> When it learns about the internet, it will be a huge powerhouse to reckon with. I think you can argue that Apple is more self-aware than AOL with its walled

> When it learns about the internet, it will be a huge powerhouse to reckon with. I think you can argue that Apple is more self-aware than AOL with its walled garden was back in the 1990s. Apple treats its users better than AOL (or at least it gives users what they want - their content in a predictable manner - without having to deal with BitTorrent) In one of the dot-com era books, I remember reading that an AOL exec boasted they could throw up one of those intrusive pop-up ads that you saw when logging in/logging off of AOL that said "Click here for $19.99, to get absolutely nothing!" and they would get click throughs - people would actually buy nothing. I doubt Apple is that pandering of its consumers (at least not in public). Though I did go to the Genius Bar the other day and I think the consumers may be condescended upon a bit. I think that Apple treats consumers how they want to be treated - we want to buy, we want one-click gratification, we're willing to deal with DRM because most of us have no idea what DRM is (the non-geeks), we are scared of the Android Marketplace - it's more like a Chinatown bazaar where anything goes (live frogs and counterfeits galore) - compared to the safe suburban mall feel (marble floors and security guards) of the iTunes Store. Yes, the iTunes Store experience might not feel as inviting as an Indie book/record/knick-knack store and it may have a sanitized, strip-mall feel to it - but how many of us feel totally comfortable entering our iTunes password to get instant gratification - media snacks. > I think one of Apple's biggest competitors will be Netflix. Don't you think that one of the reasons Netflix is doing well is because it is not Apple? Yes, Netflix has done a remarkable job with execution (remember Blockbuster?) - the red envelopes (heck, my parents are Netflix addicts!), the cultural impact ("it's on my Netflix queue") but - the major content producers probably are scared to sign their soul (30% of revenues) away to Apple? They know once they do it, they can't go back (and lose customers that would be annoyed if they backed out).