Dear ( Quick Boarder ) You must not have even started to play with the W8 environment. It has an optional desktop just like old Windows but offers a crisp very interesting platform to launch an even more interesting multi-platform environment. Watch for products like: tablets/tv/incar/tab​let/phone/displayboa​rds etc... you are lost in the past... I have been using systems based on RadioShack/Apple/IBM​/Microsoft and a few others over the past 36 years and the newest version of Windows is finally a NEW platform.

Regarding Balmer... I agree he is long overdue to retire.

AS mobile computing becomes more wide spread (which is happening now) apple will either have to start adding basic features all computers have (i.e usb hubs for peripherals, access to the file system, access to real business class features, and the ability to download and install things that have not been explicitly approved by the apple overlords) or they will lose out to the companies that will. Apple wont lose to android, android sucks, but I see a real threat from Win 8 (if is it done right, probably wont be) when it start rolling.

But for now, i don't see them loosing much market share.

That is my expert opinion as a random user of the internet (My work is law muhahahaha).

Like Google, Baidu, Priceline, and the other hot stocks, AAPL could be sideways (dead money) next year or so unless they have some kind of technology break-through products.

I want to buy AAPL but it is too pricey and too risky for me now even though it could have 20%-30% run up from here.  Another thing is the 2008 crisis/recession is still clinging over my head.

Hey "pocketprotectNerd guy, Did YOU in fact purchase AAPL shares @ $125.00 PS?  Yea, I thought so.  Don't burn your hand on the "new" iPAD.

Wow, what a question--

  They've been asking that for over 20 years...and each time, they have to eat their words.