Is Apple Operating Better or Worse Without Steve Jobs?

I think that since Steve took a break due to health concerns, Apple has been less innovative and more focused on improving products with what consumers want. I'm sure Steve would've had Apple make similar moves that were more unique, but sometimes forget what consumers want like be did in the past. Overall, Steve has a great influence on Apple and they produce better products with him running the company. Based on Apple's last few months, what do you guys think?

 

IMO it hasn't been long enough to evaluate one way or the other. There's no doubt he has quite an impact on the company. One could argue he has the greatest influence of any CEO on their company.

 

it has been kind of short, but the February numbers were really bad... so that's why I voted worse...

not to mention raising the base price on there products during a recession is just plain out stupid.

 

Not mentioning the idiotic new shuffle.

 

recession = price-drop to the every company on the face of this ball of rock, just so they can move units...
recession = price-increase to apple, because they don't need market share...

the Feb numbers were like...
16% drop year over year on mac hardware
2x% drop on profit margins year over year

PC's... 22% increase in year over year units shipped
and 1.6% increase in profit margins

 

I think they aren't operating at their fullest without Steve Jobs. When Steve was the current CEO, they had a very good stock value, and it wasn't dropping very much at all. Ever since he had to take leave, they haven't done as well as they have with Jobs. It was starting a recession when he left, and there's a recession now, so I'll call that fair game.

 

I don't believe there is any real difference at the moment, Apple's product lines have been in development for more than half a year and mostly Apple's roadmap is planned for two years ahead already. This was made when Steve Jobs was around and in full force.

Without a doubt, without him keynotes aren't as interesting but product-wise I don't feel Apple is any different, as Steve has got to have been involved in everything that has been out lately, including the new Shuffle.

If he's still not fully back at the company a year from now, then things will really start to change, I think.

 

That's true, I never really thought of it at that point-of-view. They really don't need Jobs around, since they already planned ahead. Nice post Sam.

 

I also think it's too early to judge now because as Sam mentioned all companies work on products ahead, so does Apple.

 

The new shuffle would of been in production when Steve was still there.

 

There needs to be a no difference option... that's what I would have voted for, and also SJ would have been involved in all the things released so far, it will be at least another 6 months before you would start seeing products developed without his input.
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The new shuffle is just dumb. Proprietary controls on the cheap iBuds? Give me my Shures over the iBuds anytime. Sansa Clip here I go.

 

What is happening now was still being planned under Jobs - but as Tim Cook said, there are many more talented people at Apple. For some reason, the public, along with investors, believe him to be the sole reason for all of their success.

 

I see no difference yet...

 

The AUD price for a mabook pro is so high that I couldn't upgrade. I guess there was always an additional cost for Apple gear sold overseas, but essentially the macbook high end model now costs what the macbook pro used to cost. It's a joke, but I guess it would have been the same with or without jobs.

I don't think the new ipod shuffle should have been released. It's simply doesn't have the apple glamour about it, looks like a cheap USB device and is obviously flawed in it's design (without the right headphones it can't even play a song). I'd like to think Jobs would have said no to that device. But who knows.

 

i believe at the moment mapple is still running on our great innovative leader mob's course.

and unless he really rest in peace, it is also likely that he will anchors the firm with his visionary mind


oh wait, we are talking about apple here...

shuffle, when realized by the public that they have to shuffle( ) yet another 40~50 dollars for a remote in order to work with much better headset, it will still sell really well. (nano's price, shuffle's spec? yeah, right )

and since there wouldn't be any major change in roadmap for apple in terms of its computer/software units in the coming 2+ years; the company can run its course with an AI that runs on 8086 CPU and 64kb of ram.

in their ipod line up i foresee a more refined ipod product coming in within 1year given how good the sales is on touch they might be forced to produce touch mini and that might put and end to the wheel-based ipods.

with touch mini in mind from this direction we can also expect Miphone to be introduced as well. it is interesting that some analysts aren't expected a higher end iphone in the progress this june; but we will have to see how well the economy will run its course these months and apple might need to push high-end iphone into a non-conventional time for introduction; something they had wanted to do where macworld restrained its ability (and of course they are no more bound by the convention).

as long as apple maintain its leadership in user-experience they should be able to maintain itself as a niche segment in geeks' territory.

keep in mind on apple's acquisition of the graphic card company though, they might do something silly like setting their own standard(and with 8% market share it is difficult to convince the public to follow, mini-port, FW will not profit enough). but if they have decided to join the video card war it can be an interesting project and with apple's healthy cash flow, 2009/2010 can be a BIG head start in R&D; it is yet to be seen and if apple chooses to produce a close-environment product it will not have any effect besides cost cutting.

ps. apple, think 4500mhd and 9400m, even though i don't thinnk it is possible, or probable

outside of the box: nah, i don't get paid for that