4 ms·

Gruber's dismissal of Ive as a candidate is pretty solidly based. I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote. I just don't think it's h

Gruber's dismissal of Ive as a candidate is pretty solidly based. I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote. I just don't think it's his kind of gig (and why should it be?)

Steko 15y ago
To play Ive's advocate here: Jobs probably wants people who speak at events to serve specific functions. The product visionary role is currently filled by Steve. You only do a few of these a year and you aren't going to buzzkill the free pub by running the understudy up there if the lead is available. Edit: The above is in regards to Ive being a private person and not liking the public speaking gig. Of course for all we know Steve is a private person and may not like the public speaking gig but he does it because it's a necessary function. The strongest argument for Ive of course is that what set's Apple apart from other companies is that it's design/product driven. See Steve's comments re: what happens when The Sales Guy ends up running the whole show. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf20041012_4018_db083.htm http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf200410... Obviously you can say "well Phil is The Sales Guy" (which is a bit of a dodge) and also that "Tim took over for Steve when he was totally unable to work" which is at least partially true (was he really doing everything Steve did?). So maybe Tim Cook can by a product visionary. Maybe Jon Ive can't. But if you start from this one small and very arguable given that Steve wants Apple to be led by a product visionary and not the sales/operations guy that leads you to Jon Ive being the best candidate. There's other evidence too of course, reports are the two are quite close on Apple campus although I imagine Tim Cook would qualify based on that criteria as well.
shaggyfrog 15y ago
Ive has certainly made appearances during keynote speeches before. Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s This idea that Steve can't possibly share the spotlight with Ive is absurd.
- podperson 15y ago
  Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.
  - shaggyfrog 15y ago
    You stated "I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote" and I was demonstrating this to be untrue. The idea that Steve Jobs can't be replaced by a single person is based on the requirement that Apple would have to continue on the exact same way. It won't. When a new CEO is appointed, it will be more of a "new normal".
    - Steko 15y ago
      This. And I think took much is made of the "waking up and Steve is totally gone" scenario despite health issues. More likely (and hopefully for his health) it will be Steve voluntarily giving up more and more control as the successor is tried out. We may be seeing some of that now, although I would say wait for a major product launch without him. That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over Gates was still heavily involved doing what he had always done.
      - gjm11 15y ago
        > That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over This is ... not obviously a recommendation.
- podperson 15y ago
  Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.

Gruber's dismissal of Ive as a candidate is pretty solidly based. I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote. I just don't think it's his kind of gig (and why should it be?)

Steko 15y ago

To play Ive's advocate here: Jobs probably wants people who speak at events to serve specific functions. The product visionary role is currently filled by Steve. You only do a few of these a year and you aren't going to buzzkill the free pub by running the understudy up there if the lead is available. Edit: The above is in regards to Ive being a private person and not liking the public speaking gig. Of course for all we know Steve is a private person and may not like the public speaking gig but he does it because it's a necessary function. The strongest argument for Ive of course is that what set's Apple apart from other companies is that it's design/product driven. See Steve's comments re: what happens when The Sales Guy ends up running the whole show. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf20041012_4018_db083.htm http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf200410... Obviously you can say "well Phil is The Sales Guy" (which is a bit of a dodge) and also that "Tim took over for Steve when he was totally unable to work" which is at least partially true (was he really doing everything Steve did?). So maybe Tim Cook can by a product visionary. Maybe Jon Ive can't. But if you start from this one small and very arguable given that Steve wants Apple to be led by a product visionary and not the sales/operations guy that leads you to Jon Ive being the best candidate. There's other evidence too of course, reports are the two are quite close on Apple campus although I imagine Tim Cook would qualify based on that criteria as well.

shaggyfrog 15y ago

Ive has certainly made appearances during keynote speeches before. Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s This idea that Steve can't possibly share the spotlight with Ive is absurd.

podperson 15y ago
Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.
- shaggyfrog 15y ago
  You stated "I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote" and I was demonstrating this to be untrue. The idea that Steve Jobs can't be replaced by a single person is based on the requirement that Apple would have to continue on the exact same way. It won't. When a new CEO is appointed, it will be more of a "new normal".
  - Steko 15y ago
    This. And I think took much is made of the "waking up and Steve is totally gone" scenario despite health issues. More likely (and hopefully for his health) it will be Steve voluntarily giving up more and more control as the successor is tried out. We may be seeing some of that now, although I would say wait for a major product launch without him. That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over Gates was still heavily involved doing what he had always done.
    - gjm11 15y ago
      > That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over This is ... not obviously a recommendation.
podperson 15y ago
Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.