Sorry, Apple, and Apple fans, but that's how it goes.

[Pholus]

27. Targeting Apple is just a cheap stunt? You've just agreed with me that the FLA is a sham then.

You've made it clear that targeting *one* company like Apple is "a cheap stunt that won't affect a damn thing."

My history says that similar single-company targeting in past made progress, if you want to count the FLA as progress.

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/99/NIKE-Inc.html

We can still both be right, but that is only if the FLA is itself basically a cheap stunt... I guess from everything I've read I can agree with that. But in that case why this constant stream of validation-seeking "the FLA says Apple is just peachy" threads from the boosters then? It came from an effort that "won't affect a damn thing" after all. Get the meme straight!

To continue the discussion, China built those engineers and roads because they knew our business class was ready to sell out for a higher percentage. Those facilities rose wholesale from the countryside because there was a preexisting market for them -- you know, our sociopathic business leaders wanting "cheap labor" -- pillars of the western world just like Mr. Jobs. Don't insult either of us by saying China's development was simply serendipity that popped out of the void that THEN presented a temptation for Apple. It took a concerted effort by Apple to move their jobs offshore so it's disingenous to try to pretend it's impossible to reverse the situation. It's merely not as profitable. Of course, I figure you're proud of all that cash that Apple can't seem to spend. I see it as the evidence that this was never about survival, it was about greed and "cheap labor." As the 800 lb gorilla in the room I hope I'm not hurting Apple's poor widdle feelings by pointing that out.

I pay attention and I know who does and who does not care for the interests of my socioeconomic class. I make it a personal crusade to refrain from doing business with those whose interests lie elsewhere whenever I can. Your assertion that if I don't pay I cannot voice an opinion is frankly bullshit. I can say whatever the hell I want, thank you.

As far as similar prices I will disagree. Perhaps for a top-end box, but most people are apparently too wowed by glitzy advertising to understand what their computer needs actually are and for most people it's on the low end. Hell I used to make real nice money on the side as a small business computing consultant for a few years. My schtick? Wait for Dell, Gateway, Compaq, HP or APPLE to quote the client with all the upsells, take the client out for coffee and have them describe that they really wanted -- 95% of the time it was a computer to run quickbooks, a word processer, an email client and a web browser. And they'd be holding this multi-kilobuck quote and you could see them worrying about how they could make it happen. I'd show them a $300-$500 PC from the SAME company (except Apple, mind you), buy it, deliver it, configure it and help them get used to running with it. $200 a pop. Never once had an uphappy client and never advertised. It was word of mouth. Had waiting lists even. And anyway, unlike Apple, the money I made from that stayed in the US. I presume the money I saved the clients did to.

My thoughts on business: A profitable business provides a quality product. A wildly profitable business usually is ripping someone off.