Yep. Apple has always been very propritary and protective. In the early 80's there were companies that sold kits to build your oen Apple II home computer (one was called Pineapple), but apple shut them down. I believe the fact that PC's became available from many vendors aside from IBM (and hence, more affordable) is one reason why the PC has dominated the market ever since.
Yes, one thing for sure, since Apple kept their system to themselves it has limited market penetration. Which profit wise was a smart decision if they wanted to remain a computer maker and not a software company.
I didnt own anything Apple until just a few years ago and have been using PCs since 1995. Now I am fully into the Apple ecosphere and will be assuming they keep evolving into a company that produces product to compliment computing.
Not many of the non Apple computer makers survived the crowded field and Apple grew stronger than ever into a vast ecosystem. Like wow, look at the features of the new iPhone 14 and Watch 8 some of this stuff is very useful to people, I posted my own story in the electronics section today.
Contrary to what some who know me think, I am NOT 🙃 in anyway knocking or discounting PC products. Each has its benefits and fun factor.
I used to LOVE updating my PCs with hardware. (memory, HDs and motherboards, modems) It was a hobby, loved it.
now ...
Im finding a lot of useful fun in Apple products right now, maybe because I am getting older and more interested in fitness and safety? Whatever *LOL*
Im just talking investment wise.
So lets look at the top three computer makers. HP and Dell hands down the largest sellers of PCs with Apple a
very distant third.
Last five years-
Apple stock was $42 a share, now $155 a share
HP was $54 a share, now $41 a share
Dell was $23 a share now $37