SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 06: Apple CEO Steve Jobs delivers the keynote address at the 2011 Apple World Wide Developers Conference at the Moscone Center on June 6, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Apple CEO Steve Jobs returned from sick leave to introduce Apple’s new iCloud storage system and the next versions of Apple’s iOS and Mac OSX. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (CBS) — Steve Jobs has stepped down as the chief executive officer of Apple, saying he can no longer meet his duties and expectations.
Some of those shopping at the Apple Store at 679 N. Michigan Ave. expressed an initial “Wow,” but said it was not a surprise because of Jobs’ ongoing health issues.
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But those leaving the Apple Store were divided over the question of whether Apple can be Apple without Jobs at the helm.
“He started the company, then he left the company and then he came back,” said Toney Dimos, of Hobart, Ind. “While he was gone clearly Apple wasn’t the same, so it’s going to be interesting to see how Apple progresses. When he was gone there was nothing to write home about.”
Fred Beattie of Troy, Mich., said voting Tim Cook to succeed Jobs as Apple chief executive officer was the right move, and said Apple has many talented designers who now may get more credit.
“He seems like a very hands-on person and I’m shocked that he’s stepping down,” Beattie said. “But nobody can go on forever, unfortunately.”
Another man said Jobs’ legacy will not be clear until his hand-picked successors have a chance to lead the company.
Yet another man was direct. He said those owning Apple stock should sell it now.
