good luck Steve

Later Jobs.

According to reports, this isn't due to a sudden downturn in his health... Though his health remains as tenuous as it has been for the past year or so.

I suspect operations at Apple will continue much as they have recently, with His Jobness providing guidance while Tim Cook runs day-to-day operations. This is part of a gradual, orderly transition of power.

Yeah, I'm sure a company like Apple has the next 2 years of products already set in stone so they will be more than fine for a while even if Jobs was to leave for good.

It would be funny if he quite to work for Microsoft or something :)

Or fulfill his lifelong dream of being a circus conductor.

Jobs has gone on record as saying Apple is on a 20-year plan. Though you've gotta wonder how vague the plan is if it's trying to account for two decades of technological progress and market trends.

I beyond disagree with what you're saying. The market (and, in some cases, the court, :P) is and should be the only judge for a company's financial success or lack thereof. It is of no relevance whether you think Apple has become arrogant or that it puts profits above its consumers; as long as it is doing well financially on a constant basis (without, you know, doing anything illegal and the like), the consumers are clearly happy. If Apple takes a hit from this, it will be nothing like the N64 or the PS3. Those disasters took place because of the arrogance of Nintendo and Sony, respectively. If this hurts Apple, it will be a very artificial and, dare I say it, unfair injury. I mean, even if I hate Sony (for example), there's nothing to be happy about if the Great Earthquake caused them major losses since they weren't doing anything wrong to cause it - they just fell victim to circumstance. The same way, if and when Apple gets arrogant, the market should show it to them, not poor Jobs' health. This won't teach anyone any positive lesson. I mean, it would be just plain offensive if people start wishing for Miyamoto's death saying that "Nintendo has an unfair advantage with Mario. I'd feel bad for him, but they'll learn to control their arrogance if Miyamoto dies!"

Sure, there's really nothing I can objectively say against you if you just hate Apple's practices and want to celebrate Steve Jobs' poor health, but comparing such a loss to that of the N64 or PS3 is pretty inaccurate and seems quite nasty. Saying that it'll make Apple "respectable" sounds like a bad joke to me.

And, keep in mind that I say this more or less as an Apple hater and not some fanboy.

I wish him and his health well. He has resided over one of the largest growth periods in any companies history.