(12-27-2017 03:48 PM)bullet Wrote:  Apple is often thrown in with the others, but I think they are much more vulnerable. Apple once dominated computers. They were followed by IBM. The iPhone and their other devices could rapidly become minor players just like Apple computers did.

Facebook, Google and Amazon are not quite as vulnerable. Facebook and Google control information distribution. Amazon is getting a very strong position in product distribution.

When Apple dominated computers it was a small niche market. When it became a broad consumer market they were a small player. The iPod is probably the only consumer device they've ever made that was dominant in a broad consumer market. The iPhone has never held big market share.

Apple is more similar to BMW/Mercedes or Rolex/Omega than Ford/Toyota or Timex/Fossil, they make high margin products and don't want to wade into the low price and low margin markets.