[netcan]

Sony, Asus, and Lenovo are a particular type of company. They make the computers that they think consumers will buy in the next 12 months. If that's low end netbooks, mid range ultrabooks, desktop replacements, whatever.

That's not a high margin business model. But it is a valid one. It's also the model which supplies computers to most of the population. Its the model which has brought down the price of computers year after year.

It does't inspire cliche images of technological innovators 'building-the-future' by "skating to where the puck will be" but they are an important part of the landscape. To me the tech map looks great right now. Better than ever. We have real competition among OS makers. We have serious innovation in devices. We have competition between chip makers. Competition between commodity component manufacturers is pushing prices down.

Sony, Asus, and Lenovo are doing their part. Repackaging the innovations of last year for the mass market at half the price. They're an important part of the mix.

It's great that Google are trying this new stuff with ChromeOS. It's great that Apple is out there creating new products and setting the standard in industrial design. But we don't need all companies to be Apple.

[chucknelson]

This is a great comment and I agree completely. If the business model doesn't work, things will work themselves out and companies will perish, change, or survive in whatever way they know how.