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Axemantitan

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 16, 2008
542
97
Steve Jobs is leaving Apple. Not tomorrow, but probably very soon. That's why he started to say good bye today, doing something more important than just presenting new MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and an updated MacBook Air. Today's event was a play in which he clearly told everyone that the company is more than himself. Since the very first minute, when he immediately sat down to let Tim Cook talk, he was saying: "Hey, look, Apple is more than Steve. These are The Guys, the Goodfellas, the A-Team. They share the same vision I have. And they are going to push the company forward when I change my office chair for a hammock and caipirinhas on my private beach in Hawaii".

http://gizmodo.com/5063281/is-steve-jobs-preparing-his-farewell

If this is true, then I sincerely hope that his successor can drive Apple to continue to innovate as much as Apple has for the last 12 years under Jobs.
 

Sun Baked

macrumors G5
May 19, 2002
14,941
162
He changed the culture at Apple, from throw everything at R&D and the developers and let them work it out ... to doing it themselves and showing people what can be done with Apple's tools.

They have done quite well with this, they don't need Steve to keep doing this ... just a CEO willing to give some of the visionaries at Apple and other niche companies the rope needed to hang themselves.

Though spotting the products in the half-baked ideas is the magic part.
 

macbookairman

macrumors 6502a
Jan 15, 2008
903
11
Nebraska
I read that article yesterday too, and its been making me think a lot about what Apple without Steve would be like. I think Giz was right when they said that even if steve retires, he will probably go with the Bill gates method and still be a "part of the company". I really hope though that when the day comes when steve leaves, that his replacement has the same vision Steve has. I want apple to continue to be secretive, and to continue to use discretion on what products they release and which ones they don't. (I think we can all be sure that Steve has axed some amazing products they would have sold very well)
 

kkat69

macrumors 68020
Aug 30, 2007
2,013
2
Atlanta, Ga
I really hope though that when the day comes when steve leaves, that his replacement has the same vision Steve has. I want apple to continue to be secretive, and to continue to use discretion on what products they release and which ones they don't. (I think we can all be sure that Steve has axed some amazing products they would have sold very well)

But come on, let's ask the real question we have in the back of our minds... Will the new CEO wear a black turtle neck and blue jeans and excessively use the term "Snappier" and phrases like "We've got some good/exciting/etc things for you today", "BOOM", etc?

Will he/she cup the hands together and shake them?
Will he/she yell at the people in the back row for taking to long? (I busted a gut hearing him yell at them!)

Every era has it's end.... but black turtle necks and blue jeans will live forever!
 

ubercool

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2008
1,068
72
Las Vegas
I think that things will actually improve. Steve is such a control freak, no one else can breathe without his approval. A freer culture means you might actually get your FireWire port and matte screen back. :eek: :)
 

sl1200mk2

macrumors 6502
Oct 17, 2006
320
3
I thought the same thing when I watched the replay of the event almost immediately. I have to say I don't see Tim Cook (regardless of his abilities or background) as a 'leader'. I'd love to see a guy like Jony Ive as the face of Apple simply because he has that 'visionary' air about him, but I doubt that would ever happen. He too looks like he feels uncomfortable in the public spot light.

Whomever fills Steve's position, whenever that is, and I don't think it's anytime soon, has enormous shoes and reputation to fill. Frankly, I don't think anyone will pull it off in the sense of what the mac community and public assumes they deserve.
 

redmeister

macrumors 6502
Jan 26, 2007
272
2
of course he is preparing it. who knows timeframe but how old is steve these days. its inevitable
 

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,093
22,159
But come on, let's ask the real question we have in the back of our minds... Will the new CEO wear a black turtle neck and blue jeans and excessively use the term "Snappier" and phrases like "We've got some good/exciting/etc things for you today", "BOOM", etc?

Will he/she cup the hands together and shake them?
Will he/she yell at the people in the back row for taking to long? (I busted a gut hearing him yell at them!)

Every era has it's end.... but black turtle necks and blue jeans will live forever!

um, where u even watching the keynote? EVERYONE that came on stage (besides that british loner Ives) wore the same thing and even moved like steve.

I'm 100% sure steve has perfected human cloning on himself anyway, and "he" will be in charge of apple well after WE are gone.:p
 

McGiord

macrumors 601
Oct 5, 2003
4,558
290
Dark Castle
I highly doubt that someone already insided :apple:will fill in for him.
I believe that most of the new products concepts and ideas come from him, and he assigns the challenges to the different leaders, and teams, and he is always on top of what they are doing and what are the proposals, he tweaks them and add more ideas, or make them come up with more new and better ideas.
And someone has to have the final word, and even many of us expect more features and keep certain things as they were, we are always seduced by the latest product they offer.
My point is, every person is different, and even we could be very similar in certain ways and have common agreement on our taste and dislikes, we are not the same, so the next :apple: ceo will not be like him, could be better or worse.
If someone is out there, nowadays, to do something similar or better than what he has achieved for the industry, I highly doubt that person is already tamed inside :apple:.
That person will be from another company, a smaller one, with his or her own particular vision and taste for things that will raise the bar and make things with innovation and challenging many of what was done already.
 

NT1440

macrumors Pentium
May 18, 2008
15,093
22,159
I dont think steve comes up with the concepts of a new product. Thats usually R&D/engineers just messing around that steve/whoevers in charge of that company catches wind of.

Once an idea is formed however, he plays a HUGE role in its development as far as design and user experience are involved.

I remember reading him talking about the creation of the ipod, and he was pissed for so long because he wanted to navigate ANYWHERE on it within 5 clicks.

His user experience influence is what I fear apple will lose when he does step down. Of course he will continue to have a hand in apple until his death.
 

Hrududu

macrumors 68020
Jul 25, 2008
2,306
657
Central US
I read that article yesterday too, and its been making me think a lot about what Apple without Steve would be like. I think Giz was right when they said that even if steve retires, he will probably go with the Bill gates method and still be a "part of the company". I really hope though that when the day comes when steve leaves, that his replacement has the same vision Steve has. I want apple to continue to be secretive, and to continue to use discretion on what products they release and which ones they don't. (I think we can all be sure that Steve has axed some amazing products they would have sold very well)
I honestly don't believe its possible for someone to have the same "vision" as steve. Even those of us who know and have followed Apple for years can't honestly say we really get him. He's got a mastermind for creating the best products and staying ahead with innovation. There will never be ANYONE who can do what Jobs does.
 

MacTraveller

macrumors regular
Aug 7, 2008
244
0
Steve knows he's not a deity, he is mortal. He is clearly showing to the public that he is grooming a successor(s) once the time comes for a new leader to emerge. There's nothing wrong with that.

Microsoft's Bill Gates did a wonderful --- AND SMOOTHLY SUCCESSFUL --- job grooming his successor, which was Ballmer. Gates groomed his successor and prepared him well many years before the change of leadership happened. When the time came for Gates to step down, no one panicked, no one was surprised. The Microsoft stocks did not plummet. The public was already prepared for the transparent change in leadership.

Jobs has to do the same here....
 

coupdetat

macrumors 6502
Jul 11, 2008
451
0
I think Jobs has done his piece. He turned Apple around and gave it an identity, and judging from his latest performances and products, his heart just isn't in the company anymore.

It's time for someone else to take the company in a new direction.
 

IJ Reilly

macrumors P6
Jul 16, 2002
17,909
1,496
Palookaville
Steve knows he's not a deity, he is mortal. He is clearly showing to the public that he is grooming a successor(s) once the time comes for a new leader to emerge. There's nothing wrong with that.

Microsoft's Bill Gates did a wonderful --- AND SMOOTHLY SUCCESSFUL --- job grooming his successor, which was Ballmer. Gates groomed his successor and prepared him well many years before the change of leadership happened. When the time came for Gates to step down, no one panicked, no one was surprised. The Microsoft stocks did not plummet. The public was already prepared for the transparent change in leadership.

Jobs has to do the same here....

Exactly. This guy is getting way ahead of the game. It is merely the minimally responsible thing the do to show that Apple isn't one person, that it would go on if Steve left at some point in the undefined future. Many of us have been waiting impatiently for just this sort of indication. It doesn't mean that Steve is "preparing his farewell" -- it suggests only that they've finally gotten the message that a cult of personality is no way to run a multibillion dollar company.
 

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
Exactly. This guy is getting way ahead of the game. It is merely the minimally responsible thing the do to show that Apple isn't one person, that it would go on if Steve left at some point in the undefined future. Many of us have been waiting impatiently for just this sort of indication. It doesn't mean that Steve is "preparing his farewell" -- it suggests only that they've finally gotten the message that a cult of personality is no way to run a multibillion dollar company.
Agree.

As we all know, Steve has had some health issues. I am sure these issues have speeded this concept along.

As BG has gone on to some interesting philanthropy developments, Steve probably has some things he would like to do as well once Apple can continue to fire on all cylinders without him. Those of use who have been around since Steve was there the first time, know and appreciate what he has done to the company upon his return.

However, no one lives forever, so he must prepare for his transition.
 

iJon

macrumors 604
Feb 7, 2002
6,588
230
Tim Cook will be the next CEO. Exactly why they were letting him get some reps on the stage during the event. He's very bright and has been with Apple for some time now.
 

nick9191

macrumors 68040
Feb 17, 2008
3,407
313
Britain
Yes but hopefully Apple wouldn't then decide to sell OS X for generic pcs. We would start to get viruses.:eek:
Why would you assume that?

Is Apple hardware immune to viruses nowdays? Or are you assuming that marketshare = viruses. Even if more viruses were available any one who knows how to properly protect there computer will be perfectly safe. I've never had a virus on Windows.

There are people and companies all over the world, including Microsoft who are trying to write viruses for OS X, so far success rate = 0. 20% marketshare in the US, 1/3 dollars in the computing world are spent on a Mac, yet no viruses.
 

Aranince

macrumors 65816
Apr 18, 2007
1,104
0
California
Perhaps we'd get cheaper machines on which to run OSX.

I hope not. You get what you pay for. Cheaper usually means not very high quality. I would hate to see Apple's hardware take the path of the horrible PC computers.

EDIT: Microsoft writing viruses for OS X? ROFL. Marketshare does = viruses. Why would hackers target 17% of the market, when its much easier to go for the much bigger Windows market? Not only that, but all the holes and bugs in Windows are known. If they move to OS X, they have to recreate, rewrite, and relearn the OS to get anything working. Right now, there is no reason for hackers to move to OS X because the market share is so small, its not worth investing time and resources to develop hacks for it.
 
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