Blimey. You go away for a week or so, and suddenly everything's technology, technology, technology. Apple and Intel, British hackers making headlines, actors threatening to strike against the games industry...
Oh well.
Back in the saddle, though, and I've just read John Naughton's column in today's Observer - "Is Apple right to cosy up to the enemy?". While I'm not sure of the relative merits of saying Apple's announcement "provoked almost as much speculation as the broadcasts of Osama bin Laden", it's a good run through the issues, even if dedicated followers of the story are more than aware of them.
It also uses what I think is one of the more useful comparisons for the computer industry.
Apple's position in the PC industry is very like that of BMW in the car business: small market share; innovative and much-admired products; and a fanatically loyal customer base. I don't think I ever met a BMW driver who would willingly change to another marque.
And much the same goes for Apple users. For these reasons, the rest of the automobile industry is perpetually fascinated by everything that BMW does. Same goes for Apple. In those terms, the processor decision is analogous to BMW deciding that instead of having its engines made by, say, Mercedes, it would henceforth get them from Ford. And that would be big news in the car business.
In fact, the comparison between cars and technology comes in handy quite often - but becomes more difficult if, like me, you don't drive and have absolutely no interest in cars.
Tally ho. Back to work, then.
