...computing on the PC side has become horribly linear. Microsoft has lost sight of the big picture and, in the end, produces the same product every five or six years. Only shinier.

On the other hand, Apple is constantly innovating, and broadening the market. They ruthlessly fight all opponents, battling on many, many fronts. Steve Jobs saw the broad picture of things, and realized long ago that computing will become integrated into every aspect of our lives. His goal is to streamline this integration, so that every technological device we must use is fully compatible with every other device.

Have you ever noticed how Apple products simply work? A good example is iTunes and the iPod. Your iPod plugs in to your Mac or PC, you install iTunes, and they work! The iPod is supported seamlessly by iTunes, which saves you countless trips to the store to buy music and movies. You download them, and they are there for you to enjoy instantly. You don't need to have a separate program to manage your iPod, because iTunes will do that in addition to being a music and video player. Another example is the new "Time Capsule." It automatically backs up all your data, through wireless, using the built-in Time Machine app in OS X. All you have to do is plug it in and tell your Mac it's there. You can't get that kind of simplicity with PCs.

Cross-compatibility is also important. One of the reasons Apple is so successful is because the iPod works just as well on the PC as the Mac. PC users everywhere have iPods. They enjoy having the convenience of iTunes, coupled with a player so simple their grandparents could use it! This theory of simplicity is reflected in OS X. By making the user do minimal amount of work, Apple's products are instantly easier to use. The time and training required before a user becomes productive is minimized, and the overall system becomes more effective.

The final, and most important reason, is Apple's lack of fear of the unknown. The sole reason Apple stands where it is today is innovation. They are unafraid to risk huge sums of money to try a new idea. This is seen the most with the new Apple TV. Everyone remembers how bad the original Apple TV was. But, Steve Jobs is not afraid to risk even more. His minions at Apple have spent countless hours to bring us something completely different. Computing has already spread to media, but never like this. HTPCs are limited to enthusiasts, and have very limited options. Using Apple TV will be as simple as TiVo, while continuing to stick with Apple's old ways of simplicity and cross-compatibility. Forget Netflix and Blockbuster; you have all that in your living room now.

Apple is trying hard to dominate all electronic aspects of our life. They have dominated the cellphone market with the iPhone, gave our lives a soundtrack with the iPod, and have revolutionized computing with simple interfaces that just work. But, their products are terribly expensive, and have an aspect of style that has never gone along with computing before. PC users are scared, they don't think computing can be simple, sleek, and sexy. But I think that the ideas and innovations Apple is making will become the future. I would bet my PC on it.

- Synaps3

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