that to be successful in the future, a company must control the hardware, software, and services it offers its customers. For Microsoft, this is a tricky road to travel. Microsoft became a powerhouse off the backs of the PC companies and Intel and AMD, which supported its OS platform. But for Microsoft to truly be competitive, it should design and own the platform itself since it can't always count on its hardware partners for support. Indeed, many of its partners also have Android devices and their loyalty to Microsoft is not as strong as it had been when it was just a WinTel world. The OEMs are already reeling because Microsoft made its own branded Surface tablet/hybrid, and its Windows Phone partners fully expect Microsoft to unveil a smartphone shortly. Personally, I would not be surprised if it announced its own laptop because Redmond feels its partners aren't totally committed given the dynamic changes in the market. Considering the problems of some of its PC vendors, Microsoft may even think that either some consolidation will take place or that some will get out of the PC business altogether, as IBM did in 2005. This is why Microsoft wants to be more like Apple. Apple's formula for success today is also the formula for success in the future. Therefore, it is in Microsoft's best interests to drive down a path where it has full control of its hardware, software, and services. Apple has an 11 year lead on Microsoft, and Amazon