be 'boring'? Nowhere near as boring as the constant stream of articles about a post-Jobs Apple thinks this AC.

  4. Re:No one lives for ever ... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But a less charismatic person could make different decisions that get Apple way more into the main stream.

    Like Dell or Gateway?

    No, like John Scully.

    No, thanks.

    More, like, NO THANKS! Scully's time at Apple was disastrous. While everyone at the time said that "mainstream" line was the best strategy for Apple.

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    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  5. Re:Apple will be ruined by capitalism by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But we will also see something that people have been begging for... something that competes HEAD to HEAD with Microsoft. And Apple will WIN.

    I believe that would be rather errouneus. Apple isn't playing in Microsoft's sandbox. Particularly the Enterprise one. Too many big bullies there. Apple will be more than happy to play in it's metrosexual box with all the dolls and shiny things. Laughing all the way to the bank. Why does everybody think that Apple wants to deal with Enterprise issues?

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    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!