Just terrible news and so unfortunate that it has to play out this way. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to deal with a (seemingly) serious medical issue and have to justify every related move to the public.
He doesn't have to justify anything to anyone. It's just that Apple's runaway success has depended, depends, and will probably continue to depend on Steve Jobs being there. He knows it, and everyone with AAPL stock knows it too.
What's more terrible and unfortunate is the fact that not only is this the top story on CNN and Google News, but today's supreme court decision doesn't even make it onto either page. Not even below the fold.
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that evidence obtained from an unlawful arrest based on careless record keeping by the police may be used against a criminal defendant.
The question [...] was whether the requirement established in Apprendi applied to the decision whether a defendant convicted of multiple crimes must serve consecutive or concurrent sentences if the harsher punishment required a judge to find facts not determined by the jury.
Thats not terrible at all. I am rather glad that is not in the likes of breaking news. Somethings should be low key. His life is not everyones business. People who need to know about Mr. Jobs will find out either way.
This is not terrible news. Terrible news would be him staying on while he was sick and making it worse. The man is taking a really brief respite to rest after contracting an illness. That's what he's SUPPOSED to do.
Realty check: People get sick and they rest and then they get better. That's what's happening here.
If this were undiagnosed, or a really serious condition, or life threatening, or anything like that I'd have a different opinion. But as of right now all I see is a bunch of people trying to make a really big deal out of a relatively small thing in order to drive hits/sell newspapers.
Not that often and those who are ill enough to be at risk of death are usually hospitalized.
More to the point he has a disease that causes depression, fatigue, hair loss, urinary tract infections, and other embarassing conditions. So it makes perfect sense for him to stay at home to recover.
Other than he had Cancer 5 years ago what lines are you reading in between that makes you think he's sicker than he says?
The fact that he's taking a significant leave of absence makes me think maybe his doctors said "you have a one in X chance of beating this thing". Again, I really want to be wrong.
Are you kidding? You think things are so bad that it could be fatal yet he's just hangin' out at home? If something's that close to being fatal a person get's hospitalized.
Second this isn't a significant amount of time off. Perfectly healthy 53 year olds with millions of dollars in the bank take sabbaticals all the time.
No, it doesn’t. Hospitals have thousands of Doctors with all kinds of specialties along with millions of dollars of specialized equipment. People are hospitalized so they have quick access to all those Doctors depending on what happens to them. You can’t “bring a hospital to you”
Oh get real, of course they do. Do a Google search for “CEO takes a sabbatical” for Gods Sakes. One of my personal heroes in the tech industry was a guy named Brad Silverberg. He was #3 at Microsoft under only Gates and Ballmer and he took a year sabbatical to ride his bike of all things.
As far as "there’s always a reason" I have to ask: Have you looked at what the symptoms are for the disease he has? Fatigue, Hair Loss, Urinary Tract Infection, etc... I’d take a few months off if I were him. It doesn’t mean he’s any sicker than he says he is.
Taking another look at the now and then pictures, I'm inclined to believe the worst. It's a feeling based on a personal experience.
Extended weight loss isn't something that just happens. Granted with the surgery he's had, you do expect some effects as the GI system probably isn't as efficient as it once was. But given the care he's probably receiving, any minor issue should have been resolved. And for any workaholic to have to take time off means that it's probably something serious.
Even with the best care, you can only make a diagnosis based on what you know to test for. You can treat the symptoms but if the underlying cause isn't detected, the best you can do is prolong the inevitable.
Hope I'm wrong cause it's not anything I'd wish on anyone.
