I’m saddened but not entirely surprised to learn that Steve Jobs is retiring as Apple’s CEO. His resignation letter hints that his persistent health troubles have not improved and may have worsened. While I don’t consider myself an Apple devotee, Jobs deserves piles of credit for transforming a marginalized computer company into an iconic brand that churns out elegantly designed and inherently cool products. Without Jobs, the personal computer might still be stuck in the “beige box” era. Jobs demanded products that melded form and function, a design ethos that can now be seen in electronics, cars, furniture, and any number of consumer goods.
Apple will likely continue to prosper. Jobs hand-picked its management team and it’s nearly unthinkable that they could damage a company with so much momentum. And Jobs will continue to exert his influence for at least a while longer. Heck, he still might persuade me to switch to a Mac one day.
