Apple's Steve Jobs To Take Medical Leave

[engine]

Apple's Steve Jobs To Take Medical Leave [news.cnet.com]

Apple's Steve Jobs will be taking a medical leave of absence but will remain CEO of the company, involved in strategic decision-making.

Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will assume responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations.

This would be Jobs' second medical leave in several years. He took a leave in the first half of 2009 to deal with issues related to his cancer treatment.

Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor, sent an e-mail to employees regarding the medical leave and company operations in his absence.

[buckworks]

We wish him well.

[J_RaD]

does apple have any direction at all without him at the wheel?

[weeks]

does apple have any direction at all without him at the wheel?

I think that is a valid question. If you watch their new product intros, you'll note that they strive to bring out other faces to talk about the company. And, there are no doubt many cutting-edge thinkers at Apple. But, there are no Steve Jobs anywhere in Apple or in any other company anywhere.

But, while the world has learned painfully slowly from Mr. Steve Jobs, it is learning. And adapting. I think Apple has peaked, but they have peaked having climbed well higher than any others.

Our industry is going to miss him when he does leave us, which we all must do at one time or another. Let's hope it's not anytime soon for everyone's sake. That said, I don't think anyone has had more fun than Steve Jobs, so he will not be leaving us if he can help it.

[J_RaD]

I guess its the kinda guy he is, his finger print and pulse are on so much of apples software/hardware/design that its almost like apple would be some kinda empty shell without jobs.

Steve Jobs = Apple. That is even how their user base sees it.

Microsoft used to be all about bill gates, now microsoft is microsoft. When HP fires its CEO it doesn't matter to any of HP customers...HP is still HP.

Apple has kinda drawn a double edged sword here.