I think we should also pay attention to the difference with which Apple approached its new technology.

The multi-touch screen was brought to Steve Jobs as a computer interface, but it he re-oriented the project to be an interface for a phone instead.

• The contrast with existing phones is greater than it would be with tablets.
• There's a bigger market.
• Lack of third-party apps would be a much bigger flaw in a computer.

And in taking this approach, Apple was perceived as extending its expertise in getting the user experience right where everybody else gets it wrong (see every iPod-vs-other-MP3-players review).

Not: "30 percent better experience" but "a world apart from the alternatives."

No one thinks Apple's phone, music player or computers are the best hardware at a good price. Heck they're not even considered as being at a fair price. With all of them, you're paying for something other than the hardware (and, no, I'm not talking about marketing).

The Internet Tablets, on the other hand, have consistently delivered the best hardware at the lowest price in a package not matched by any other maker. Different approach to value.