<i>Keep in mind that Apple's ability to monopolize its own hardware supply was once cited, by learned observers, as a great advantage over Microsoft. At the time, it seemed to place them in a much stronger position. In the end, it nearly killed them, and may kill them yet. The problem, for Apple, was that most of the world's computer users ended up owning cheaper hardware. But cheap hardware couldn't run MacOS, and so these people switched to Windows</i><p>Well, almost 20 years later. It seems like Apple'sstrategy was right. By owning the hardware and software and having the culture to do both, they were able to come out with the iMac that made them profitable, the iPod that made them relevant, and the iPhone that made them rich.<p>Owning their own OS allowed them to take one OS and port it to phones, tablets, watches, set top boxes, and speakers.