Apple released its quarterly earnings statement, and some analysts have noted that its market cap has surpassed that of IBM. Market cap is calculated from the stock price, and Apple has left computer rival Dell in the dust; Dell is barely one third the value of Apple right now. Dell's founder, Michael Dell, is famous for stating a decade ago that Apple had no future and should be just shut down.
Apple reported it is selling 3 million iPods a month, and has sold over a million iPhones in a four months. Sales of Macintosh computers are also up sharply, and Apple is selling nearly double the number of Macs as it was three or four years ago.
Apple continues to out-perform the other computer makers because the firm understands how important design is to users. Apple crafts both its software and hardware with exquisite care, resulting in products that are easy to use and often seem effortless, like the new multi-touch interface on the iPhone and iPod touch. Apple designs for both form and function, and it is paying off big for the company, as millions of people become new Apple customers every month.