Steve Jobs Takes Leave of Absence

Today Steve announced, "....during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought... In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June."

The Stock fell 8% in after hours.

Steve led Apple over the last decade or so to great heights. But should we expect that Apple will not be able to keep producing great products without him? I don't think so. Indeed, it was not Steve who came up with the click wheel. Or the design for the iBook's, iMac's. etc.

Apple has a great industrial design team for that. Jonathan Ives who designed the most of the hit products for Apple is a cult figure himself (more popular in the UK that JK Rowlings. See article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3481599.stm ).

What Steve did well was able to identify good design and not let it be ruined by what is known as "design by committee" (DbyC). DbyC or its sister, design by programmers (what Microsoft does) takes even good designs and dilutes them till they are indistinguishable from bad ones.

If you look at the stunning growth in Apple you realize that Steve has educated all of us about good design. He has taught all those who love their ipods and the iphones, that design matters. That technology doesn't have to be dull, but can have a style and sensibility, that makes these objects of affection; "cool" rather than just tools that make our lives more efficient (which they do as well).

If he could have taught all this to us, the general public, it seems likely that those that have been closest to him, those that have actually made the designs that he then pushed forward (or modified) know this too.

I believe that Steve has, over the last decade, put in place a brand which such a strong sense of style that the products that will be coming out of apple are almost obvious. So, for example, a larger iphone type tablet device, in the range of 8 to 9 inches diagonally, is on its way sometime this year. How can I be sure? Place all the apple devices that apple has current from the smallest (the ipod nano) to the largest (the plasma display) and you will notice a gap in the size in this range. More on this anther time...

My point is this. As long as Apple does not fall for DbyC, they should be fine, with or with out Steve. And I don't think they will fall for DbyC, because if I'm telling you about it, its such an obvious trap that the smart people at Apple will know about it too!