[ScottBurson]

Yes, this was my takeaway too. Negotiating is easy, or certainly a lot easier, from a position of strength.

The subtlety, though, is that sometimes it's about creating the illusion of strength, or even of future strength, when the present reality doesn't fully demonstrate that strength. Jobs did that masterfully here.

[abraininavat]

The subtlety, though, is that sometimes it's about creating the illusion of strength, or even of future strength, when the present reality doesn't fully demonstrate that strength. Jobs did that masterfully here.

I'm confused. You agree with the parent that Apple was in a position of leverage, then you suggest the subtlety is that sometimes it's about creating the illusion of strength.

Either the position of leverage was an illusion or it wasn't. Maybe Jobs was a master at gaining leverage by creating an illusion of strength, but (if you agree with the parent) this isn't a good example of it. This was someone who had leverage acting as if he had leverage.