Tom Smithson calls Apple CEO Steve Jobs "iconic." But he's confident the Cupertino company's future is solid regardless of who is in charge.

That certainty has taken on a new sense of urgency as concerns about Jobs' health have grown in recent weeks. Those worries were heightened when Apple announced that the company's charismatic co-founder would not deliver the keynote address – as he has done for the past 11 years – at the Macworld Conference and Expo, which begins Monday in San Francisco.

Five years ago, Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but later said he had been cured with surgery. Recently, though, Jobs has reportedly looked drawn and frail.

"I'm quite certain that there are very specific plans that have been put in place for continued success … for (whoever) takes over the company should (Jobs) not continue to do so," said Smithson, a technical adviser and former board member of the local Macintosh users group, MacNexus.

Some high-tech industry analysts have wondered what will happen to Apple if its high-profile chief executive is no longer running it. Rumors about Jobs' health caused Apple's stock to gyrate earlier this week.

It closed Friday at $90.75, up $5.40 but down from $194.84 a year ago.

Apple has declined to comment on Jobs' health. "If ever Steve or the board of directors decide that Steve isn't able to do his job, I'm sure they'll let you know," a company spokesman told Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

While Jobs is the public face of the company, Smithson said the company has grown and diversified to the point that it is more than one man's vision.

"Steve Jobs is iconic to Apple. On the other hand, I think people also need to realize that Apple is more than just one person," Smithson said. "It's a concept. It's a philosophy. It's an innovator that makes other technology companies look second class. One person is not responsible."

Bob White, membership chair of the local MacNexus group, said that while Jobs is the "voice" of Apple, "there are a few guys in the background who are making some good business decisions."

Should Jobs, 53, leave for whatever reason, White predicted "there might be a temporary burp in the stocks, but they'll keep on plugging along."

Still, Jobs' shadow hangs heavy over the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where Macworld is about to begin its five-day run.

Normally, Jobs' presence at the conference is the focus of the high-tech universe, and historically he has used the stage to unveil Apple's latest blockbuster product.

Jobs' commanding presence at Apple was illustrated Tuesday when Gizmodo.com, a popular tech and gadget Web site, posted a report quoting an anonymous source who said Jobs' health was "rapidly declining."

Within minutes, Apple stock dipped from $87.92 to $84.72. It rallied at the end of the day to close at $86.29.

Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group in San Jose, believes Apple could struggle if Jobs is not at the helm.

"Apple can't survive the way it is without Steve Jobs," Enderle said. "It will have to change dramatically, because it's been so designed around Steve."

Enderle pointed to Apple's struggles when Jobs left the company in 1985 after losing a power struggle with the board of directors.

"When he left the first time, they were burning too much cash," Enderle said. "Apple needs to find a way very quickly to restructure around a traditional model that isn't focused around one person."

But Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies Inc., a Silicon Valley market research firm, believes Apple is likely to prosper without Jobs.

"The fact of the matter is there are a lot of people at Apple who understand the Apple mentality, vision and direction," Bajarin said. "Apple wouldn't miss a beat (without Jobs). It would miss his stage persona, but the world goes on. Apple goes on."

Bajarin compared Apple's situation with the Walt Disney Co., in 1966, when co-founder Walt Disney was diagnosed with lung cancer. There was wide speculation about the company's future without Walt Disney, who died in December that year.

"The situation in the 1960s with Walt Disney would be the equivalent of what's going on at Apple, and the last time I was at Disneyland it looked like it was doing pretty good," Bajarin said.

Enderle, however, said Disney "had some very tough years as it tried to readjust" after its founder's death. It wasn't until Michael Eisner was hired as chief executive in 1984 that the company started turning around.

Call The Bee's Mark Glover, (916) 321-1184.