Ever since Steve Jobs’ first medical leave in 2004, analysts and shareholders alike have been asking one question: what will Apple do once he leaves? It’s a well-known fact that not only is Jobs the face of Apple, but also one of the driving forces behind it. He has a much more hands-on approach than other CEOs, and his perfectionism has time and time again led Apple to massive successes and inroads into the consumer market and mindshare.

To really understand Jobs’ impact on Apple and the technology industry as a whole, you have to look at the various products and projects he’s pioneered. Ever since Steve co-founded Apple in 1976, he and his company has had one goal—to make the highest-quality computers around. They’ve consistently achieved this goal with the Mac.

Steve has also headed up products like the iPod. Not only is the iPod line of devices one of the best-selling products in history, it also changed the face of music forever. Sure, there were MP3 players before it, but Apple took it to a whole new level. Jobs and company also released iLife suite, including iTunes, alongside the iPod. Both products elevated a dead-end product into a highly intuitive and polished experience.

Apple’s next big-hitter was the iPhone. It has undeniably changed the course of mobile history and had set the standard for what a phone should look like and how it should work. Without the hard work of Steve and the rest of the Apple team, we may still be stuck with Treos and Bolds; that’s not something anybody wants.

Finally, Apple released the iPad. While not an especially revolutionary product in and of itself, the iPad took what seemed like a dead product and turned it into one of the fastest selling products in history. Whether or not you understand the premise of it, the effects it’s had on the industry are undeniable.

So with this in mind, will Apple be the same once Steve leaves? The answer to this question is pretty murky.

Jobs is really the visionary behind Apple. He has his team of engineers plan and design every single device they put out. There’s no doubt that that team will be able to function without him, but whether or not they will be as successful without Steve’s vision of the future is difficult to answer.

I honestly don’t see Apple’s momentum slowing down any time soon. Their products will sell regardless of whether or not Steve is at the helm, if only because of the massive brand power they have right now. Each one of their products is massively successful in the consumer market, and Apple as a whole understands this. The engineering team will continue to put together incredible products and they will continue to turn a profit.

However, I dont know whether or not they can stay ahead-of-the-curve without Steve. They will continue to grow in the short-term, but as time goes on and consumer needs change they may not be able to innovate as much.

In the short-term, Apple will continue on without him, but as time goes on, their empire may begin to crumble from under them. I firmly believe they will push out world-class products regardless of who’s in charge, but they may begin to slip. Steve changed the company, and likewise, his departure will signal a change for Apple as well.