Pleasing the PC crowd
Given the evolution of the notebook line-up, I have to say that Apple started to make moves which can't be understood other than pleasing the PC crowed.
Lining up all their computers since the Intel switch, one witnesses a degree of dilettantism only seen from usual PC makers.
Whereas in the pre-Intel time every Mac was not only an evolution but a revolution that was clearly ahead, design and other wise from any PC,
Apple by now just spoils the exterior of their previous great design.
This tendency is reflected in the naming PowerBook--->MacBook
the omission of the Apple symbol (do switchers get their fingers hurt by hitting that key), not providing a really stunning display, remember they used to introduce the 10:16 aspect ratio, thick bezel, wedge shaped enclosing like a Sony, etc.
The only product where I walked into the store in recent times and said wow, is and was, the iPhone. But again, that runs not on Intel, which seems to kill creativity, and second it was not an evolution but a revolution.
Same for the OS. When I saw back in the nineties the Next cube presented at the University, that was amazing, but out of the range a student could afford. Again the OS was a revolution. By now, since Tiger, OS X is only evolutionary, with tweaks and and UI that deteriorated. Just let me remember you of the inconsistency throughout apps.
So, Apple is excellent if they do something from scratch, bundling all their best people, but lame, if their B-team spoils what they once achieved.
My idea would be, that hopefully they manage to provide again in addition to mainstream Intel processors a custom processor.
To ease the work for programmers, they just would have to send their high-level code to Apple who would compile it and distribute it over the AppStore.
To remain with Universal code, is an enormous advantage.
Finally, if Steven Jobs says that Apple has some of the best and most loyal customers, I would agree.
But then Apple has to be again more sensible to those by rewarding them not only by evolutionary products, but by revolutionary ones, and giving them reasonable choices.