Rumors going around that he doesn't have much to live too.  

i think Apple's near $300b valuation should take care of the disease rumour even if it is true

he will be back for iPhone 5 announcement in June,atleast i hope so

Steve Jobs - he can sell a donkey to an auto dealer.

I thought he was dying. You don't survive pancreatic cancer.

Even though I hate Apple, I hope for the best for Mr. Jobs. 

And if it's the Enquirer, probably not.

No, they will just make him a cyborg with living tissue that acts like him. The average american wouldn't tell the difference 

I just realised that it's his bd too, happy birthday.

Never fear. Apple has secured his samples and will clone him when the time is right.

He's important because HE'S the one who boosted Apple from the ruins, HE'S the one who convinces things to consumers.

I mean sure the stuff they pump out is good, but if some not-as-good company, say... Sony, pumped out those SAME exact... stuffs and Apple didn't exist, they would not have sold them because they didn't have Steve Jobs. He's like the Gabe Newell of the electronics industry.

Hmm... I got your point. I mean, I hate Apple as much as the next guy [never bought an iPod, iTouch, iCrap, iSuck...] or any sort of Mac computer, but I've gotta give credit to Jobs. The way he's perceived, and the fact that so many people idolize and listen to him makes him a success in my book.

It's like.. he worked himself up to the popularity is today. Now, if you see his name or Apple's name on anything, it's guaranteed at least 5 Million Sales. Also, the fact that he's Steve Jobs gives him the right to practically do anything that he wants that other companies would not be able to get away with. If he developed a game and charged $20 for every DLC that came out, I'm sure he would completely get away with it, and Acti's barely getting away with $15.

I guess it doesn't have to do as whether he led Apple to greatness or not, it has to do with the fact that he worked himself to become so popular, that he is now the mascot of Apple and whenever he presents something, people will cheer [like Kevin Butler].