Apple passes Microsoft to become biggest Tech Company

[The Professor]

Its the natural flow of things. Microsoft passed IBM (I think it was them) to become the biggest tech company in the 90s, kept it for the 00s and have been caught by innovators in 2010. Next decade I'm sure the Twitter or someone like that will be the dominant tech company

Good job Apple, I don't like how locked down their products are but you can't deny their quality

[Shawnstra]

You mean like it's amazing to be the richest man in the world by selling one product? (Oil).

These are two completely different sectors of the industry. Compare Apple with companies like Microsoft, or Sony, or HP, Dell, etc. These tech companies have many many devices on their product line, with weird obscure names with many numbers behind them.

Yet, Apple's product line is so minimal, and it is still able to gain this kind of market cap.

Oil is a commodity, computers aren't.

[Barmi]

Apple are doing something right. Internet trolls everywhere sulked when the news broke.

[GommeInc]

Apple has pushed past arch-rival Microsoft to become the world's biggest technology company.

Changes in the share price values of the two in Wednesday's choppy trading left the total value of Apple at $222bn (£154bn).

Microsoft is now valued by investors at $219bn.

The worth, known as market capitalisation, is calculated by multiplying the number of shares in a company by the current share price.

Although Apple shares closed down 0.4%, Microsoft fell by 4%.

Apple, which makes computers, iPods, iPhones and now iPads, almost went out of business in the 1990s.

Its growth is partly owing to the launch of the stylish iPod in 2001.

Its compatability with existing - but not mass-selling - Apple computers lead customers to engage with them, just as Microsoft's products looked set for long-term dominance.

Hey-day
Apple has to look back to late 1989 to see the last time it was ahead of Microsoft.

Microsoft, whose operating system runs on more than 90% of the world's personal computers, has not been able to match growth rates from its hey-day of the 1990s, although its last sales figures were still higher than Apple's.

This week sees the launch in Britain and eight other countries of Apple's iPad tablet computer.

Next month will see the unveiling of the next generation of the iPhone, something that has brought internet access on the move to the mass market, and led to an explosion in downloadable mobile "apps" - applications that enable a huge range of activities, from map reading to booking restaurants.

*bangs head on table* It's not a computer!

It's not that surprising, they sell more products. Though compared to Microsoft, it's not that great a feat seeing as Microsoft do less, but maintain their position. If Microsoft made more products and peripherals, then maybe they'll be at the top again.

Hopefully they will finally open up their products to work with other companies, or make the basic features run openly like the competition. But until then, or whenever Jobs is kicked out, I still will not buy an Apple product.

[AgnesIO]

When they have more competition from HP, Android based and Windows based tablets these statistics might change.

Agreed David. In terms of business Apple have done a great job in getting the iPad out there, as let's be honest it's the only really well launched tablet at present times

[MrPinkPanther]

*bangs head on table* It's not a computer!

Yes it is. I think you perhaps need to look up the definition of a Computer, a microwave is a Computer albeit a single purpose one.

[Jonster]

MS have made all that money just from their OS

What about Microsoft Office? The keyboards, mice, headsets, webcams, XBox, ... They sells hundreds of hardware products, so what is this about them only making their money from their OS?

All apple do is invent something, figure what it is an stick an "i" infront of it... talk about being creative... lol

It's called a brand, and you've just proven it worked. You've immediately realised that the "i" infront of a word relates it to Apple, thats exactly what they want to achieve.

[Recursion]

Just like to point out Microsoft's profits are still 3x larger than Apple's.

[GommeInc]

Yes it is. I think you perhaps need to look up the definition of a Computer, a microwave is a Computer albeit a single purpose one.

If you have Heart radio near you, they keep suggesting it's some sort of personal computer, when really it's on the same wave length as an iPod or Creative Zen, albeit with WiFi. Many places are hinting towards it being an independent computer (like a laptop for instance) that doesn't rely on a real computer like a Mac or PC, when it does to some extent

Besides, the word 'computer' has many definitions.

[HotelUser]

Just like to point out Microsoft's profits are still 3x larger than Apple's.

For now. That will change if Microsoft continues to not do well with mobile software. Windows phone is going to seriously have to pack quite a punch to compete with android and the iPhone now, and don't even get me started on the lack of windows tablets!