No, because computers have already been commoditized. The new innovation is in high-end items -- which are also partly fashion and style. Sure, you can use an A

No, because computers have already been commoditized. The new innovation is in high-end items -- which are also partly fashion and style. Sure, you can use an ASUS tablet running Win7 or Linux if you're willing to put up with it, but everyone else will shell out the extra $200 for an iPad. (cf. Swiss watches -> Cheap quartz watches -> Fancy mechanical movement watches, e.g. Rolex) I don't think Jobs is naive enough to think he could have out-competed Microsoft with the "aesthetically pure products" strategy. I'm pretty sure he does think he could have maintained a much more significant chunk of market share for Apple through the 90's, but I bet he recognizes the strong pressures toward commoditization of the PC concept. And would we have iPods, iPhones, and iPads if Jobs hadn't been fired and grew complacent instead? Doubtful.