Comments on: Apple faces credibility crisis over Jobs' health

Company has faced hard choices in handling Steve Jobs' growing health issues. The latest revelations raise new questions about Apple's honesty with investors.

[eadeguzman]

Why would the public complain about Bill Gates leaving the company to focus full-time on charitable work?

Bill Gates still gets the headlines today talking about global health and economy in general. And Jobs?

Jobs, while exceptional as everybody thinks, is a one-man show... The public does not know any other recognizable names in Apple. Contrast that with Microsoft. Ballmer and Ozzie and other executives in Microsoft appear in the headlines on almost daily basis even when Bill Gates was CEO.

The public is scared because it appears that Apply has no clear succession plan. (I may well have such a plan but it's not clear.)

[FastGM3]

In the end when it comes to leadership and investors, I honestly feel Bill Gates did it best. The secret is not to let investors feel like the empire is going to crumble without the great one being there. Stepping down when the time is right, but still staying involved with a new CEO gives the investors confidents. Steve Jobs is great, but having a health issue and no time to provide the confidence to investors that Apple will survive under a new CEO is detrimental. Stocks will plunge, and only new ideas and sales without Steve, will bring them back. In this current economy it will be very tough!

[zmonster]

If you are stupid enough to sell your Apple shares at less than $120/share, shares of a company with the strongest balance sheet of any company trading today, then by all means go ahead. I, and other prudent investors, will gladly buy them from you.

[zmonster]

FastGM3 said, "In the end when it comes to leadership and investors, I honestly feel Bill Gates did it best." HUH? Bill Gates of MICROSOFT? A company who's stock hasn't gained value in nearly 7 years? Yeah, Gates is a great leader. I think I'll stick with my Apple stock, which is growing at 20%+/year on average, despite this latest downturn.

[zeke225]

Steve Jobs is on the roof.

To understand that statement read:
http://www.jokething.com/jokes/13/13009

[CristGarage]

Tom, get a life. Please.

[robvme]

Steve Jobs is a CEO of a publically traded company. The office of CEO is a public matter for investors. If the CEO is unable to serve in that capacity, then investors need to know. Certainly , Steve has a right to his medical privacy but you can't show up in public looking like he does and not raise some questions.

I personally don't care, except that I hope he gets well, whatever it is. But, I also have to wonder, is Apple really that dependent on one person? I hope not.

[wshun0]

Jobs to Apple is Buffett to Berkshire. He is simply so powerful that his health is not really a private matter.

By the way, few CEO have such god-like status. Anybody, Apple fanboys or Apple stakeholders, fears that their god is dying. Their reactions to the news, as reflected in the comments, are miles apart.