The Steve Jobs Death Watch

istara said:

Ghoulish?  Maybe, but a very accurate summary of the massive amount of Steve-Jobs-health-questions coverage going on.  Hundreds and hundreds of news articles have been written about this.  Financial analysts admit to studying photos of Steve Jobs to gauge his health.

Yes - he’s a husband and father - but he’s also the CEO of a multibillion dollar company whose demise would likely dramatically adversely affect its fortunes - and more importantly, market sentiment towards it - in the short to medium term.  It’s partly the market’s fault for building him up into an icon, and it’s partly the fault of Jobs for allowing it and keeping such ultimate control (at least in public perception - maybe things are less vertical behind the scenes, though one has to doubt it based on the testimony of myriad former Apple employees).

But his health is a matter of legitimate public concern for the millions of Apple shareholders, fund managers, analysts, brokers, and companies that supply to or work with Apple in various capacities.

He is the “president” of a large technological nation, if you will.

Mort Blort said:

Ghoulish article headline, yes. But I agree that there needs to be a succession plan at Apple. A vote here for Jonathan Ive.

a real human being said:

Excuse me, but what the &*($#?!

How would *you* feel if someone suggested we all have a “death watch” on your father?

My goodness… have you no shred of decency left in your body? Are you even human?

And I disagree. He looks thin, but certainly not

Scott Farcus said:

I’ve rarely seen such callous disregard for decency and respect for the feelings of others in this vile attempt to mask self-seeking under the guise of “news” and “concern” about the future of Apple and its stock. Steve has family and friends. How do you think the unjustified and capricious use of “death watch” effects them? Of course you don’t care, you’re concerned about getting hits. Lame. Lame. Lame. And just pathetic. Kate, you just ruined your reputation.

Ev Willis said:

The ‘Death Watch’ idea is a probably too ghoulish but the idea you’re expressing—concern for Apple and your stock investment—is well considered. Apple does not show much of a succession or transition plan for life beyond Steve Jobs. I worry about the company should Jobs depart, but there are seasoned, experienced executives there to keep things running. The stock price will drop but may not recover to previous levels. Investors should be concerned and should express that concern to Apple. Apple is not a one man show. It only seems that way.

sanity said:

I’m Steves Neighbor. Last week he was puking his guts out. The cancer is not back but on a frame like Steves it takes very little weight loss to make him look gaunt. He is fine and BTW… Apple will be fine if and when he decides to leave which I think will happen way down the road… not for years.

travis said:

This commentary, and especially the title is despicable and positively ghoulish.  Have you no sense of decency?

iggy pence said:

Poorly named, Kate, but an appropriate topic of concern. I suspect that most customers of Apple products could not even name the CEO, but those who watch can, and any Jobs ‘disturbance’ will impact the company’s stock. As an investor I have a right to know about the health of a major executive, especially one whose health is suspect. I remember reading something about Jobs’ cancer a few years ago, where he decided not to undergo surgery but sought natural methods which didn’t work. That stubborn insistence in doing it ‘my way’ may work for Apple’s products, but health is different.