Apple CEO Tim Cook interview with Business Week

For this week’s cover story on Apple (AAPL) and its future, I spent some time with Tim Cook, who said far more than was ever going to make it into the story. Or even the outtakes from the story. So for even more Tim Cook, here’s the transcript of the entire interview, edited only for clarity.

To set the scene: We met late on a Thursday morning, two days after Cook stood onstage at Apple’s Town Hall auditorium in Cupertino, Calif. We sat in a not-huge conference room adjacent to Cook’s office. Cook entered, wearing a navy polo shirt and dark trousers.

Here’s something about Cook that may tell you something: Some executives, when you go to interview them, kind of walk into the room, say “Hi,” and look to you to get things going. Not Cook. He strides in with a warm smile and firm handshake and immediately starts asking questions: What did you think of Tuesday’s event? Tell me what you think about the new phones—have you had a chance to use them?

That’s why this interview starts somewhat abruptly: We had already been kibitzing a bit before we actually “began” the interview. Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Here’s the conversation: