'This is a Man Who Leaves Nothing to Chance'

Rich Binell, who worked at Apple Inc. for eight years, isn't worried about the impact of Steve Jobs' decision to resign as Apple's CEO. In fact, he's optimistic about the company's future.

“Jobs is still chairman of the board and will be until he no longer breathes,” said Binell, strategic copywriter at Get Rich Quick Inc. “The good news is that he saw what happened the first time he left Apple when John Sculley came in and screwed up everything. But Jobs was forced out the first time. This time he’s leaving by plan, and this is a man who leaves nothing to chance.”

After 14 years spent transforming Apple into the world’s largest technology corporation, Jobs announced today that he is turning the power over to his second-in-command, Apple's former chief operating officer, Tim Cook.  

“The world is lucky Jobs did the things he did and is the person he is,” said Binell. “He almost single-handedly raised the standards for computers in the world, and for that, everyone who uses a computer of any kind should be grateful. I’m astonished that one person could have such an incredibly positive influence over something that is so important in our lives. Before he brought the Macintosh to the market, computers were just electronic typewriters. He changed everything. Then he revolutionized printing, movies, networking, music and telephones. He put a computer in your pocket.”

The store in hugely popular among locals, who consider the shop a home away from home. The clientele includes teens and tweens hanging out with their friends, moms who come in to take classes while their kids are at school and, of course, serious techies. Before new products hit the shelves, the line of people waiting to snatch up the latest and greatest gadgets stretches down North Santa Cruz Avenue for blocks.

Heidi Rehbock, owner of  across the street from the Apple Store, is equally positive. “First of all, staying on as chairman of the board is huge,” said Rehbock. “Steve Jobs is Apple, so that’s going to keep a lot of people’s confidence in the company. He’ll still have his pulse on the company, and if he comes up with a great idea, he’s still going to have everybody’s ear." 

Rehbock adds that because Tim Cook stepped in during the Silicon Valley luminary’s two medical leaves, the transition to CEO will be seamless. “Essentially Cook has been doing that job.”

Los Gatos resident Amie-Sue Caplain expressed sadness over Jobs' departure and his health problems, which she believed were the cause of his resignation. "I do believe his absence will have a negative impact on the company, simply because he is such a visionary," she said.