The last time Jobs left Apple in '85, it went into decline from 1985-1997. Microsoft bought a big chunk of the company, and were on the way of the dinosaurs. When he returned to Apple in 97, he almost single handily turned around their fortunes. I remember in the 90's, Mac was NOT COOL! and were living on their early days glories. Geeks still loved them though.
With the introduction of better hardware, and beginning to improve their compatabiltes with other OS's and manufactures they marched on. With the advent of digital music, came Ipods, I phones, I pads etc. Apple became the forerunner in popular hardware. I fear for Apple now, as Jobs was 1 of a kind. Imagine WWE without Vince McMahon. Internal politics and this latest BS with samsung maybe the start of their own implosion. Or maybe a new generation of guys will step up, and innovate new idea's. Interesting times for Apple.