[partoa]

Save for posing a major threat to suppliers who rely heavily on them, it would be a surprise if Apple sells its chips to anyone. Their chips are certainly great, if the responsiveness of their iOS devices is anything to go by. The OS and restrictions on background processes doesn’t harm them either. I wish they could somehow share their all advances with everyone.

This brings me to my main problem with Apple; as a consumer of technology in a the developing world. For Apple, I don’t exist, or at least the vast majority of my us don’t. The technology is always priced beyond our reach. Some individuals can afford them, but the vast majority have to use alternatives. Any success in slowing down Android would have meant no smart phones for us. Most people I know can’t afford an iPhone. This is what I consider the other side of the Apple story.

[madeofpalk]

I don't think that's the 'other side' of Apple's story.

Respectfully, Apple is/was/tries to be a luxury and aspirational brand. They're expensive, everyone knows it. It's like saying that BMWs fault is that their cars aren't cheap.

[partoa]

I suppose the whole "luxury and inspirational" bit is my problem. Maybe an even bigger part of this is the fact that I don't look at technology the same way I look at cars. More and more, technology is becoming a necessity, more than a luxury. So I find myself routing against Apple, even if I love their phones and tablets. I hope this doesn't make me a hypocrite.

Totally unrelated; car manufacturers share technology quite a bit.

[madeofpalk]

But cars are a necessity as well (for some parts of the world), and there's cars to fit all sorts of price points in the same way that you get get smartphones and tablets at any price.