[melling]

Some would argue that they were always worth more. :-)

It's interesting that this happened without breaking Microsoft's 90% desktop monopoly. Apple got bigger but it wasn't to the detriment of Microsoft. They just grew into new markets.

[noarchy]

I suspect that this was just a sound bite in 1997, but Jobs himself said it: "We have to let go of a few things here. We have to let go of the notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose."

[Perceval]

Here's a video of that keynote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHNrqPkefI

[10ren]

I was amazed when he said "we lost, they won" with no sense of rancor, nor of defeat of self. Very growthful and in-reality. Say what you will about Jobs, he's not dogmatic; he's far from an apple fanboy.

He's doing what a recent article on disruption (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1375141) reminded me of: don't confront entrenched competition, it will "invoke a competitive response" and they'll win (or "never attack a fortified hill", from crossing the chasm). Instead, do something else.

[elblanco]

> he's far from an apple fanboy.

I agree.

In order to make great things, and then to sustain that, I really truly believe you have to grow to dislike what you made before. It's the only way to take a critical eye one what you have done and learn from it.

Lots of people think Jobs is a tyrant inside of Apple (and I agree with that sentiment), but I think the motivation for that is that he simply wants to create something he doesn't hate right now. It might be bootup time, or interface delays, or screen pixel density etc. That kind of thinking, a critical review of your own likes/dislikes is healthy I think in order to grow.

Fanboyism, by definition, is not a process of critical thought.

[Jun8]

Exactly! One of the best essay in PG's H&Ps book in my opinion was the one that explains how winning doesn't have to be a zero-sum game, you can generate wealth. This seems a no brainer but a lot of people don't get it.

Many predict that a similar thing will happen in the battle between Google and Apple.

[raphar]

It interesting view this google vs apple in: http://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:AAPL+goog

put the graph to 1y or 5y.

[Groxx]

Interesting in the similarities? Compare it with Microsoft (MSFT), the ups and downs appear to be more due to economic shifts than any connection between the two. AAPL/GOOG is definitely closer than AAPL/MSFT, but part of that could simply be due to that both are growing and changing quickly, and are less immune to economic forces than entrenched-MSFT.

[troystribling]

GOOG is now selling at about its mid 2005 price while APPL is about 350% above its mid 2005 price.

[awa]

Add MSFT and put the graph in Max, gives another interesting perspective

[Jun8]

Forgot to put a link to the essay, here it is: http://www.paulgraham.com/wealth.html

[swilliams]

Markets change. If you are unable to adapt well, you will likely perish or grow obsolete.