I think it means Tim Cook is a smart executive who doesn't write off his competitors.
Even if you look at Apple's history, way back when, IBM wrote off "all that software stuff" that Microsoft was doing. MSFT ended up having the last laugh there as they ate IBM's lunch with software.
(True, IBM did pivot, but I'm thinking in the Apple/Microsoft perspective).
[EDIT: plus, Microsoft trounced Apple once. That means they could do it again.]
> [EDIT: plus, Microsoft trounced Apple once. That means they could do it again.]
Those were different companies. It was Sculley's Apple (with a lot of an immature Jobs thrown in) and Bill's Microsoft helped by a seriously shortsighted IBM. Plus, Microsoft really didn't eat Apple's lunch until Windows 3, which also ate IBM's lunch for dessert.
I don't think Microsoft is capable of betting the company on some disruptive innovation like they were with Windows 3. They are too big and there is too much infighting between the various divisions.
Even if you look at Apple's history, way back when, IBM wrote off "all that software stuff" that Microsoft was doing. MSFT ended up having the last laugh there as they ate IBM's lunch with software.
(True, IBM did pivot, but I'm thinking in the Apple/Microsoft perspective).
[EDIT: plus, Microsoft trounced Apple once. That means they could do it again.]