OS X is a great unix GUI, but it isn't the only one. It's the only one that supports the Adobe suite, and that's why I use it. Hanratty, I totally agree that consumers in general don't need this kind of specialty kit to fetch their mail, watch videos, download music, tweet, etc. But then, they also don't need the iPhone platform to do that; any modern platform will do the same thing.

I'm someone who doesn't spend time on my computer for pleasure. Reading and debate, occasionally, but this is the only board I'm an active member of. I don't own an iPhone, or even a smart phone; my choice is a black and white motorola handheld and a dozen pre-paid SIM cards for different countries. I don't watch movies on my laptop, don't have a friendster account (or facebook, or whatever). I don't buy things online. I don't actually buy things, period, other than food, booze and smokes. I've worn the same jeans for ten years.

I know I'm at the far extreme in one direction, but I also know a lot of people for whom computers are tools, not sources of entertainment. Those people are in the business of creating the computerized entertainment that the brain-dead masses out there take for granted, and have no interest in actually being sucked into it.

We're also the ones who are willing to drop thousands of dollars on a single software license, because productivity is the whole game.

I can't disagree with you that the "i" platforms are significant consumer time-wasting devices with excellent sales in that area. But it's hard to see how they can be used productively. As fun a toy as it seems, I just don't believe I could be more productive with one of these devices; they are mostly be a new way to waste time.

When I buy a new mac for my business, the first thing I do is delete all the applications that come with it except for the utilities. Then I install the creative suite and a handful of other necessary apps like Thunderbird, FF, Bean and Parallels. And then I get down to business.

Not all consumers are created equal. Apple used to understand that. It used to reserve its condescension for the iPhoto grandpas and Garage band retards, while providing serious working people with great solutions. I would venture to say that more than half the people who used to buy Macs were design professionals. While we always thought it odd and vaguely disturbing that they treated their dumber consumers like children, it never mattered to us. Now that they want to treat us that way, it's pretty insulting.

Oh and the worst isn't here yet. Wait until Apple buys Adobe. That's the day I think I'll go back to making my layouts with an exacto blade and a glue stick.