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Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave of Absence
Uttini writes "Apple CEO Steve Jobs has just announced that he is taking a medical leave of absence, according to a release issued by the company today. While it's unclear what the reason is for the medical leave, Jobs' previous medical history includes pancreatic cancer as well as a liver transplant. While Jobs is out, Tim Cook is to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations."
I am not a fan of Macs, but the man initially bankrolled Pixar and was smart enough to stay out of their way. I also can respect that he turned around Apple Computer and thanks to that we have more choice in desktop and mobile devices now.
(Orthogonal to the fact that everyone wishes Steve good health,)
It's good for Apple that Tim Cook is getting so much exposure at the helm. There are many shareholders, as well as a significant amount of the tech press, that think Apple can't stand on its own without Steve. Any way Apple can show that it can continue it's current success streak with or without Steve is good for the long-term health of the company.
'now if this was a stock market news site...'
The BBC is reporting Apple shares in Frankfurt are down 7% already, and CNN notes that Apple is due to release an earnings report tomorrow. So I guess the announcement was particularly carefully timed, not only falling on a US public holiday, but coming just before an earnings report that will presumably be positive and help to mitigate the damage when the US market re-opens. But that's just good business, of course. Best wishes to Steve!
I never understood the volatility of Apple's stock. Jobs could stub his toe and the stock would drop. Someone who works at Infinite Loop could get constipated, and the stock would drop. Someone's iPhone could get a scratch on the front glass, and the stock would drop.
Why is Apple's stock so prone to heavy fluctuation at the even the slightest hint of something not being perfect?
Living With a Nerd
Perhaps no other company is more tied to its CEO than Jobs, except maybe Warren Buffett. For as much as he and his family wish for privacy however it is reasonable for stockholders, especially HUGE stockholders to know how his condition is. When you buy a stock you are buying the leadership also. If anything this is probably going to drop AAPL's stock valuation down a bit to a more realistic level. 2nd biggest market cap in the world? Really? It certainly doesn't deserve it and with their margins getting squeezed and the fact that there only so many worlds they can conquer means that the shorts are probably going to make some $$$ on AAPL soon. Given that the survival of pancreatic cancer is so low and that Jobs decided to do more hippy dippy holistic approaches doesn't bode well for his survival. That's just the way it is. That being said, there probably is no visionary that comes close to Jobs and I am thankful for my iPhone, my iPod, my Mac and my iPad.
Oh, and as for the money, Woz's own take on it is kinda maybe interesting: http://www.woz.org/letters/general/91.html
Wozniack has made objective reports that he is a "terrible" person. Really? Terrible?
I did not stipulate the The Woz said he is either a terrible person or made 'objective reports' [sic] about Steve Jobs. You asked by what objective accounts do I deem Steve Jobs a terrible person. I gave you an example source. There are many.
no report made on the character of another person is truly objective
That is untrue unless you consider all objectivity impossible. Making an observation on someone's character is objective if you have no bias against that person. I used The Woz as an objective example when he's likely to be actually biased somewhat towards Steve Jobs (although I've always found him to be a reliable observer who was good at distinguishing between what he has observed and what he feels.)
No reason to wish them ill health.
I quite specifically stated that I did not wish him ill health.
You act as if you know of Steve Jobs past and present, so if you still think he's not a poor example of a human being, what's the point in arguing?
If you don't know much about Steve Jobs, you should read up on what people who know him and respect him say about him.
My primary reasons for finding him to be a terrible person are the accounts relating to how he has treated his daughter, The Woz, his employees, handicap parking, his manipulation of the organ waiting list through multiple listing, and his general total dishonesty in business.
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