Reporters' Roundtable: Apple after Jobs

We all knew this day was coming, but it was still a huge shock when Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs announced on Wednesday that he is resigning his role as CEO. Saying, "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."

So he's stepping out of that role, and becoming chairman of the board at Apple. Tim Cook, Apple's COO, will take his place as CEO. This is a major shift. Apple, to many people, is Steve Jobs. But in reality, Apple is also designer Jonathan Ive, logistics expert Tim Cook (now CEO), iOS lead Scott Forstall, and nearly 50,000 other employees.

We're going to talk today about the future of Apple under its new leadership, with three great guests from CNET: Josh Lowensohn, Jay Greene, and Brian Cooley.

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Discussion points

Why are people acting like this announcement is a death notice? Let's decipher the outpouring of support and "tribute" pages.

Steve Jobs has a unique collection of gifts. Let's talk about them:

• vision
• taste
• salesmanship
• focus
• And, finally, secrecy.

How is it that Apple managed to turn out so many hits?

Who's this new guy, Tim Cook? What does he bring to Apple?

Maybe Tim Cook could have made the iMac. Could he have made the iPod and iTunes?

Jonathan Ive: How does he stay ahead? Materials? Design?

Who's the most Jobs-like CEO in tech? Ellison? Ballmer? Page? Zuckerberg?

Other CEOs have left their post and then returned, as Steve Jobs did. What's that like for companies? For employees? How do you actually manage to do it?

What's the next big push for Apple? TVs? Cars? The Web?

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• For Jobs, design is about more than aesthetics
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• Jobs resignation too soon for Apple shoppers
• With Jobs leaving, Apple's fans grapple with their faith
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates: It's complicated
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