It's a slightly fatuous question.

Do you mean "[in a world where Samsung or Dell had a public personality like Steve Jobs] would they remove the products from their landing page?" or do you mean "[if Michael Dell died] would Dell remove their products from the landing page?"

If they had someone like Steve they definitely would. They don't, so it doesn't matter.

I think he means "[if Michael Dell died] would Dell remove their products from the landing page?". Dell does not have a personality like Apple did.

How about, if Tim Cook died, would Apple do the same?

If I remember correctly (I'm not totally sure), a few years ago Apple had a full page tribute when one of their directors died. So I'd say yes, probably.

EDIT: This was it: http://mashable.com/2010/03/18/jerome-york-tribute/

They had a full page tribute when George Harrison died. But I guess being one of the Beatles justifies special commendation.

I might argue that this makes as much financial sense as it does compassionate sense. Reminding everybody about Steve Jobs being the "heart of the company" every so often is probably very good for Apple's business.

First and foremost - they know that it wont stop one person from buying -- eventually, even if, arguendo, it would temporarily stop someone, if they watch Steve's message they will get the company DNA so sooner or later they will convert them.

Second, money is not always everything. You know H&N the biggest New York tech shop -- multiple stores high, automated baskets flying everywhere, a product's catalog of 1,500 pages, things you can buy there that you didnt know exist. They always full easily making half a mil in profit a day. You know they close their doors every single Friday for religious purposes, regardless of what their customers think.

I think you mean B&H?

H&M is the fashion stop.

B&N is the book stop.

B&H is the tech stop.

There's no personality cult around any CEO like there was around the Steve.

Perhpas not in the tech industry. Bill Gates is pretty legendary in his own rights. I remember when growing up, he was the man you wanted to be. Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Phill Knight, Michael Bloomberg, and I'm sure plenty of other CEOs have a pretty good "personality cult" Perhaps not as cultish as Steve Jobs, but still very legendary and an important face to their company and industry nonetheless.

Walt Disney, too.

Absolutely, Warren Buffett as well. We could go way back too, what about Rockefeller, Carnegie, William Randolph Hearst, J.P. Morgan, the Vanderbilts et al.

Jack Welch is pretty much the most famous example of this.

Well, don't forget about Elon Musk.

With all due respect, outside HN he is nowhere near level of Steve Jobs "fame".

He should be, again with all due respect to Steve.

And perhaps one day he will, if any of his amazing ventures pays off.

Perhaps he's the only CEO right now that has audacious plans for the future, just like Steve! RIP Steve

"It's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities...[with humanity]... that yields us the result that makes our heart sing"

Microsoft might do it if it was Bill who passed away? Don´t you think?

Absolutely, but not Ballmer! Sorry, was that mean?

Would they? Microsoft worked very hard for a long time to make it clear that they could continue without Bill. He might get a 'tile' on the new home page, or one of the banner images, but do you really think Microsoft would shut down their home page like that? (I don't think so)

I was making a joke. To debate how one of the greatest tech leaders in the world would be honored on a webpage if they were to pass at the height of their career is quite foolish and mundane. Microsoft WOULD probably take a more corporate standpoint and not flog a leader like a cultist to be honest, but I wouldn't argue it.

Let's be honest, Apple didn't shut down their home page. There's a very visible "X" in the corner that can disable this immediately.

It's certainly a touching tribute, but let's not act like Apple is sacrificing significant revenue (which is looks like some people are assuming).

The letter from Cook brings the spotlight back onto Apple's products.

/endrant

The video was really good though :)

I'm sure they would do somethign, but probably not a total takeover of the page. Bill is a great man that had probably done more "good" than Steve actually.

the products were front and center in the video