[alextp]

Actually Apple until recently didn't have a cash cow per se. When the iPod was first developed Apple was making very little money, and broadening its product base was a good strategy.

I think the main popular tech giant that seems to avoid most of the consequences of the cash cow disease is Apple. Even though they are turning a profit comparable to microsoft's, you don't see nearly as many spin-offs or research departments or other leakages. Pretty much the only things that come out of Apple are its top-of-the-line products.

While this is scary for someone who would one day like to work in an industrial reaearch lab, they certainly seem to know how to make money.