In that sense, a customer who would not buy an iPhone 5 with a two year contract but would buy an iPhone 4 is not a lost iPhone 5 sale that Apple has somehow failed to convert to their flagship, but a new addition to the Apple ecosystem, with a strong chance they will buy more Apple products in the future.

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They make real products that real people use, and there are many reasons why somebody might buy a Microsoft product over an Apple product.

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Apple's challenge is that getting people to buy an iPod, a new type of device, is easier than getting them to switch loyalties in an existing product category.

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Lastly, the earnings call would be the time to make an announcement on cash use, either a buy back or a dividend, should Apple decide to do this.

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It had an on again, off again relationship with Best Buy, the Apple store within CompUSA was tucked into a back corner and lacked the Apple specialists needed to work with customers, and a fling with Circuit City came as that chain was on its way out.

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On why you might want to buy Windows phones instead of an Apple iPhone: he says your information is front and center, not a sea of icons.

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