[Z-man]

I think Jim's experience is the exception, not the rule with Apple.

I believe that Apple better understands the 4-P's of marketing:
Product
Price
Place
Promotion

Gateway was just one of many choices for PC's, while Apple's products are in a class by themselves (until someone starts to copy their stuff). And if they aren't the first to market with an item (like the desktop and laptop computer for example), they market their products (ie Promotion) in such a way that they capture a market segment often overlooked. (Ex: Apple IIe's in the classroom in the 80's)

If that is not the case, then just name ONE product that was made by Apple that wasn't successful. (I can only think of Apple TV, but it is too early to tell since that makret is still too immature to forecast the future with any great certainity...)

Love them or hate them, they know how to market themselves, and in a capitalistic society, that is the key.

-Z-man.