iPod on Success

In the first quarter of 2005, more than 5 million iPod music players were sold. Apple's quarterly income has increased six-fold largely due to the success of the device. Revenues rose 70% to $3.24 billion after good growth in all product categories.

The market simply attributes the recent success of Apple to iPod.

Is it really iPod that helps Apple ride high on a wave of success?

Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft, does not think so. "I don't think the success of the iPod can continue in the long term... Apple was once extremely strong with its Macintosh computer and graphic user interface - like the iPod today - then lost its position."

Wait a second, Mr Gates.

Apple's success does not come from iPod, but the mind of Steve Jobs.

What's in Jobs' mind then?

"You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new."

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

And for you, Mr Gates.

"I wish him the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He'd be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger."