سارے جہاں سے اچھا ہندوستاں ہمارا

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Steve Jobs' return to Apple Inc. after a nearly six-month medical leave is a quieter, more subdued return to the company he co-founded, compared with his triumphant return of more than a decade ago.

Back in 1996, when Jobs came back to Apple /quotes/comstock/15*!aapl/quotes/nls/aapl (AAPL 142.40, -0.04, -0.03%) through its acquisition of his company NeXT, his return ultimately heralded the comeback of a company that was losing both money and market share, and appeared near death's door.

This time around, it is the company's visionary leader who has had a brush with death and is now more aware of his own mortality, and how his absence might leave Apple in the future. As long-time Apple watcher Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies in Campbell, Calif., explains in this insightful piece in PC World, Jobs will likely focus more on what he sees for Apple in the long-term future, rather than the day-to-day.

"Surely he will not come back to Apple and work 40 to 60 hours a week again," Bajarin said. "Instead, I believe he will be around for the big decisions and help refine the projects that are already on the drawing board."

Indeed, Apple said on Monday that Jobs is currently at work a few days a week, and working from home the remaining days. See full story.

Bajarin also believes Jobs' real role upon returning will be to reinforce his vision, one that can span at least two decades. He noted that the iconic Walt Disney left a similar legacy behind at his Walt Disney Co. /quotes/comstock/13*!dis/quotes/nls/dis (DIS 23.75, +0.32, +1.37%) , with many long-term plans on the drawing board.

Let's hope that Bajarin is right.