Talk of chief's health weighs on Apple's share price

Despite reassurances that he is cancer free four years after he was treated for pancreatic cancer, analysts are worried that Steve Jobs might be sick again.
(From The New York Times)

The story "Talk of chief's health weighs on Apple's share price" published July 23, 2008 at 8:55 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Vegaman_Dan]

While I believe that intent to bring up Jobs' health conditions to be malicious in nature or at the very least to create sensationalistic journalism, I also believe that as long as it does not affect the company that it shouldn't be made public. Mr. Jobs has every right to a private life as the next person. We don't need to know what color underwear he is wearing or what radio station he listens to on his daily commute. It's none of our business.

HOWEVER

Now that it's been brought out into the light, even false rumors are affecting the stock price and that means it IS affecting the company. Regardless how it came about, it has people asking questions and I feel that Apple would be wise to have Mr. Jobs go through a physical with a witness present from the media. Once that exam is complete, there will be no doubt about his condition and this story can be either resolved and the company moves on with a clean bill of health or they will need to address the situation as it may be. Either way, they need to take some action or face more rumors and uncertainty which is affecting their stock price.

This should never have been brought up in the first place. But now that it is here, Apple needs to address it. It isn't something like a failed product launch or blatant security holes in the OS that you can ignore and hope the public forgets about. This time it's affecting business. They need to take action.

[Penguinisto]

I wouldn't mind that. While we're at it, let's get Steve Ballmer to a doc as well: Type A personality, middle-aged, fairly overweight, a high-stress job in stressful times (for MSFT anyway), he sweats at the slightest provocation... Ballmer is a prime candidate for a heart attack or a stroke if you ask me.

[joetesta70]

$TEVE JOB$ CAN SUCK IT. What's he ever done except horde his billions? Nothing for the environment, nothing for the poor or Darfur or anything other than $TEVE'$ EGO.

Check out the list - you'll see Bill Gates, Sergei Brin, Larry Ellison, Mike Lazaridis (Blackberrry), Michael Dell, you name it.

The guy is a jerk and a scrooge - good riddance!

[Gromit801]

Gee, I just don't give a rat's ass about Darfur. I'm not sorry. Our country has a LOT of freaking problems that need to be fixed environmentally, economically, and sociologically.

Whether Steve Jobs is anyone's idea of a saint, is completely irrelevent. Most of those listed contributors don't give a rat's ass about Darfur either, but it sure makes them look good to the rabble, doesn't it?

[runswithscissorsXX]

I know people love Jobs, and he's certainly had some good ideas.

But, it will probably help Apple to grow a lot, lot more, without Jobs around. They're starting to go down the right path, Apple products could dominate the living room. Unfortunately, Jobs is still stuck in the ultra-proprietary mindset that caused Apple's first collapse.

[runswithscissorsXX]

When the google phone comes out, the iPhone will disappear overnight. People are already pretty sick to death of the lack of customizations, and I'd wager good money the vast majority of google phone services will be open source and/or created by average joe's.

[skillingssucks]

Keep dreaming.

[humanssssss]

Karma is catching up on Steve Jobs.

[tekwiz4u]

@Joetesta

Maybe Jobs should invest in our own educational system since it's obvious where comments like yours comes from.