A day after news broke that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking another medical leave of absence, the viewpoints are still rolling in. Most of them are grim. Some of them are low blows. And others are yet hopeful that the American icon will once again return to the helm of the company that bears his distinguished mark.
Some analysts suggest Apple is much more than Jobs. Others insist Apple is almost all Jobs all the time. Shareholders seem to agree with the second theory, considering that Apple’s stock dipped nearly five percent today.
The 55-year-old cancer survivor sent an e-mail to all Apple employees to announce the unwelcome news, but he offered no specific details about his health. Jobs’ latest medical leave comes after a liver transplant nearly a year ago, opening the door to speculation that Jobs is once again having trouble with his liver.
A Post-Steve Apple
“Steve Jobs is wedded to that job and he wouldn’t leave it if it wasn’t serious,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. “His letter to his employees was worded in such a way that made it sound like even he doubts whether he’ll be back. Clearly, if it’s at all possible, he will. But the wording suggested that he wasn’t too optimistic. It’s likely that we are now at the cusp of a post-Steve Jobs Apple.”
Having said that, Enderle noted that most of the products to be delivered in 2011 will have Jobs’ stamp. The products that show up mid-next year may not have the Jobs mark if he doesn’t return to Apple soon. And Enderle said it seems unlikely that any Apple announcements this year will be without Jobs unless a miracle occurs. He already missed the Verizon iPhone announcement, which many expected him to attend.
“Steve made himself an integral…