may the force be with you

If there's any area in which Apple Computer has maintained unrivaled dominance over the years, it's in public market for speculation and rumor. Thanks to its history of innovation and influence, its faithful fan base and its rock star CEO, no other tech company has a more closely watched product pipeline or a more vigorously debated set of strategies. Apple is once again involved in a transformation that has stoked the chatter. Its break with longtime processor provider IBM and its new alliance with Intel leave open a raft of questions about motive, implementation and risks. The company also faces the challenge of building on the unmatched success of its iPods and iTunes Music Store in the face of unrelenting competition. And theories abound on the path Apple will take as it aims for a central role in digital home entertainment. All this makes it a good time for SiliconValley.com to return to the subject in one of our periodic roundtables. We've pulled together a diverse group of insiders and observers, and beginning Monday, Sept. 12, they (and you) can speculate to your heart's content about Apple's future in a weeklong exchange in our forum.

source:http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/12524798.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp