Apple started it's recent strong of successes with the iPod. That was a device built around a cutting edge hard drive. Apple did well at choosing features, but

Apple started it's recent strong of successes with the iPod. That was a device built around a cutting edge hard drive. Apple did well at choosing features, but iPod software was all contracted out. The hard drive was it's most important feature and Apple locked that on by buying all of the units Toshiba could produce before most had even heard about it.