Apple Sans Jobs?

[Admiral Valdemar]

What with Steve Jobs disappearing for six months thanks to a totally benign and not-to-worry-about "hormone imbalance", it got me wondering what would happen to Apple were he to take a more, to put it one way, permanent leave of absence?

From what I recall, Apple before Jobs returned was a failure and practically a corpse before iPods, new iMacs and now the iPhone took to the stage with their shiny-shiny goodness to appeal to the inner magpie in us all. So if Jobs is out of the picture, and I heard this innovation and rapid turnaround was down solely to his vision, then how does that fare for Apple, Inc. in the future? You can't just replace a guy like that if he's responsible for even half of the success Apple has taken over the last decade. Or can you? I heard Macworld was dull as Amish porn this year.

[Medic]

I can't imagine they'd just choke it all up in a few years, thanks to their prolonged success, they enjoy reams and reams and reams and reams (and reams) of tv advertising time.

I am sick to fucking death of iPod and iPhone and iMac commercials every football season. Every commercial break! They have a huge installed base and marketing machine, and even if their products turn into unmitigated pieces of shit, I'm of a cynical disposition on all things Apple and believe they'll still sell.

[Enigma]

Doesn't Jobs have pancreatic cancer like Patrick Swayze? If so then he might be living on borrowed time.

[phongn]

Doesn't Jobs have pancreatic cancer like Patrick Swayze? If so then he might be living on borrowed time.

Jobs is one of the fortunate (relatively, anyways) few to have the form of pancreatic cancer that isn't an automatic death sentence.

You can't just replace a guy like that if he's responsible for even half of the success Apple has taken over the last decade. Or can you? I heard Macworld was dull as Amish porn this year.

I think Jobs has been grooming successors for years, now. I wouldn't be too worried - this is not like when he was ousted the first time.

[General Zod]

I heard Macworld was dull as Amish porn this year.

Hasn't Apple been wanting to distance themselves from Macworld recently, anyway?

[phongn]

I heard Macworld was dull as Amish porn this year.

Hasn't Apple been wanting to distance themselves from Macworld recently, anyway?

Yes.

[Dominus Atheos]

What with Steve Jobs disappearing for six months thanks to a totally benign and not-to-worry-about "hormone imbalance", it got me wondering what would happen to Apple were he to take a more, to put it one way, permanent leave of absence?

First off, Apple's stock prices would take a huge dive. Every time there's a new rumor about Jobs health, their stock prices plummet. The SEC actually launched an investigation into the one back in October to see if it was started by someone hoping to capitalize on that happening. When he finally does kick the bucket, Apple may go bankrupt.

[phongn]

When he finally does kick the bucket, Apple may go bankrupt.

Don't be absurd.

[DaveJB]

If anything's going to kill off Apple, it'll be a serious recession combined with the proliferation of Netbooks. Odds are it won't happen though, since they've got too much support in the creative industries (and if the recession's so bad that those industries get wiped out, we're going to have bigger problems than worrying about whether Apple survives).

On another note, Apple have just updated the plastic MacBook; it now has the improved graphics chip that the metal MacBooks enjoy. iLink

[General Zod]

If anything's going to kill off Apple, it'll be a serious recession combined with the proliferation of Netbooks. Odds are it won't happen though, since they've got too much support in the creative industries (and if the recession's so bad that those industries get wiped out, we're going to have bigger problems than worrying about whether Apple survives).

On another note, Apple have just updated the plastic MacBook; it now has the improved graphics chip that the metal MacBooks enjoy. iLink

Apple's always appealed to a certain crowd and somehow I just can't see "netbooks" putting any kind of serious dent in them given their general market base.

[phongn]

For that matter, Apple could always produce their own netbooks if they wanted to. Furthermore, Apple's market base is significantly greater than just the creative industries nowadays. Finally, Apple's money isn't just in computers these days.

[DaveJB]

For that matter, Apple could always produce their own netbooks if they wanted to.

I think Apple have said that the iPhone is really their competitor to the Netbook market. Undoubtedly they could squeeze out a Netbook of their own if they wanted to (an OS X Netbook would be quite interesting actually), but Acer and Asus have pretty much stolen the march in this industry.

Furthermore, Apple's market base is significantly greater than just the creative industries nowadays. Finally, Apple's money isn't just in computers these days.

Undoubtedly; I was talking about what would happen in a depression, where we'd likely see new customers flocking to minimum cost computers, and Apple would likely end up falling back on the creative industries until things perked up again.

[General Zod]

I think Apple have said that the iPhone is really their competitor to the Netbook market. Undoubtedly they could squeeze out a Netbook of their own if they wanted to (an OS X Netbook would be quite interesting actually), but Acer and Asus have pretty much stolen the march in this industry.

Dell, MSI and HP aren't doing too shabby either. I don't doubt that Apple could easily compete if they wanted to given how powerful their name brand is.

[DaveJB]

Well, for all the above discussion, Apple just announced that they've made record profits for the last quarter. Not too shabby under the circumstances. Link

Apple has posted strong quarterly results that beat analysts expectations and proved the company's resilience to the economic downturn.

The technology giant made a record net profit of $1.61bn (£1.15bn) and posted record revenue of $10.7bn for the quarter to the end of December.

Apple sold more than 22 million iPods and more than four million iPhones.

But the company warned that revenue could fall significantly in the first three months of 2009.

For the same quarter the previous year, Apple's profit was $1.58bn and its revenue was $9.6bn.


It was a great quarter and better than most people expected
Yair Reiner
Oppenheimer

"Even in these economically challenging times, we are incredibly pleased to report our best quarterly revenue and earnings in Apple history - surpassing the $10bn in quarterly revenue for the first time ever," said Apple boss Steve Jobs.

Increased sales

The company saw sales increase right across its main product ranges.

It sold 2,524,000 Macintosh computers during the three months, up 9% on the last three months of 2007.

It also sold 22,727,000 iPods, 3% up on the previous year's quarter.

Finally, it sold 4,363,000 iPhones, 88% more than in the final quarter of 2007.

However, Apple expects revenue to fall significantly over the next three months.

"Looking forward... we expect revenue in the range of about $7.6bn to $8bn," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer.

"It was a great quarter and better than most people expected," said Yair Reiner, analyst at Oppenheimer.

The results come after reports that Apple faces a review by the US Securities and Exchange Commission to check that its recent disclosures about Steve Jobs's health did not mislead investors.

Still, they're not exactly expecting great things from the next few months. Just goes to show the challenges facing the tech industry - Intel for example are widely being predicted to make their first loss since 1986 this year!

[Admiral Valdemar]

Microsoft is also supposedly looking at cutting jobs for the first time in, well, a long time. If Microsoft is feeling it, then Apple certainly will.

I do wonder what the next iPhone will be like if they're using that as their "netbook" fighter. It's hardly got the features of many contenders, especially now the N97 is on the way. They need a whole new iPhone soon, the last addition was just a tweaking like the N96 was to the N95.

Still, with iPods being a core basis for their sales and still selling strong, I doubt they have any real urgency in those plans.

[General Zod]

Microsoft is also supposedly looking at cutting jobs for the first time in, well, a long time. If Microsoft is feeling it, then Apple certainly will.

Looking at? No, has.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Software maker Microsoft Corp. announced Thursday it will cut up to 5,000 jobs in the next year and a half, or 5.5% of its global workforce, citing further deterioration of global economic conditions.

The company also posted lower fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed analysts' forecasts.

Microsoft will slash 1,400 positions immediately, with the rest of the cuts coming by June 2010. The company also said it will freeze employees' pay in 2009.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Well ain't that a thing. Bad omen.

[Ryan Thunder]

Still, with iPods being a core basis for their sales and still selling strong, I doubt they have any real urgency in those plans.

Didn't they sell millions of iPhones too? I mean, in spite of being ridiculously expensive and "introducing" features that have been on the market for, well, years in a slightly less shiny format, they're selling rather well...

[Admiral Valdemar]

Fools and their money are easily parted, perhaps? I find it hilarious how the tech. media constantly talk about "iPhone killers" whenever a new handset from Sony Ericsson, HTC, Samsung or Nokia comes out, as if we haven't got phones with more features, lower costs and looking just as pretty. Oh, however can I use a phone that doesn't have a GUI with menu transitions as smooth as Mac OS...

[phongn]

Microsoft is also supposedly looking at cutting jobs for the first time in, well, a long time. If Microsoft is feeling it, then Apple certainly will.

Possibly, but AAPL also has a lot of cash in the bank to fight out a recession in.

I do wonder what the next iPhone will be like if they're using that as their "netbook" fighter. It's hardly got the features of many contenders, especially now the N97 is on the way. They need a whole new iPhone soon, the last addition was just a tweaking like the N96 was to the N95.

The market doesn't care about feature lists. It does care about the slick interface, the addition of a real web browser, the large application base, etc.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Possibly, but AAPL also has a lot of cash in the bank to fight out a recession in.

Welllll, I'm not going to go off-topic, but the idea that we'll be out of this situation in a decade is quite optimistic to say the least. I hope that cash lasts them well. I've just witnessed some of the biggest and oldest companies in the world roll over and die in the last year.

The market doesn't care about feature lists. It does care about the slick interface, the addition of a real web browser, the large application base, etc.

That is true, and while web browser and application base isn't a problem for Symbian, the less than swish GUI is often cited as a reason for passing over N-series devices. It really could be improved in looks and speed.

[phongn]

Welllll, I'm not going to go off-topic, but the idea that we'll be out of this situation in a decade is quite optimistic to say the least. I hope that cash lasts them well. I've just witnessed some of the biggest and oldest companies in the world roll over and die in the last year.

AAPL has $24bn in cash and zero debt. Fiscally they are a surprisingly conservative company and well positioned to ride out financial storms.

That is true, and while web browser and application base isn't a problem for Symbian, the less than swish GUI is often cited as a reason for passing over N-series devices. It really could be improved in looks and speed.

Yes, and there's also the problem that Symbian phones are as rare as hen's teeth in the US. The iPhone, in many ways, was pretty much the most advanced phone widely available .

[Laird]

Microsoft is also supposedly looking at cutting jobs for the first time in, well, a long time. If Microsoft is feeling it, then Apple certainly will.

I do wonder what the next iPhone will be like if they're using that as their "netbook" fighter. It's hardly got the features of many contenders, especially now the N97 is on the way. They need a whole new iPhone soon, the last addition was just a tweaking like the N96 was to the N95.

Still, with iPods being a core basis for their sales and still selling strong, I doubt they have any real urgency in those plans.

You are right, about 15 of my friends who work in the Xbox division just got their marching papers an hour ago.
http://kotaku.com/5137575/gamerscore-bl ... ft-layoffs

[Stark]

Holy christ stop saying 'netbooks' or I'll start saying 'netphone' and 'netmouse' and 'netcar'.

Would the loss of Jobs really cause Apple to radically alter their strategy? Are there probably replacements that are much more aggressive ready to take over or something?

[DaveJB]

Holy christ stop saying 'netbooks' or I'll start saying 'netphone' and 'netmouse' and 'netcar'.

Take it up with Acer, then. I believe they were the ones who coined the term - and let's face it, it rolls off the tongue a lot better than "really small notebook with no optical drive."

Would the loss of Jobs really cause Apple to radically alter their strategy? Are there probably replacements that are much more aggressive ready to take over or something?

The usual argument for this is that things really went to shit the last time Jobs left, and that it could happen again. However, the people who argue this are usually morons who think that Jobs single-handedly built Apple up to what they were/are, and overlook the fact that Apple's marketshare grew massively between Jobs' initial departure and their mid-90's slump.