Re: Apple, Jobs, and the irony of it

[Richard Kilpatrick <richard@dmc12.demon.co.uk>]

In message <qhd6ezzff7.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com>, Eric Smith 
<eric-no-spam-for-me@brouhaha.com> writes

> Wrong.  It's the shareholders' company, of which he owns only a small
> fraction.

And those shareholders wouldn't, at this point, own those shares were it 
not for the existence of the company.

> The board of directors is responsible for appointing top
> executives and compensating them so as to maximize shareholder value.
> If the board members fail to do this, they can be voted out, or in some
> cases may be personally liable for breach of fiduciary responsibility.

And he hasn't been voted out, neither have his board members. Clearly, 
the shareholders recognise the contribution that Jobs made and makes to 
Apple.

> Your opinion and a share of stock will get you about a hundred millionth
> of the say in running the company.

Eh? I don't own Apple shares.

> I think it's safe to say that most
> shareholders think he should be paid the minimum necessary to retain his
> services (without compromising the value of those services).

Maybe he is.

*shrugs*

It's not my business. I just see people whinging. I thought it was us 
Brits who were supposed to do that.

Regardless of what people in this thread may want to complain about, 
Apple's CEO is paid what he is paid. That's his, and his company, and 
his shareholder's business. I think he deserves it. He turned Apple 
around when it was making some of the worst computers it had ever 
produced - things like the IIsi, the 5200, and the Performa range - and 
introduced stylish 'lifestyle' appliances that also delivered reasonable 
performance - and he marketed them successfully /despite/ the 
performance shortfall over PCs and the lack of software in stores 
(especially in the UK). The G5 is 'insanely great' - it is the most 
powerful computer /anyone/ should be able to buy over the shelf, use 
right away - no assembly required, no shopping for cases, motherboards 
and such. In real terms it is probably cheaper than a Multia was.

Suck it up guys. Apple is as great now as it ever was. It won me back 
with the iMac and now I have a G4 and an iBook, and plan to get a G5 
next year. Whilst as a geek, I'm interested in the tech and the claims, 
as a consumer, I think that Apple /are/ offering something new and more 
accessible, and it's the consumers that count for the shareholders.

Maybe /that's/ why Jobs is worth the cash.

Richard
--
Richard Kilpatrick, long haired prophet of doom.      |\      _,,,---,,_
Musical suicide - www.mp3.com/RichardKilpatrick      /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,
Work: Icon Publications, Group Sales Manager        |,4-  ) )-,_. ,\ (  `'::.
Homepage:  http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/          '----''(_/--'  `-'\_)Morticia