Is it really? Do you think those firms would be doing it without Apple's insistence, assistance, & guidance (not considering their money)? Did it look like a

Is it really? Do you think those firms would be doing it without Apple's insistence, assistance, & guidance (not considering their money)? Did it look like anyone else was working on manufacturing processes like Apple is? If you compare Apple's computers & devices to those of every one of their competitors, you'll see that it's not just a matter of Apple's check-writing abilities. HP, Dell, Sony, Creative, Google, Microsoft, Palm, etc., are all just as capable of writing huge checks as Apple. But their hardware doesn't compare in style, design, quality & fit and finish. They have seams, chunks, feel cheap, have poor tactile experiences with the moving/sliding/closing pieces, etc., etc., etc.[1] I don't think Apple's manufacturer partners are doing it all on their own. It's gotta be more than check-writing. Or, all those other companies are still so stupid they don't realize what game they're playing. [1] (They may win in terms of specs, but that's not what I'm talking about.)