[tacticalogic]

Since the mid-80's, Apple has always been content -- indeed has always successfully aimed -- to supply a premium product to the high and mid-high end of their chosen markets. They produce the first successful "whatever", get a lot of airplay, seize some marketshare, and then as competitors copy their products, they yield the market (percentage-wise) while continuing to make a hell of a profit margin. Their competitors race to the bottom.

The article is not about the platform manufacturer being successful, it is about the developers being successful.

Assuming what you say is true, then the developers have to look at the potential return on developing for that platform. Developers sell "seats" and they don't care if it's a Barcalounger or a platic patio chair, they get the same return on either one. Market share may not matter to Apple, but it has to matter to those developers, because market share is seats.

[dayglored]

> Market share may not matter to Apple, but it has to matter to those developers, because market share is seats.

Yes, what you say is quite true in that regard.