I think Cusumano is right, however the problem that apple presents is two-fold, or at least two-fold. Apple makes it's money from hardware, but by doing so they undercut all software. So MS is undercut in the software business. Apple then makes the software tied to it's hardware via DMCA and thus they can continue to make hardware, because once you go mac going back to windows is just painful, and still possible while on your mac.
They then do things like the App store which further undercuts software, they do everything in favor of comoditizing software and making hardware the piece that you care more and more about. Its not PC vs Mac, its Mac hardware, then we don't really care, but I'll give you the super awesome mac software for nearly free.
That's true. In fact that describes their whole business model.
The point that I took away from the article is that Apple hardware cannot be easily imitated. They've really innovated in this space. I haven't seen a laptop like the Macbook Pro or Air. I haven't seen a phone quite like the iPhone 4, or even a music player anything close to the iPod touch.
I think this hardware knowhow is easily underestimated. Apple really are like BMW or Rolex.
They then do things like the App store which further undercuts software, they do everything in favor of comoditizing software and making hardware the piece that you care more and more about. Its not PC vs Mac, its Mac hardware, then we don't really care, but I'll give you the super awesome mac software for nearly free.