I thought something like this would happen when Gates "invested" $150 million a few years ago ,pre iPod.
Within a couple of years at most,I predict there will be a new Windows release ,hopefully combining the best of Mac with the best of Windows.Perhaps Gates is behind this in order to salvage the Vista ? OS can be compared to the fuel in our cars;nearly every one uses gasoline that isn't much different from station to station.Sure the cars look (are) different but not what makes them go. Just as a few are willing to use diesel,electric or other variants,I suspect some will continue to use Mac,linux, or whatever works for them. The appliance user will simply use what ever is best marketed not necessarily what is best for the task.That is why millions commute alone in large 4 wheel drive trucks burning twice or three times the fuel needed to move them in the same comfort and speed.Marketing wins.
Apple will shortly become just another,albeit "cooler" brand of PC.
Gamers should probably enjoy whatever has already been converted ,the game publishers aren't likely to bother porting when all future machines are Windows compatible.Apple gamers and Apple power users now find themselves in the situation experienced by Amiga users in 1992 when the Amiga management blew it despite having jumped out ahead with the best video and graphics early in the 80s. You have to run like h--- just to stay in the race.
For those that didn't know it,Amiga had the first 32bit CD game console with video that whipped everything else,...but...Commodore execs had taken such huge salaries there wasn't money to properly market,nor build enough machines.They missed that years Christmas gift season and were bankrupt by the next one.The public doesn't buy what they don't hear/see.
If you look closely
at the functionality
of Windows Office,
which has Excel and
Word both programmable by
Visual Basic
for Applications,
you'll see that Windows is not
only marketing --
It's an amazing
delivery of code power
to "average" users.
Why would that drop in the bucket have any affect on Apple 10 years later? Apple had over $2 billion in cash in the bank when MS made that "investment."
When Gates was required by a lawsuit settlement that Microsoft LOST to purchase $150 million of Apple Preferred Stock (no vote), AND continue developing and selling Microsoft Office for Mac for an additional six years AND license certain patents from Apple (Apple was only required by the settlement to license those patents to MS), it can hardly be called an "investment." Microsoft sold that preferred stock on the open market a couple of years after.
The MacOS/Windows battle is now over;Apple has surrendered.
On the contrary, Apple just fired a shot across the bow of the MSS. Microsoft.