I've been lusting after a Mac for a while. The new Mac Mini reduces the cost factor significantly: "The Mac Mini is a tiny machine with a processor, hard drive and optical drive--you supply the monitor, mouse and keyboard."
Apple is an interesting case study as a company that continues to innovate and re-think how it does business. What is unique to Apple that allows it to significantly out pace rivals with new products. Can that type of innovation be taught? Is it a function of superior brain power? Or a function of environment and expectation? How does a corporation like Apple manage its learning?