Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 8:22:13 AM

Since the demise of Steve Jobs I have watched the new leadership decimate a great company that makes great products.  Investors clearly understand that the company is more interested in social issues and less focused on innovation.  The Apple watch is a bust, at least compared to the prior products like the ipad, Mac, etc.  My only regret is not shorting their stock.  If the Board wakes up and gets rid of their current CEO and installs someone who will put an end to the madness then maybe they can recover.  But looking at the composition of their Board I would not hold your breath.  Tough times ahead and if they slip far enough watch out for a hostile takeover.  Would love to see Larry Ellison buy them and get rid of the dead weight.

Name:	au67 -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 9:29:24 AM

It always appeared to me that Tim Cook's top priority was his "coming out" party.  I can't fully understand the mindset that feels the need to discuss your sexual preferences in public forum.  Apple isn't the first nor the last to be hijacked by the social issues crowd.  Unless they (Apple) can swing a government bailout for good intentions, the shareholders will hopefully determine their fate. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 9:49:27 AM

Say what you want about Steve Jobs, he was focused like a laser beam on innovation and marketing and could care less about social justice, gay pride, etc.  And I find it very hard to believe he would endorse a computer/electronics company building an electric car.  He knew what Apple was good at and he focused on that.  All the rest of it would be set aside as meaningless and nonsensical.  Not so with the current management team obviously suffering from hubris.  This is really about vision, leadership and focus and the current leadership lacks all three and they are suffering as a result.  Like you I could care less about the CEO's sexual orientation but I can assure you if he gets canned he will play the aggrieved card in no time flat.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 10:36:42 AM

Bring Steve Jobs back from the dead. 

You are right, he was laser focused on their products.  Sometimes personality can carry a company a long way, but when that person is gone, the company goes downhill. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 11:23:20 AM

We can always watch the movie.  I read the biography about him and he was a complex guy but brilliant when it came to product development and marketing.  Sadly that attribute isn't often passed on to the next generation of management usually as a result of a flaw in a leader like Jobs.  Just imagine, all the great products they introduced after his death were his ideas.  Since then its been meh.....

I saw a talk one time by Jack Welch and he was asked a question about some recent (at the time anyway) compensation packages that companies like Home Depot had to pay to attract CEO talent.  His response was I think right on target.  He said don't blame the guy coming in the door, blame the Board and prior c-suite leadership for not cultivating talent to take over.  You need to pay top dollar to get top talent to leave their current position and take the risk. He pointed out the GE had three great options to replace him and when one was picked, the other two left to be very successful CEO's of other multinationals.  That Apple is in this position is the fault of Jobs and the Board, especially the outside members responsible for succession planning.  But all you have to do is look at the composition of Apple's board and you will see a lot of people more interested in social experimentation and politics rather than business.  They were probably all congratulating each other over their enlightened and tolerant choice while the employees and shareholders got screwed.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 11:31:37 AM

Jobs didn't ask his customers what they wanted.  They were too stupid to query.

He created what they did not know they wanted and sold it to them.  And they were happy.

The man/lady or manlady at the helm does all the steering.

The future of Apple?  Compare to who is at the helm of America.

Did you see Carly dive HP into the dirt?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Watching Apple slip into oblivion
Date:	10/13/2015 8:26:25 PM

Blame the Millenials for this concept of business/social responsibility/experimentation.  These are the same people that got a medal just for showing up.  They were raised to be "enlightened" consumers and as a result become those kinds of leaders.  Steve Jobs was extremely competitive, as well as being a visionary.