[Worldwalker]

kjk, you are assuming an ideal market -- the kind with zero barriers to entry, perfect information, and totally rational choice on the part of the participants. Unfortunately, that kind of market only exists on paper. People don't buy iPads (or cars, or clothes, or breakfast cereal) because that's what best meets their needs. They buy them because it's trendy, because they're swayed by advertising, because they're locked in by some legacy content, whatever it might be. "Just buy a different brand" isn't always an option. Further, once a particular company or platform reaches some critical size, they get sales because of their market position alone; like celebrities who are famous for being famous, some companies are big because they're big.

(note: I shouldn't post when I'm this irritable)