Apple w/o Jobs

I'm a big fan of apple. I've got a bunch of their products, including a macbook, iphone, couple ipods and the Nike+ thing that I never use (but glad I have just in case the mood strikes me to run to the beat of today's most popular songs). Anyway...I figured as one part of my hopefully diversified teamfolio (a term I'm trying to coin based on the idea that this is both a fantasy team and investment portfolio, but I digress)...I've always thought Apple would take the spot of "technology retailer".

However, a couple recent news tidbits to note:

#1. Steve Jobs is sick. (And my well wishes go out to both he and his family for a speedy recovery). At first, it was reported that he had a simple hormone deficiency. Now, it is being reported as complications from a previous surgery, essentially something more dangerous than previously noted. Either way, we are looking at the man who ran the show being unavailable for awhile. Now, one man does not a multi-billion dollar company make. But he was iconic, and some of Apple's successes are supposedly directly tied to his leadership. I'd like to make the comparison of Mike D'antoni/Mike Martz = Steve Jobs. And that makes Apple = any Phoenix or NYC basketball players or Rams/Lions/49er WRs or QBs. You get great production from any of those picks based on the leadership of D'antoni, Martz or Jobs. So now, what to do with Apple?? I don't want to pick up Marion without D'antoni or Az Hakim sans Martz. On to point #2...

#2. Apple posted better than expected financials today. They surprised the market. Wall Street expected only so-so production from them, instead we saw some decent numbers. Hmmm...more added to the mix...lastly...

#3. Apple didn't have a flashy new product release this year at MacWorld. Instead, they spoke of their DRM-free music. And all I see are articles about the low cost Netbooks competitors are providing.

So where does that leave me? Well I'm going to hold off on buying just yet. There's still some research I need to do. But I am leaning towards buy, even in the face of a missing CEO, low confidence on Wall Street and a lack of flashy products. And why?

Well I'm thinking their movie rental business is going to boom...and pretty soon the flashy and simple Apple TV is going to take over the world. And that will push this company even higher. But more research is needed on that topic and then I'll jump on in.