Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84 chuqui version 1.7 9/23/84; site nsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!nsc!chuqui From: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) Newsgroups: net.micro.mac Subject: Re: Wither Steve Jobs? Message-ID: <2789@nsc.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Jun-85 00:15:46 EDT Article-I.D.: nsc.2789 Posted: Mon Jun 3 00:15:46 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 4-Jun-85 00:39:32 EDT References: <2784@nsc.UUCP> <1030033@acf4.UUCP> Reply-To: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) Organization: The Blue Parrot Lines: 66 Well, I have an update to my previous posting for people who don't read the paper. Steve Jobs has been relieved of all day-to-day management responsibilities by John Sculley. There has also been a major reorganization at Apple -- the Apple II and Macintosh groups have been dissolved and reformed on project lines (i.e a hardware tech could go from a IIc project to a Mac project, which never happened before). Steve Jobs, as I like to put it, has been made executive VP in charge of writing reports that nobody is in charge of reading... (*grin, steve, grin!*) Actually, the San Jose Mecury News said that Jobs was about to leave on an extended European business/pleasure trip, and that when he returns he will settle down into a position of defining what it means to be Apple, or some such. Reading between the lines it sounds like he has been promoted to executive PR and corporate cheerleader. Local press seems to be covering this event as both inevitable and a positive move for Apple. They cite problems with Jobs trying force the buying public in his position instead of trying to put together a product line that would sell (an example is the Macintosh fileserver, which Jobs was against and Sculley forced into development anyway). There are also comments about his stubborness and some of the personality conflicts that have been going on at Apple. Well, speaking for myself, I'm sorry to see the split between Apple and the people that made Apple what it is and the people who are going to try to keep it there. Apple, for those that don't remember, went from a garage startup to Fortune 500 in seven years -- this feat is not only unique in the history of business but will likely never be equalled. It takes a very strong person to get a company bootstrapped, but it takes a much different type of person to keep a company alive when the massive growth stops. Overall, I think the move is good for Apple. There has been a drain of needed resources recently (Wozniak is gone, and Apple has been losing other key people here and there); partially because of conflicts with Jobs; partially because of other factors. A lot of the turnover was in the Apple II ranks because, while they generate the majority of Apple's income and sales, they were being glossed over by the high PR Macintosh group. The reorganization should go far to heal these wounds and get the company pulling together again. I hope that bringing in the sales and marketing experience from the II group will bring pricing marketing in line on the Mac. With the Amiga and the vaporware Atari that keeps getting rumored, Apple is going to have to become more competive and more cognizant of their customers to continue their successes. By getting their resources to cooperate instead of compete, hopefully we'll see better products faster for BOTH the II and the Mac. If it is handled well, I think Apple will come out of this a stronger and better company. The only potential catch is that Jobs holds 13% of the stock, and if he decides to 'take his toys and go home' by unloading, then Apple definitely becomes a strong target for a merger or takeover. VArious companies, from GE to Dec, have been rumored to be interested, but the wrong company could kill the golden goose (if it is possible for the environment that makes Apple Apple to survive under the wing of a more traditional company management. Apple gets bought by IBM, and the programmers start wearing ties??? right...) Apple is in the process of changing from a startup company to a company that plans on being in the game 20 years from now. If it works, we have a long time competitor for IBM in the small machine market. If not, start practicing your MS-DOS... I think they're in good shape, though... -- :From the misfiring synapses of: Chuq Von Rospach {cbosgd,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo}!nsc!chuqui nsc!chuqui@decwrl.ARPA This space for rent. Political, religious and racist quotes need not apply.