To add to my prediction above of Microsoft "returning" to glory ~2015, I just want to say that does NOT mean I think that Apple will go down hill!
Quite the contrary this time around.
Never forget that Apple's fortunes turned on a very simple wisdom from SJ, to paraphrase: "Microsoft does not have to lose, for Apple to win".
Apple wins every single day with Microsoft on the market. It allows Apple's products and software to be a barometer of excellence, thus being "worth more", and thus adding to Apple's bottom-line.
Without that barometer, Apple quite possibly would be requested quite strongly to lower their prices, "open up" their platforms, be continually harassed by the DOJ and Feds... and the list could go on.
Apple has a unique advantage of being able to remain under absolute control of their products and OSes, and reply, "you do not need to buy our products if you're not happy with our philosophy. MS or Google's partners will be glad to take your business".
I don't think we should underestimate that, nor Microsoft for that matter.
However.... please toss aside the assumption that Apple needs Microsoft or Google to be able to innovate their products further.
As with all things tech, the undeniable genius of SJ and the lack of his vision going forward... well... they say, "Never say never"... and "the only constant is change".
Comments
To add to my prediction above of Microsoft "returning" to glory ~2015, I just want to say that does NOT mean I think that Apple will go down hill!
Quite the contrary this time around.
Never forget that Apple's fortunes turned on a very simple wisdom from SJ, to paraphrase: "Microsoft does not have to lose, for Apple to win".
Apple wins every single day with Microsoft on the market. It allows Apple's products and software to be a barometer of excellence, thus being "worth more", and thus adding to Apple's bottom-line.
Without that barometer, Apple quite possibly would be requested quite strongly to lower their prices, "open up" their platforms, be continually harassed by the DOJ and Feds... and the list could go on.
Apple has a unique advantage of being able to remain under absolute control of their products and OSes, and reply, "you do not need to buy our products if you're not happy with our philosophy. MS or Google's partners will be glad to take your business".
I don't think we should underestimate that, nor Microsoft for that matter.
However.... please toss aside the assumption that Apple needs Microsoft or Google to be able to innovate their products further.
As with all things tech, the undeniable genius of SJ and the lack of his vision going forward... well... they say, "Never say never"... and "the only constant is change".