Sometime in the next century the great discussion among stock analysts (assuming they aren't extinct by then) will revolve around why this generation's had so much trouble understanding
The Plan.
Every iPhone and iTouch is essentially a very compact OS X computer. It is no longer valid to point to iMac sales and distinguish them from Apple "computer" sales!
What Steve & Company has done is to get a Mac into some 10 million hands, who think they don't yet own one. The App Store isn't selling phone accessories... it is selling OS X programs.
So tomorrow's numbers don't exclude iPhone sales, they exclude an entire line of Apple computers... Press On Steve; a hundred years from now they will be telling their kids how you ended up owning the market.
Absolutely totally agree. What I find hard to fathom though is how the majority of people find this concept hard to fathom!
The inevitability of the iPhone was obvious to me 10 years ago, and here we are on the the precipice of what I consider the 3rd revolution in computing, and there are still people that dont understand "the plan". The mind boggles!
To quote einstein "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. "
The question I asked myself when OSX was still a glint in Jobs's eye, was "WHEN, computing power for small devices is sufficient enough to run a 'proper' operating system, how will ANY company compete?"
The answer to me was simple, 'they are all gonna be screwed'. Sure there was always gonna be basic OS's like symbian that take the initial lead, but much like any other technology designed to run on limited resources, it would ultimately be doomed when an established technology waltzes in.
Operating systems are not built overnight, and if your competition (aapl) have practically invented the OS, have decades head start, have lots of money, some of the best brains in the business, vision, and have an established ecosystem of 3rd party developers... How the hell is ANYONE gonna compete? Simple, they cant, and (of zero surprise to me) thats the situation we have today.
Another prime example was WML, "its the next big thing" they cried "HTML is dead", but it's lifespan existed until the previously established technology HTML took over when processing power INEVITABLY achieved the sufficient speeds.
People in general have great difficulty looking beyond the here and now, and this simple difference in perception few are blessed with is what makes Steve stand out from the majority of CEO's on the planet.
So anyway, the future of computing IS in your pocket, and YES there will become a time when many people completely replace 'traditional' computers with devices such as the iPhone.
I would give it less than 3 years until the use of desktop and laptops is considered quaint.
Technology DOES NOT stay still folks!!!!
PS: My girlfriend who is a light computer user, is already having to justify opening up the macbook when all her emails and facebook buddies are in the palm of her hand, and for many people thats 80% of computer usage.
