iPad 2 Without Steve Jobs? (APPL, SSNLF, DELL, MSI, RIMM, HPQ)

Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) might proceed with the unveiling of the iPad 2 without previous frontman Steve Jobs. The second generation iPad is scheduled to be revealed on Wednesday, and this could possibly be the first Apple product release without Jobs.

Jobs, Apple's founder and chief executive, took an indefinite medical leave last month, with Apple's COO, Tim Cook, leading Apple in Jobs' absence. While Cook has been successful as a leader thus far, his marketing skills have not quite been tested as they will be on Wednesday, should he be the one to launch the new iPad. Marketing is an area of expertise of Jobs. With Apple no longer alone in the tablet market, the success of the iPad depends largely on the marketing of the product.

Until very recently, aside from Apple, the only companies selling tablets were Samsung Electrics (OTC: SSNLF) and Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL). Motorola (NYSE: MSI) has just released the Xoom. RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) are set to release tablets this year as well. Apple is in the midst of launching its sophomore tablet, while many other companies are launching their first product.

Nobody has yet to compare to the success that Apple has achieved with the iPad. Apple sold approximately 15 million iPads in 2010.

"Apple has secured an incredible time-to-market advantage over its rivals. It's difficult to see how rivals are going to catch up with the iPad anytime soon," said Ben Wood, head of research at CCS Insight.