[Keith in Iowa]

>>>The interesting question is whether Apple will pass Microsoft.<<<

They could if they'd let their intel-compatible OS X be sold "over the counter" as a boxed software item rather than limiting it to mostly proprietary hardware.

[goldstategop]

Apple feels the hardware and software should both be designed from the ground up to work together. This means everything is more expensive and software choices are going to be more limited. But there are none of the conflicts that annoy Windows users - like the infamous blue screen of death caused by buggy software or an outdated device driver. With Apple, it just works. With a Windows PC, it can take some guesswork figuring out why your computer randomly crashes and then spending the $$$ to get it working again. Your choice.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")