I think quite a lot of why Apple overtook was focus as in the Jonny I've quotes below:
"There is a clear goal and it isn't to make money. The goal is to desperately try to make the best products we can. We are not naive - if you trust it, people like it, they buy it and we make money. This is a consequence."
"We won't be different for different's sake. Different is easy... make it pink and fluffy! Better is harder. Making something different often has a marketing and corporate agenda."
Over a long time focus on the best products and user experience can be powerful. Meanwhile Microsoft were doing things like killing the start menu which not many users were keen on.
"There is a clear goal and it isn't to make money. The goal is to desperately try to make the best products we can. We are not naive - if you trust it, people like it, they buy it and we make money. This is a consequence."
"We won't be different for different's sake. Different is easy... make it pink and fluffy! Better is harder. Making something different often has a marketing and corporate agenda."
Over a long time focus on the best products and user experience can be powerful. Meanwhile Microsoft were doing things like killing the start menu which not many users were keen on.