Interesting comments. Look forward to your post on Pierre Bulez. As many observers have pointed out, Apple has chosen Intel for a strategic reason which is yet to be revealed and its not just for getting a 3GHz chip inside a Powerbook. So this idea is an attempt at looking at what Apple could do in the Wintel marketplace. Good point on Sony and Panasonic. I am sure those companies will be watching Apple with trepidation as the iPod juggernaut rolls on.

As for Microsoft using Lagrande, sure, but why would they ? Perhaps I am not understanding the point. Microsoft’s main business is in getting their OS into as many machines as possible.

Thanks

Sukumar

Looking beyond the PC war, Apple is best positioned to be a consumer company. I believe they would merge iPod and Mac into something equivalent of the MS MediaCenter PC, only better with an unique Apple experience to it. They could use the Intel chips in their iPods to Macs to iEntertainment to iHome. This would give them the volume discounts from Intel and bring in a new product line altogether. It’s the SONY’s and Panasonic’s who will have to be prepared against Apple and not Microsoft.

Also, what prevents Microsoft using the same LaGrande technology to make sure Windows installs only in ‘Microsoft Certified’ hardware?