As the Times notes, Dunn rose from a secretary to run the investment firm Barclays Global, and then to serve as chairwoman at HP, only to be forced out at HP for her role in a scandal in which the company spied on reporters and others in an attempt to stop boardroom leaks.

FORBES: Former Hewlett-Packard Chair Patricia Dunn Dies At 58

Competitors such as HP are only now now starting to catch up to what Apple can do, in terms of features and price.

FORBES: Why Does Apple Need All That Cash? For A Time Machine

Five companies including HP ultimately got to the point of making offers, but only HP is publicly named in the filing -- the other suitors are referred to as Companies A, B, C, and D.

ENGADGET: HP bought Palm after a five-company bidding war