Apple's iPad 2 day: Will Jobs show?
Apple's iPad event is set for lift off and a lot of speculation swirls around whether CEO Steve Jobs may show up for the event. BoomTown's Kara Swisher reports that Jobs is definitely considering an appearance at the iPad event, but plans aren't set yet. As you know, Jobs is on medical leave and tabloid speculation about the Apple CEO's battle with pancreatic cancer is rampant.
Swisher then urges the press to show respect and keep the focus on the iPad. Nice thought, but one that's highly unlikely. Why?
- A Jobs' appearance at an iPad event is a material event for Apple given the hubbub about succession planning.
- Jobs' appearance would also be notable since he didn't turn up at a shareholder meeting.
- And Apple's market cap would fluctuate based on Jobs' gait, appearance and armchair physicians trying to guess his weight.
In the end, there's little to no chance that anyone would focus on the actual iPad product if Jobs appears. Sure, he's playing a home game with the tech press in attendance, but rest assured Radar, National Enquirer and a bunch of others will have the Apple event staked out. That reality is why it's a bit hard to believe that Jobs would show up for any serious length of time. Jobs could show, but he---not the iPad---would be the main event. The attention on Jobs would be unavoidable given the billions of dollars riding on him.
Related: