Has anyone seen Steve Jobs lately?
The news this week that Apple's CEO would be skipping Macworld triggered the usual jitters about how he's feeling — sending shares down nearly 6% over the next two days.
The issue was raised in hundreds of news stories and analyst reports. Oppenheimer & Co. withheld its Apple (AAPL) price target pending some answers about the state of Steve Jobs' health — a matter of intense speculation since his 2004 operation for pancreatic cancer and subsequent weight loss. (See here.)
Even Apple watchers who think pulling out of the Macworld Expo was a smart move for the company worried that Jobs' absence might mean the worst. On The Mac Observer's influential Apple Finance Board, one investor posted an open letter to Apple begging for some kind of public appearance:
"If anyone of influence at Apple is reading this forum, you really owe it to the share holders to talk Steve into scheduling some sort of high-profile interview or better yet press conference where he can show up and prove to everyone that he is still very much alive, and that the decision not to appear at Macworld is a strategic decision to put less emphasis on trade shows in the future rather than anything to do with his personal health." (link)
But Jobs doesn't have to meet the press, do a perp walk or swim across the Yangtze River to make his presence known. He's got a job and an office and a parking space. He drives to work most every day. Surely he's been sighted by hundreds of people on the Cupertino campus.
We're not suggesting that anyone stalk Steve Jobs or invade his privacy in any way.
But if you've run into him lately, you might put a lot of anxieties to rest by posting a comment and letting us know how looked.
yes I saw him in a remote resort this month working and looked very much alive. Out of respect for his privacy I did not talk to him as he look busy as one would expect from one in his position.
muffin or a sausage, egg and cheese once awhile.
Really? That's pretty impressive for a pescetarian.
Apple is where it is because of Steve Jobs. Period.
Think back to where the product and the stock was in 1997, when Jobs rejoined. It's never looked back. That's because of his vision and management, and the culture he instilled. Apple will continue for some time because of that, with or without him.
The company is solid as a rock and doesn't owe a penny. The current stock price is a reflection of the Bush economy- nothing more.
The obsession that any single human is the only thing going for a corporation has driven APPL stock to the low points it resides. There is more to Apple Inc. than Steve Jobs or any other single individual in the company. Steve was a major part of the Apple turnaround in 1998, but folks, a decade has passed since that time. Get a clue… it's about the technology and the customers, not Steve Jobs. Let the man live in peace and let's get the stock back up to where it should legitimately be based on performance of the company.
Fortune has sank to a new low. It would be shameful enough to read this tripe in the Enquirer, but here? Last time I click here…
I just played 18 holes of golf with Steve last Saturday and he is doing just fine. In fact, he kicked my ass by shooting an 87, I had a 94. Cheers.
May Steve come to know Jesus Christ, the risen Lord and Savior.
God bless.
B.
http://onewayfilms.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=cloudten&action=display&thread=8589
http://justinsrefuge.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/the-genius-club-update/#comment-84
http://whylame.blogspot.com/2008/09/genius-club.html
http://www.familyfriendlygaming.com/Reviews/2008/The%20Genius%20Club.html
The public perception is that Steve Jobs is the reason Apple is where it is today and that without him, the future is iffy. That's the fact, right or wrong. Apple not being open about his health is impacting stockholder share value. Apple is not lead by idiots. If he was well, they could address this issue by having him make a 5 minute webcast appearance regularly. Something is amiss imho.
Well, well, just look at the number of reactions to this article, Steve still magnetizes, whatever people say…
word up, i saw him and Obama playin
an intense game of one on one b-ball
at the West 4th courts in the village.
afterwards they smoked some trees to
everyones delight.
@ Matt, Dublin.
Because Steve Balmer leaving Microsoft would be an advantage. Where as any mention of Steve jobs sneezing seems to bring the Apple share price down by 10%
The fixation on Jobs health is not, well, healthy. Jobs is not Apple. He is the leader of Apple. He has been crucial to Apple's turnaround, but Apple is no longer a turnaround project.
Additionally, Jobs has put together the finest management team in technology. None may have his charisma, but they all share his vision, goals and standards.
The corporate culture at Apple is absolutely superb, and it won't go away with Jobs eventual departure.
Just let Steve be with his family on the holidays. The guy needs a break. If he's crossing over we'll hear about it soon enough. We'll be sad, but we'll also be happy that he'll be out of pain and away from things that amaze him so much, like how people can't let him be human.
Here is the breakdown. • Is Steve Jobs Sick or Dying? No one knows and mass speculation only hurts shareholders, but I believe that is the goal. People have been saying that Apple is going under for years and yet it still thrives. They pounce upon any chance they get to validate their beliefs and hatred for Apple. • Would Steve Jobs death impact the company? Sure, a little. Steve is a visionary who created Apple and has kept it alive for all these years. Consider this however. #1. The company has a solid financial position with zero debt and a large cash reserve. #2. Apple shareholders are comprised of people who believe in the company and many have stuck with it through its ups and downs in the past. They are not likely to just abandon ship. I know if shares continue to drop, I'll buy stock because I have confidence in the companies vision and longevity. #3. Finally, Steve is a smart guy and Apple is his baby. I would think, if his health has been a concern in the past (and it has), he would have a similarly minded, equally talented person in mind to replace him and a plan to implement their installation upon his death. I seriously doubt he'd just let the company flounder in his absence. (For the record, the last time the company floundered was because they ousted Jobs from the board and that was a mistake they paid for. He is firmly in charge now and not likely to leave things unattended.) • It is sad that a great man like Steve Jobs is being mocked and treated so poorly. If he is or is not seriously ill, the media, as usual, are being irresponsible, ignorant and insensitive. I think the media should be held accountable for their careless reporting. Companies that tamper with the value of their stocks can be convicted. The media can effect the entire market and our global economy without any repercussions? It doesn't seem right.
Steve Jobs made himself the face of Apple. Shareholders are worried about any factor that may affect share value and the health of the head Apple visionary falls into that category. He put himself into this position and Apple shareholders are well within their rights wanting to know if he is still around. While we don't have any right to know his personal family details or other personal information, his health is no longer subject to the issue of privacy.
He just sent me a message to destroy my iPhone and buy a BlackBerry as he is unlikely to appear in the near future. Sell, sell, sell….
Get a life and do some real reporting!
Why do you know someone who gave you reason to wonder? Perhaps broke the law and spied on steve's medical records?
Businesses can fail for many reasons but we cannot speculate on someone's health. If you are so worried about apple stocks falling, then by all means sell your stocks and buy some from another company whose ceo is immortal. That's just how stocks work, you get out when you think you should and if you can't handle the pressure, don't bother with investments.
Steve is also deep into Pixar. Perhaps he's been dead for years, and we've been seeing the result of a clever new rendering technology. Gone are the days when bands like the Beatles had to resort to a human lookalike. I, for one, welcome our new, virtual overlord.
My theory is that he's already left Apple and has gone to work for the RAND Corporation, in conjunction with the saucer people, under the supervision of the reverse vampires.
I just saw him in Target. He was waiting to buy an iPod Touch, and by the time he got to the front of the cue, they ran out. So he bought a Zune. There was no line for them and they had plenty left.
Why do you think we care? Apple is getting WAY to much press for no real reason. I am hating Apple more and more each day because of it. Apple Apple Apple. Enough already. MY life doesn't revolve around an iPOD or iPhone why? Because I'm not a drone.
I dunno, I've not seen Steve Balmer in the news for a while is he still around?
(Odd to think that Apple and it's tiny market share, whose CEO supposedly has not been seen in public matters so much. Yet Steve Balmer, sitting on a company that has a 90% world OS share doesn't warrant a single story as to why he's not made a recent public appearance.)
"steve jobs health is a private matter and is none of your business. if you are afraid he might die then sell your shares."
Posted By Mark
… Mark, needless to day, Jobs' health is a matter of public concern now. In fact, Jobs, himself, interjected his health into the realm of public concern when he decided he wanted to run large Tech companies like Apple. You should consider dropping your own shares rather than running around bitching people out for discussing meaningful details concerning Apple's strategic position. SRSLY now, this is not even close.
It is time for the shorts to get pay backs. In just a few short weeks Apple will announce a blow away quarter and a lot of them will be running for the doors! Oh, and Steve is well and will likely have a "one more thing" in naming Shiller as his new CEO!
I work at the Dunkin' Donuts outside the Apple campus. Mr. Jobs stops in a few times a week – he orders a French Vanilla Decaf and has a muffin or a sausage, egg and cheese once awhile. Nice tipper too! He gave us iPods for Xmas one time. Overall, he looks great and his BMW is nice too.
Remember the Internet Coffee Pot website? Do you think Steve would let us put a webcam in his office/car/jet/jacuzzi? The webcam site could pop up with the stock quote on Google…. wow, wouldn't that be great?
So that's it, the Economy has finally hit rock-bottom, since everyone is looking for Jobs…
Oh come on, you all had it coming…
He was here in Munich at the opening of the Apple Retail Store – disguised as Santa Claus.
This whole discussion is redicoulus…
If anyone is still believing anything written here, I did see him off the 101 in Cupertino. He seemed in good health but then I saw the Christmas bunny and he looked awful.
Leave Jobs alone, Ita shame for the sahre holders and its very insensitive to talk about steve in such a manner. I wish him best of his health going ahead. I think the apple stake holders are beocming too much nosy and demanding, they should be happy with what they have let the steve take some break.
Sameer
I saw Steve Jobs. He was in a roadside diner in Urbana, Illinois. Sitting across from him? An almost unrecognizable Elvis Presley.
You're kidding, right? Who cares, what difference does it make? Give the man some privacy. What's even more pathetic is that wild rumors about Jobs's health caused their stock to tumble 6%. The financial industry with all its "experts" is a joke. I'd do a better job betting on NFL games than buying stock right now.
One day someone could be healthy as an apple, only to die in a plane crash the next day. But I havn't heard analysts raise that fear regarding Mr. Jobs over the last decade.
This is a legittimate question to ask, since the share price varies according to his health: such is the nature of the stock market. His health or illness, can cost me money, so I care.
It is the job of journalists to be inquisitive, and this specific question: "Has anybody seen SJ lately?" is not intrusive of his privacy, nor is it out of line.
He's with Tommy Fagan from Kansas City and his wife Carla and a bunch of her cousins (including Janet Leap)scuba diving in Bonaire….We can b e reached at The Deep Blue View Dive Resort for confirmation.
This Forbes guy really has something against Steve Jobs. The stream of negativity from his publications (multiple – see Business 2.0) goes beyond objective reporting, no? I smell a a bit of envy here. Kind of funny if it wasn't so sad.
The media and WS are trying to manipulate Apple's stock price. I can't think of any other company where this sort of media witch hunt takes place. They're treating Steve Jobs like he's a movie star or pop idol instead of a company CEO. Apple's stock is far too unstable based on Steve sightings or non-sightings. Far too much speculation is made over nothing.
Apple is a fine company, but it's no wonder investors avoid it like a plague due to media exaggeration.
I saw Steve Jobs in the clearance section of Kohl's Department Stores buying a $5.00 pair of jeans. He's ALI-I-I-VE!
I JUST SAW STEVE JOBS YESTERDAY ON MY WAY TO CUPERTINO. NICE LOOKING AND ALWAYS NICE. HE DOES NOT KNOW ME BUT I WAVED AT HIM AND HE SMILED. HE LOOKED FINE AND JUST THE SAME, ALWAYS NICE.
AND WHY ARE YO USO WORRIED. YOU ALWAYS SAY HIS HEALTH IS NOT GOOD. IF YOU DONT PRINT ANYTHING ALARMING, THRE WONT BE ANY NEGATIVE NEWS ABOUT HIM. YOU OF ALL PEOPLE ALWAYS START THE BAD RUMORS…..
[PARODY ON] …and if you play Jobs' last keynote backwards, you can distinctly hear "Woz jailbroke me." [PARODY OFF] I agree with DAVE, media is killing AAPL.
I live in New Jersey. He's not here either. Stop with this nonsense. Unsubstantiated rumors should cause us shareholders to lose money, we've taken eneough of a beating on AAPL in the past few months…Guilty until proven innocent?
What I'd like to know is, does Philip Elmer-DeWitt really exist? Has anyone seen him in person or know what he looks like, where he lives, works, what he eats, etc.? Also, is there any medical history that we should be aware of or worry about?
Has anyone had any contact with him ever or is he just a figment of some Fortune editor's imagination?
If anyone knows for sure of his actual existence and can prove it, please post any information about what he looks like, where he was and any identifying characteristics.
We'll all rest easier knowing he's real.
Steve's email is sjobs@apple.com. Ask him yourself. He reads his own email.
This is a ridiculous question to ask. You open the door for people to either say they saw him and he looked terrible or they saw him and he looked great and there is no way of knowing if they are telling the truth.
Jobs also made an appearance on the most recent quarterly financial-results phone call, something he doesn't typically do. Not sure of the exact date of the call, but their quarterly results came out on October 21.
steve jobs health is a private matter and is none of your business. if you are afraid he might die then sell your shares.
Hi, I live in Waterloo Canada. I have not seen Steve Jobs in the last several months. Actually, I've never seen Steve in any month before that either. Good thing someone else has, or otherwise I'd be fearing for the future of the company.
I have seen Mike Lazaridis from RIM in his car though. So, he's okay if that helps at all.
Do the huge growth opportunities for Mac and iPhone given their current market position matter to anyone these days?
I think it is creepy they way the media keep harping on the health of Steve Jobs. These 'deathwatch' type articles happen so often, I get the feeling that you all would love him to be really sick or die.
the more I read Forbes, the less I like them. did you people ever hear of "live and let live?" I would say not. write something worth reading instead of jibberish crap that you write.
Steve Jobs could be in China at that time. There are so many possibilities!!!! Why do you and your ilk persistently land on the health issue. YOU ARE THE ONES THAT HURT APPLE SHAREHOLDERS.
Everyone likes to blame the press/analysts etc – and I understand that. There's reason for criticism, plus it's they're easy and convenient targets.
Yet, I continue to believe that most of these problems begin and end with Apple. These problems are manageable, but Apple seems to make it so difficult so it continues over and over and over.
As I wrote once before, the sad thing is that the shareholders are the ones who keep taking the beating.
Hello. My name is Zu Jin and I work at a japanese restaurant and Steve Jobs is one of our costumers.
He was here just this week and he lokks fine as usual.
Just to let you know.
All of you recently saw Jobs.
It was October.
It's not enough for you ?
Do you want to meet him every day ?
http://stream.qtv.apple.com/events/oct/0810rtdws876/m_08100053744wuasd_650_ref.mov
With Caroline Kennedy in line for a shot at the NY Senate seat, how about we
scrounge up his first kid Lisa to take over as the Apple CEO?