> Historically, closed platforms are typically limited in terms of scale and are confined to niche markets,” the report said. “Apple has built is business out of carving its own niche, which means that while Apple could see success with devices like the iPad, other players are unlikely to be able to replicate its result simply by copying, Lin noted.
via [appleinsider.com](http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/01/apples_itunes_advantage_keeps_acer_from_building_ipad_challenger.html)
Copying Apple is a recipe for failure, in other words. Smart man. He’d rather concentrate on his company’s strengths than try to beat Apple at its own game.
RIM figured this out about a year or two ago, when it stopped trying so hard to make “iPhone killers.” What it learned is that you’ll hold on to more of your market share, and even increase it, if you stick to what you do best, and innovate within your own niche.
There’s a lesson for Microsoft, and especially even Google there. Google in particular, is quite capable of creating very good products of its own. But if it tries to outdo Apple, it will just embarrass itself.
People keep thinking that history is going to repeat itself with Apple handing over power to its biggest competitor. They haven’t figured out yet that the Apple/Microsoft wars were lost by Apple, not won by Microsoft. Apple isn’t as naive and smug as it once was.
