PRESS RELEASE: Letter from Steve Jobs

August 24, 2011–To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Given his ongoing health situation, I think this is a pretty grim turn of events.

Edited August 24, 201114 yr by quartermainefan

I hope he is okay.

I hope that his health situation improves.

Seriously, I can't recall such a large company's fortunes being so dependent upon the health of one man. Everybody in the financial community panics at the thought of somebody else taking over Apple. (When Jobs briefly stepped down in the 90's, the company's fortunes nosedived.)

While I don't know all that much computers, I really can't understand why so much hoopla surrounds Apple and its products. Can somebody please explain this to me? Are they really that much better than their competition?