Most of the article is pretty good, but in its analysis at the end, I think it loses it. It may be that as the computer market has grown more mature, it has de

Most of the article is pretty good, but in its analysis at the end, I think it loses it. It may be that as the computer market has grown more mature, it has developed what consultants Al and Laura Riese call the "mushy middle." That's the huge dead zone that lies between sexy, expensive products at the high end and the low-end products that appeal to bargain hunters. In computers, Apple holds the high ground with its expensive laptops. The low end ... is also becoming Apple territory, thanks to the iPhone and the iPad, both of which are basically small, simple computers. The author seems to be redefining his terms in the middle. Yes, Apple does hold a fancy, expensive high ground. However, I think it's a stretch to think of the iPhone and iPad as a simple inexpensive low ground. These products cost more than a typical "middle-ground" desktop (if you're only looking at price), and more than a cheap netbook like my eeePC (if you're considering capabilities and price). As far as I can see, Apple only holds the expensive high ground, across several markets (notebook, phone, ultraportable tablet/netbook, media player). Each of these markets has a midlle and low ground beneath the Apple boutique range.