The Steve Jobs Death Watch

Rupert said:

Really, Matt Connors?  “That ‘look’ has caused Apple’s stock to drop about $20-billion in value in a week.”?
The stock is now $12 lower than it was at the presentation on June 9th.  It’s usual for stock to drop after good news.  It’s called profit taking.  It had surely built up enough in anticipation of the news.  It may be $12 lower than it was 5 weeks ago, but it’s a full $50 higher than it was 5 months ago.  That’s a 42% increase.  In 5 months. Death watch, my arse. Good linkbait, though, if a bit icky.

Editor’s Note: Analysts attributed AAPL’s $20-billion drop to rumors of Steve Jobs’ poor health.

Matt Connors said:

OMG. WTF? I’m sorry, but I had to laugh. Are you people serious? A ‘death watch’ is what happens when someone of public significance is publicly ill. Steve Jobs looks ill to me. That ‘look’ has caused Apple’s stock to drop about $20-billion in value in a week. Imagine how much worse it would be if Apple announced that his cancer was back and terminal.

I read Margo’s seemingly heated response and I have to admit that I could not understand most of what she wrote, other than some of it was harshly undue criticism and some of it more than a little over the top, and some of it grammar and clarity impaired. Would publicly traded Apple lie about Steve Jobs’ health? Yes. Steve himself withheld public knowledge of his cancer for 9 months. He lied about Apple’s interest in an iPod with video capability. People in high positions lie all the time.

Margo doesn’t seem to think so but there is plenty of evidence suggesting health problems. Steve’s gaunt and frail look. The so-called ‘Whipple’ procedure and the after effects. The beating the stock took after his minimal keynote performance. Like it or not, it’s pretty much a death watch, huh?

Somehow I don’t think Steve Jobs’ children read web sites with articles about Steve Jobs.

acker bilker said:

I fail to see all the hub bub and noise over the title of your missive, Kate. It looks to me as though you were one of the first of many to identify the exact same issue—Steve Jobs looks like death warmed over. His physical condition, possibly explained by the longer term effects of his pancreatic cancer operation, is of major concern to investors of AAPL stock, me included. Look at Apple’s stock price since the keynote presentation. It’s being hammered. Not because of the iPhone, but more likely because of worries about Steve Jobs’ health and the impact at Apple should he step down, or, I hate to say it but it’s accurate—die.

Anyone complaining about your rather direct but accurately considered headline is not paying attention to the facts and concern you presented. People, many people, stock analysts and pundits, and Apple fans are watching Steve Jobs’ very closely.

That smacks of a ‘death watch’ to me.

Margo Esquandolas said:

This is simply hilarious. Setting aside any questions of rights, you can absolutely express concern without dredging the depths of this sensationalist garbage, as you did. You can editorialize the question of health without stomping on his feelings or the feelings of his family and friends.

I question the public statement of the company—a company whose stock trades on public statements—as a huge projection of one’s trustworthiness or lack thereof. You’re accusing them in advance, with no evidence, of lying to their stockholders, not by omission but out-and-out lying.

Suggesting that stockholders get to judge a successor acceptable, is only dwarfed by the absolutely unacceptable editorial…. and of course the headline calling all vultures and non-vultures alike to watch.  Well done.

Editor’s Note: Edited to remove abusive content, improve grammar, add clarity.

David Charles said:

A ‘Death Watch’ is appropriate if there is concern about the health of someone in question. Steve Jobs’ health is in question. While I hope he doesn’t die, at least any time soon, I am glad that someone is paying attention to his health and how he looks and the effects his absence will have on Apple. Apple is a business. I bought Apple stock to make money. If Jobs’ health impacts Apple’s business and my stock value, then I’m concerned. It is NOT ghoulish, it is NOT offensive, it’s business. Keep an eye on Jobs and I’ll keep an eye on my stock.

Love your site, Kate. Keep up the good work.

Chris said:

How could anyone in their right mind author a headline as insensitive and dumb as this? It boggles the imagination.

Dave Goldstein said:

I was there and fairly up close. He looks like someone on chemo or radiation or both. Really not good. I was at the WWDC last year and looked like someone in the best of health.

Jonny Bowers said:

Ghoulish? Not really. People get paid to check on Steve Jobs’ health, Apple’s health, both of which are important to shareholders. It isn’t so much a ‘death watch’ as it is a ‘life watch’ to see how the man is doing, and I tend to agree that he’s not looking all that well.