It is a funny read (particularly the line about Vista) but the line that stood out for me was "Here most people will argue that Apple is a hardware company, the software, they’ll say, is there to drive sales of the hardware."
I did actually used to think that, but I've changed my mind now. Apple are a software company, and they make great hardware to drive sales of their software. I love my MBP, but if it was just an expensive windows machine I'd never have seriously considered buying it. I bought it for OS X.
Also, I personally think that the switch to Intel was a massive deal, and changed the fate of the Mac.
I agree with you that their software is the most compelling part of the Mac. But the reason people tend to say Apple is a hardware company is because that's where the money is made.
It's not wrong to say that the software drives the sales of the hardware. The software is outstanding, and compels people to purchase the profitable hardware.
You know, after having owned one of the unibody MacBooks, there's no way I could buy another brand, no matter what the OS. I know there's supposed to be some other premium laptop makers out there (Sony?) but I've never seen evidence of them; every time I walk past the laptop section in JBHiFi or Dick Smith, all I see are rows of the same fat, heavy plasticky laptops that have always been there.
Sure it has its faults (the screen is crap, for starters) but damn it's some sexy hardware.
I did actually used to think that, but I've changed my mind now. Apple are a software company, and they make great hardware to drive sales of their software. I love my MBP, but if it was just an expensive windows machine I'd never have seriously considered buying it. I bought it for OS X.
Also, I personally think that the switch to Intel was a massive deal, and changed the fate of the Mac.