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Speaking of Wozniak:

"Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is excited about Microsoft.

Yes, even more excited than when he happened to wonder whether Microsoft had re-incarnated Steve Jobs in order to create its new Windows Phones."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57468917-71/woz-maybe-microsoft-is-a-different-company-now/?tag=nl.e019

Now, when it comes to targeting customers, I'm targeting the whole universe of media consumers, and not just those who use Windows. When I mention "write once, run anywhere", I'm not talking about a specific programming language; I'm talking about creating a system that can be used by all platforms, including all OSes and all browsers. With HTML5 and CSS3, I hope to make the application work well with all, or most, environments. My pages have already been using CSS2, and lately, CSS3. The only problem which I have, and which I'll have to tackle in the future, is the original language which I used to create the system, that being ASP 3, which is outdated and not as capable as the full-fledged ASP.Net using C#, and the scripting is also not as capable as the newer versions of JavaScript. I wrote most of the system about 6 years ago, when VBScript and Visual Basic were still somewhat popular. I had neglected the system for a few years, until recently, when I decided to try to revive the idea and system.

When it comes to Apple being "bigger", NO!, it's not! Microsoft is much larger, in the number of products and applications and usage and variety or products and services. Apple is "bigger" only in market cap, and a lot of that is due to all the hype surrounding Apple's current success. But, they're not a company that is well-positioned for the future, with basically, three major products, those being the iPhone and iPad and Macs; the iCloud and apps/iTunes stores are just support for those 3 products.

When it comes to the "high-end" market, yeah, they do have the "higher" priced products, but, not necessarily superior line of products. They look nice, and work quite well, but, they're not really any better than comparable products from other manufacturers that offer their products at much lower prices. High-end Apple products are just higher-priced, and not superior, like a Lexus might be considered superior to a Ford Focus.

When it comes to smartphones, I never stated that I will be skipping them. What I will be "skipping" is, targeting a specific smartphone platform, and the idea, which I already mentioned, is to try to "write once, run anywhere", with tweaking for specific platforms where necessary. As far as I can tell, writing applications for web servers is a very generic process, and, if the application works in one browser, it should work on all other browsers, even on the tiny screens.

Java never appealed to me, and neither have a lot of other languages. I've seen too many languages come and go, and so, I don't concentrate my work on any specific language. Unfortunately, with the internet, you have to go with whatever is popular at the moment, and a decade ago ago, it was Visual Basic and VBScript for web applications.

Also, as far as I know, IE is still, by far, the most used web browser on the market, even if at times, Chrome has had more traffic. But, Chrome, which now is apparently the number 2 browser, is still about half the user base as IE, and that 15% that you mentioned for IE is very far off the actual figures.

One thing which I didn't mention is that, my testing is done primarily using FF, and the pages which I did screencaps for, were all done from FF testing. IE is just another one of the browsers being targeted, and not my main browser for usage or even testing. BTW, during my testing with browsers, the one which I have the most problems with, is Safari, so I've put them off as a "future project", where I'll try to make my system play nicely in Safari. It was more problems than it was worth.

BTW, Apple may be selling many millions of iPads, but, laptops are still, by far, outselling all tablets combined. In fact, tablets may never overtake laptops in sales, especially when the laptops are becoming more tablet-like with ultrabooks, and tablets are becoming more laptop-like with added features. The iPad could become a thing of the past in a few years, when the ultrabooks make them redundant and impractical. Some people look at the Surface tablet as a tinier ultrabook, but with a lot more power than any tablet could ever hope to have.

And, what do you mean by "Windows isn't doing well"? Windows 7 just surpassed the 630 million licenses sold mark. If that isn't success, then you must be living on a different planet. Windows is still used around the world, and on about 1 1/2 to 2 billion computers. Windows is not just Windows 7, since, WinXP and Win2000 and even earlier versions are still in use. That is the most successful computer product in the history of man, and a refresh cycle is coming with Windows 8, which is going to be the most popular OS ever, especially with the upgrade prices of $40, which will be tempting to all of those still holding on to their XP and Win2000 OSes. So, I gotta keep scratching my head about what you meant by "Windows not doing well", since, it's still the most popular OS, by far, in the known universe.

Also, because MS did not do well in the mobile space in the past, is no reason to discount them in the future. Apple is not discounting them, and neither is Google, and the Surface and WP8 devices will be giving Apple and Google some big worries in the coming years. In fact, I expect that, the Surface tablets will overtake the iPads in the next 2 years, and that WP8 will become the number one smartphone OS in about 2-3 years.

The Intel-based Surface, is already getting a lot of corporate executives excited, and iPads in the business environment will be something that, only occurred in the absence of a real competitor, which the Surface is now.

When it comes to Apple thinking ahead, well, they're behind right now, with the Surface tablets scheduled to start eating Apple's lunch, and Apple still tweaking their iOS and not really doing much else, other than just tweaking their 3 basic products, and relaunching each tweak as a new sales cycle. Apple is NOT doing enough in research, and it will be proven in the next two years. Microsoft spends many times as much on research, and it's busy acquiring other companies which will add to it's products and services lineup. Apple has been, basically, standing still when it comes to product development, even as they continue to get great sales, and a huge market cap. That will, eventually, have an effect on their bottom line, and on their market cap.

You might think it's inconceivable, but, I see Apple as the RIM and the PALM of the next few years.

The only are where Apple outclasses Microsoft, is in marketing and hype. When it comes to products and services, and in the variety of those services and products, Microsoft outclasses Apple.

I'm talking about creating a system that can be used by all platforms, including all OSes and all browsers. With HTML5 and CSS3

Then I hope you're not targeting IE 8, or especially 7. They are horrible at CSS, and especially when you start scripting.

When it comes to Apple being "bigger", NO!, it's not!

We were talking about using muscle to be able to push a new product. Apple has more money, and is the dominating manufacturer in smart phones, tablets, and music players. If Apple believed in the loss-leader, they can afford to do far more than Microsoft. But they won't. Apple believes in profit from day one (something I like from a company).

with basically, three major products, those being the iPhone and iPad and Macs; the iCloud and apps/iTunes stores are just support for those 3 products.

Again, then admit Microsoft has one major product -- the XBox 360. Everything else is support for that. Oh, Windows and Office? You weren't counting software for Apple, so you don't get to count them for Microsoft.

They look nice, and work quite well, but, they're not really any better than comparable products from other manufacturers that offer their products at much lower prices.

Remember my friend? The iMac was clearly superior to all the cheap plastic PC offerings. When it comes to high-end slim notebook PCs, others do start to compete, but then they're around the same price too, or more.

High-end Apple products are just higher-priced, and not superior, like a Lexus might be considered superior to a Ford Focus.

The workmanship and attention to detail is clearly superior.

if the application works in one browser, it should work on all other browsers, even on the tiny screens.

Only in the dreams of every web designer. Reality is different. Recently, a company said it looked at the $100,000 cost to write an IE version of their web site, so they just decided not to support IE.

Also, as far as I know, IE is still, by far, the most used web browser on the market,

I think I was wrong on the 15%, maybe. On desktop IE still has about 50% and still dropping. On mobile, IE is mixed in with the 15% "Other" category, not even enough to register as itself. The problem here is that browser stats depend on the source, and different demographics can be visiting sites tracked by the different sources.

However, one course that shows IE at 54% desktop also shows Safari at 65% on the mobile. That's more than IE has on the desktop, and after only five years on the market.

Also, because MS did not do well in the mobile space in the past, is no reason to discount them in the future.

Microsoft did do well, once, at least in the US (Nokia owned the non-US smartphone market). Then Microsoft lost it -- twice. The problem with your prediction is you need to give a really good reason why Microsoft's proven losing trend should end. You also give no really good reason why Apple's proven winning trend should end. You're basing everything on press releases.

BTW, during my testing with browsers, the one which I have the most problems with, is Safari

If you're developing for mobile, and you as you say develop for the most common, then Safari would be it -- 65% remember? In any case, Safari is not the best browser, or the most standards-compliant. However, it is near the top, far above IE, about equal to Firefox depending on the aspect of standards you're looking at.

When it comes to Apple thinking ahead, well, they're behind right now, with the Surface tablets scheduled to start eating Apple's lunch

Surface is just an attempt to copy the iPad. How is that thinking ahead on Microsoft's part? And behind right now? Surface isn't even out yet. The copy of Apple's product hasn't even hit the market!

That is the most successful computer product in the history of man

Thank IBM and Compaq for that, not innovation on Microsoft's part.

Microsoft spends many times as much on research, and it's busy acquiring other companies which will add to it's products and services lineup.

Like that online ad company aQuantive. That was a great $6.3 billion wasted. Apple bought an online ad company too, for under $300 million. They're reaping the profits now with iAd. It's one thing to buy a company, it's another to successfully integrate it into your product strategy to improve your products and make money. Or how about that loss of half a billion buying Danger, then to use it to release that disaster known as the Kin?

Meanwhile, Apple buys chip designers, NAND flash storage accelerators, mapping companies, and gesture recognition companies -- all of which have seriously or definitely soon will add to Apple's products and profits. Basically, Apple has a better hit to miss ratio on buying companies.

Apple has been, basically, standing still when it comes to product development

Again, I guess Apple revolutionizing four markets in only a decade isn't enough for you? Name one market Microsoft has revolutionized in the last decade. No? Okay, how about an easier one: Name four markets that Apple revolutionized, and that Microsoft failed in their attempt to copy. I can:

iPod -- Zune struggled for a few years, then discontinued
iTunes Store -- Microsoft's few attempts have never gained traction
iPhone -- Windows Mobile 6.5 was a pathetic attempt to go touch, Kin was a disaster, Windows 7 Phone was a stop-gap failure
iPad -- HP and Microsoft debuted the Slate at CES two months before the iPad came out. It ran a touch-based Windows 7 and was generally like the x86 Surface. Then the iPad came out. HP realized the market had just been redefined under them, their product had no chance, then canceled it that month.

And in one case Apple actually destroyed an existing Microsoft product that was doing well in the market, Windows Mobile 6.

When it comes to products and services, and in the variety of those services and products, Microsoft outclasses Apple.

Variety does not matter. Apple is living by an old philosophy: Pick a few things and be absolutely the best at them. Don't pick a lot of things and be best at nothing.

Interviews show that Apple doesn't believe in putting out a product unless all of those involved can be personally proud of it. Microsoft will put out a product just to get into a new market, to make next quarter's earnings, or just to stave off an attack by an innovator in the market. Examples of the latter: IE7 released because Firefox was eating IE6's lunch after monopoly Microsoft refused to improve it for five years. Windows Mobile 6.5, touch added to WM6 in reaction to the iPhone being released. Neither of those Microsoft products were any good, but Microsoft needed to release something. For earnings necessity, Vista was released way before it was ready because Microsoft needed some money flowing into the client OS division after five years of nothing (the delay was caused by pathetically inadequate development processes).