Comments on: On eve of Macworld, Jobs talks health

Apple's CEO says he's dealing with a hormone imbalance and chose to spend the holiday season with his family rather than "intensely prepare" a keynote address.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Dude...lose the stone-washed jeans already.

[D3vildog699]

Or at least stop tucking in the shirt... with no belt just looks stupid

[Pacu102]

the outfit he has is stupid, period.

[trd1282]

What are you people, 16 year old girls???

[scott2400]

In their heads, trd, in their heads...

[Perry_Clease]

"Apple's stock has rallied on the news, once again validating my career decision to stay away from stock-picking. In the first fifteen minutes of trading, the stock is up around 4 percent, which is perhaps an indication that since Jobs' health situation is not as dire as some reports had indicated last week, investors are confident he'll continue as CEO."

Day traders are hard to figure out. Talk about hormone imbalance, those guys have mood swings that no amount of medicine could dampen. They could be gambling that Phil Schiller will announce a MacNetBook with a user replaceable battery, Flash enabled, five media card slots, runs on every cell network in the world, and has an FM tuner all for under $400

[leepoe1]

CNet is so part of the Windows/Vista cabal that they are the only ones to report this news with a negative spin. I expect AppleSux to be the word of the day on this site. I have never read a comment that wasn't grudgingly positive, but negative comments flow daily. Apple has doubled it's market share in the past two years, and that has to hurt the folks who hate it. I have used both systems, side-by-side in a high pressure production environment for 20 years and the ROI, the uptime, the ease-of-use, training and care and feeding of Apple is significantly better than the systems CNet raves about on a daily basis.

[wmyinzer]

What the hell are you talking about?

Everytime a new iPhone app comes out or Apple adds a feature Windows has had for years (or Zune has had since its inception) Cnet goes wild.

[D3vildog699]

yeah seriously dude, all they have is Apple news lately.

[JM_Brazil]

Good comment Leepoe, and very accurate. Having never been a MAC user, I am in no place to judge or compare them to another OS or manufacturer, but I have great respect for who they?ve become under the guidance of Jobs. It?s quite unfair for CNET to be biased as such, but there is probably more to it than is apparent.

[wdowell]

Apple should have released this information at the same time as they said he wasn't presenting. I can't help but feel investors were misled when told that his health was irrelevant to him attending. Jobs clearly didn't want to say anything, and I imagine the Board have probably exercised polite pressure on him as they watched the stock price and press coverage. Given that he has said himself that this is the last we'll hear from him on his health, next time we know anything is askew is when he has to resign. And that'll be a sad day.

[shadowself]

"Two weeks after pointing to political reasons for CEO Steve Jobs' absence from Macworld, Apple admits that health concerns are behind his decision to skip the keynote."

Absolutely NOT true. Both the open letter from Jobs and the announcement from Apple's board of directors refute this.

[Tom Krazit]

Steve said in the letter he decided a few weeks ago that his health needed to become his number one priority, and that he therefore decided to have Phil give the keynote.

"For the first time in a decade, I?m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I?ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority."

[TomScrace]

shadowself: absolutely correct, I am glad that somebody reads these things properly.

Tom Krazit: asbolutely wrong. Jobs said that he was making correcting his problem his number one priority. He also said that he made the decision to have Phil Schiller do the keynote. He did NOT say that the two were connected. You have conjured the 'therefore' from thin air.

[Tom Krazit]

@TomScrace Do you honestly think those two items are just a coincidence?

[TomScrace]

@Tom Krazit I am simply pointing out a factual error in your reporting of this subject. Indeed, even your headline is incorrect. I think it is irresponsible to mislead your readership by making claims that are not true. Whether the two events are connected or not, your reporting states that Apple *says* they are connected, thus giving the impression that such a connection is the official Apple line, whereas in fact it is just speculation on your part.

[bishop375]

Tom, the issue here is that while the issues may be related, it was not conveyed as such by either Jobs or Apple's BOD.

The article, while potentially correct, is proven to not be, given the facts presented by Apple and Jobs. It should be altered to reflect that.

[waytoougly]

While the question of cause and effect is unclear, slanted reporting is very clear in this case. Quite frankly, the media is the only entity concerned with Jobs' health. Notice that Microsoft hasn't collapsed with the departure of Gates?

I don't know how long you've been around, but here's a few tips. Lay off the slanted reporting and give things a Joe Friday ("Just the facts") edge. Precede each paragraph of a multi-paragraph quotation with quote marks. And use Notepad instead of Word for composing replies: your ignorance of how the site handles apostrophes does a lot to your credibility, such as it is.

And one more thing: does CNet REALLY need two articles on this subject today?

[Tom Krazit]

Ok, we talked this one over and agreed you guys have a point. There is indeed no explicit link between Steve's decision to focus on his health and his decision to have Schiller give the keynote in the letter Apple published today.

To be clear, I think it strains the bounds of credibility to pretend there is any other reason. Preparing for a Macworld keynote is a very involved and demanding process, and if Steve (rightly) decided his health was his biggest priority, it wouldn't make sense to put himself through that.

However, Apple didn't say that, I did. That should have been clearer, and I apologize.

[shadowself]

to Tom Krazit...

"Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed."

You seem to be doing nothing other than perpetuating the rumor mill. You have absolutely -- and I do mean *absolutely* no facts to back up your statement that "... Apple admits that health concerns are behind his decision to skip the keynote." This is pure speculation on your part and appears to have no basis in fact. If you have *FACTS* to back up your assertion then give them. Otherwise, change your statements!

[TomScrace]

@Tom Krazit: props for amending the article.

[ralfthedog]

Indirect causality. Mr. Jobs got quite sick. He started thinking, "Family is important. Perhaps I should spend this Christmas with my family."

Many people change there priorities when they get sick.

[rplat]

Who can blame Jobs for not wanting to publically disclose a personal and correctable medical condition? It would certainly be a shame to lose him because he appears to be the only honest, credible CEO left in this entire country.

[sanenazok]

Certainly you don't shy away from absolutes! Geez, how many CEO's do you actually know? People who have worked with Jobs had "not the best" experience with his tantrums.

Here's a guy whose company is intertwined with his own image almost as much a third-world dictator. Sure as heck he's got to disclose something more than "hormone imbalance." 3-2-1 shareholder lawsuit blastoff!

[tommyflorida]

Jobs honest CEO? Are you kidding me? He's a raging mood-swingy liberal Democrat - shifty as they come! That said, I wish him well, get better - I consider him a very talented individual.

[GadgetDon]

I'm a certified Mac fanboy, bleed in 7 colors (yes, seven colors damnit, not just white), and am glad that Jobs problems are treatable and hope that he soon returns to regular health to be able to keep leading Apple as they make great stuff. But Apple did lie about the reason for the change in who was giving the keynote, and that just wasn't right. Sorry, leepoe, but Apple's in the wrong, and CNet is right to call them on it.

[elo888]

Dr. Tantillo ('the marketing doctor') did a post back in July on his branding blog, pointing out that Jobs and Apple are two separate--albeit intertwined--brands. He insisted that while Jobs is irreplaceable, he should address the question of succession Now (well, then, in July) to best secure Apple's future--and reassure stockholders. It makes sense to at least have a plan in place.
Full post: http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/07/24/brand-advisory.aspx

[g3 creative]

Business aside, everyone here wishes Steve Jobs a speedy recovery.

[iff2mastamatt]

Except for Bill Gates....

[Mr. Dee]

I am praying he pulls through. Although he is a meanie (asked him for a free MacBook Air and he said no), I still want to see him look fat and obese like a lot of CEO's.

[Sithembewena]

Are u serious? Hes a meanie cause he didn't give ur lazy ass a free Macbook Air? LOLLL....how many requests for freebies do u think the man gets per day? If he gave in he'd need a warehouse just for giveaways! Get with the program, work hard, BUY a Macbook Air and stop fishing for pity online.

[drarkanex]

Steve just needs to eat a Cheeseburger and stop trying to live off of Hummus, soy beans and "Organic". All that money and still having health issues. Stve, just eat a cheeseburger so your stock doesn't plummet any more.. lol

[bob1xxxx]

look all you have to do is look at apples stock price and profitable when jobs is running apple and when he isnt. Jobs at the helm apple is successful profitable company, jobs not at the helm it a non profit herd of cats. Do to the fact lord jobs has not clear laid out his succession (due to death or retirement) there great angst about every health issue jobs has from cancer to bad gas. Look if he simple designation his succession team all this non sense would go away now.

[shadowself]

Actually, Apple was the most profitable and had the highest market share (before the dark days of mid 90s) *four years* after Jobs left. (Note that's "four years" not "for years".) Apple did great for almost a decade after Jobs left.

Then it lost its way with way to many computer models for people to understand (how many people know the difference between a Mac 6400 and a Performa 6400?), way too many projects that never saw the light of day (think the Blue, Pink and Red operating systems -- even before the ones named after music and composers showed up -- as well as the different hardware systems that were very limited editions such as MacTV and Pippin or didn't even see the light of day such as the KnowledgeBook). Why did this all happen? Because none of the CEOs, Sculley included, formed a team that could get great products out the door.

Do you think Jobs designs, develops, builds, markets, sells and distributes all these items himself? Of course not.

Did Sculley? Of course not. The difference is that Jobs' current team has formed a TEAM that can get the products out the door and have them be (for the most part) pretty darn good items.

If Jobs dropped dead tomorrow, that team would still be in place. It will take years for that team to dissolve.

[sdf563]

The pancreas (and gall bladder, which is removed in many surgeries for pancreatic cancer) produces enzymes that help the body to absorb nutrients especially from fat and protein. Without those enzymes, you can eat like a horse but still waste away. It is simple though very expensive ($800/month) to take enzyme supplements with meals and gain some of that weight back. The principle is the same as those people who take Lactaid because they lack the enzyme to digest lactose. Although Jobs's cancer was rare, it may have the same consequences as the usual type of pancreatic cancer in terms of not producing enough enzymes.

[Vegaman_Dan]

It would appear from the news and today's official Apple press release that Steve Jobs' health has indeed been a factor in several areas of concern for investors. There was a lot of rumors floating about and this confirmed a bunch of them while discounting others.

Maybe this will stop the needless intensive inspection into Steve Jobs' personal life and health conditions.

[Penguinisto]

So... what's Steve Ballmer's health looking like these days? (evil grin)...

/P

[wmyinzer]

If Steve Ballmer died Microsoft's innovation and product line wouldn't suddenly tank.

If Mr. Jobs keeled over......Apple might have to start borrowing ideas off Xerox again.

[D3vildog699]

Im just happy to hear they know whats going on so he can get better. I may not like the dude, but thats no reason for him to be sick or be away from his family. Truthfully family is always more important

[donsms]

If i were an Apple stockholder,which i am not,i`d be very worried about this info.Seems that only after the health rumor got out and was being talked about quite a bit did Mr. Jobs finally admit to a health problem which i rather doubt is a hormone imbalance.If he would have addressed his problem when all the rumors started flying around more people would believe his statements about his health today.Seems speculation and rumors about a possible non-stated illness will only grow louder.It is quite clear now that we were all lead astray.

[punterjoe]

My normal inclination would be to say that the health of a CEO is their own business and not that of the stockholders. However, with rockstar leaders - whether Apple & Jobs, the old Chrysler under Iacocca, or in many dominant-leader countries around the globe, the health of the figurehead is intricately tied to the perceived health of the organization they shepherd. So while I would normally say leave Steve be, under the cult of personality he's established, Apple has a big a claim on him as he does on it.
That said, I wish him well. Not as an Apple stockholder (I'm not) or even as an Apple fan (I'm agnostic) but as someone in roughly the same age bracket who wants to see him triumph over the health issues that have been such a nuisance for so long.

[Brian]

Without Macworld, how will Apple manage to switch PC users over to the Mac?

You guys are obsessing about Apple as usual. From the debut of your dire predictions about the iPhone to Steve Jobs health. And now you are predicting stock prices? Please. At the close of the day, Apple was UP by $3.83 while the Dow was DOWN by $81.80. What's your company worth today?

[Lenter101]

Steve Jobs is not a sympathetic figure, even in death. This is a man who fathered a child and did not have the guts or courage to take responsibility for this child. He let the women he impregnated go on welfare before he finally accepted the responsibility that any man should have.

He took his partner's invention and ran with it, Woz did all the engineering and software, Jobs was the salesman. They won prize money at one time and Jobs apparently kept it all, not telling the brains behind the two that they had won.

He screwed up his company enough in the 80's that he was kicked out by his board.

He cooked the books in the 00's and got away with it, where most CEO's would have been jailed for what he did - back dating stock options.

He developed cancer of the pancreas and instead of listening to the best scientific advice, this egocentric decided he would treat himself with a "diet' for 9 months, until someone - probably not him - convinced him to undergo surgery, the correct treatment for this type of cancer. His present state of recurrence is probably related to his arrogant delay of treatment, although no one will say that.

Steve Jobs is an arrogant, pompous ass who has made his reputation off of other people's endeavors. I can assure you that Jobs did not develop the IPOD or IPhone, he merely browbeat the genuis behind the technology, taking from them the prize as he did from Woz.

He is not suffering from a nutritional ailment and it will not be corrected by anything simple and straight forward. He is dying from metastatic cancer and like many people before him, with huge egos - Steve McQueen and John D. Rockefeller - come to mind - he will die like everyone else.

What is amazing to me is how broad the acceptance of his rationalization is accepted by the supposedly critical, objective press.

The man, at best, is a salesman and what we are witnessing is the demise of a modern character from Henry Miller.

[JM_Brazil]

Regardless Lenter, he's brought the company a very long way over the past 10 years. What makes these MAC users so inclined to run out and paste these little apple stickers on their vehicles? Good marketing of some very solid products. MAC users proudly distinguish themselves from other groups. This is the pinnacle of good marketing. Every accessory I buy today is "iPod or iPhone compatible". Another great marketing accomplishment. Apple has a headcount of only 30 thousand globally, with an average productivity of around US$1?M per. Job's arrogance and means are irrelevant, and so is your grudge toward him. Certainly most F500 companies would pay a large sum to have him lead their company.