What will Apple be like without Steve Jobs?


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Jonathan Ive, who is responsible for every good Mac design in the past 10 years, just might be the guy that will one day replace Steve Jobs. That’s the rumor anyway.

It’s sad to think about really – that’s why I’m posting this actually. One thing that is great about Apple is the cult-like insanity that sometimes comes with reporting about it, and supporting the company. Not many other companies have a following like Apple does – none that I can think off the top of my head – and I wonder if that blind loyalty will continue after Jobs has to step down.

I’m not saying it’s going to happen tomorrow – or even next year – but at some point, Steve Jobs is going to have to retire…or he’s going to die…and someone is going to have to replace him.

When that happens, what will Apple be like? Will you, as a member of the cult of Mac, be able to accept a Jobless Apple? Would Ive be a good replacement?

From a design stand point – Apple has been revolutionizing the industry for…well…EVER…but things have looked a whole lot slicker since Jonathan became a part of the team, and I think, as a figurehead at least, he would be a great new front man. I have no idea what his business skills are like – so I can’t give you an opinion on his actual ability to run the company, but from a “celebrity” perspective – he seems like the obvious choice.

Of course, who knows how long in the future it will be before Jobs calls it quits. It could be years…it could be Macworld. Who knows?


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

8 Comments

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  1. I think Steve leaving Apple would be very bad for the company, no matter who replaces him. Steve is Apple. Whether he is or isn’t is not importatnt. It’s what the people believe, and the people believe that an Apple without Steve Jobs is no Apple at all.

    I wonder how many people own Apple stock because of the value of the stock, and not because they are Mac addicts, Apple fans, or even own a Mac? I bet it’s a lot. When Steve leaves, I can definitly see their stock taking a nose dive. Once stock prices fall, investors lose interest, companies start losing market share, momentum, customers, … well, you know how it goes, something like a giant snow ball.

  2. When he dies or retires Apple will be crap. He is Apple. When he says “we believe that nobody wants to handwrite on a tablet” he means “I believe…”

    So, when he is gone, we are going back to Windows, and that’s what I’m afraid of.

  3. I agree with the above steve leaving will definitely cause the stock at apple to fall…. but lest we forget when steve left last time apple did still go on… and the cult still followed…. and its that cult that kept the company alive in its darkest hours…

    Steve Jobs is a Marketing genius. you better believe that he is going to hand pick his replacement and hes going to make it a big deal…. this might look down on apple for a little while but I still think steve vision will be there…

  4. I think that, when Steve Jobs retire, Apple will keep going like it did when Steve were away in the 90’s, but, if he will nominate a good “successor”, Apple will run better than in did in the 90’s.
    So an Ive-Schiller-leaded Apple could be a good one, also Scott Forstall could be a good manager.

    Bye

  5. El Jobso won’t ever back down. It will suck when he dies though and someone takes over. Ive has the artistic view Jobs has, but I don’t know if he has the business mind for it. Let alone the ability to deliver a Stevenote (I feel bad for whoever has to fill those shoes) Whoever it is, lets hope he doesn’t fuckup what Jobs has built

  6. Steve Jobs is not a designer. Steve Jobs is not a developer. Steve Jobs is not a geek. Steve Jobs is not just a CEO. Steve is a hell of a business and marketing mind and a hell of a Charisma. God, this man is 150% Charisma. His replacement has indeed huge shoes to fill. As for Ive, well he is good looking and he is a hell of a product designer, but no one can assume that he can successfully replace Steve. Let’s hope that human cloning is possible in the next 5 years or so.