Apple Passes Microsoft as Largest Tech Company
The little fruit company has climbed high.
While Microsoft may still rule the software world with its operating system and desktop software, the worlds most valuable technology company, at least when it comes down to the finances, is Apple.
According to the New York Times: In intraday trading shortly after 2:30 p.m., Apple shares rose 1.8 percent, which gave the company a value of $227.1 billion. Shares of Microsoft declined about 1 percent, giving the company a market capitalization of $226.3 billion.
This also gives Apple the second highest market capitalization among American companies. Only higher is Exxon Mobil, at $282 billion.
A venture capitalist call's Apple's rise from ashes of decades ago something remarkable. "It is the single most important turnaround that I have seen in Silicon Valley," said Jim Breyer.
NYT points to this as a sign of changing investor attitudes and the increased value of consumer tastes. While Microsoft's products still completely own businesses, Apple's products cater strongly to the consumer.

Just think if Microsoft had the apple tax on all their products. Microsoft would be able to buy 2 Exxon Mobil sized companies then. =P
Wow, you are one deluded puppy
Windows allows you to install pretty much any software from anyone
Windows places no restriction on whose hardware is used to be installed on
Whereas...
Apple places strict controls on what you can have and by who
Apple forces you to use its hardware
Then...
You compare Gates to Genghis Khan or Hitler
Despite Gates being the single largest contributor to charitable causes in the history of the world, more than the rest of the next 100 richest people in the world combined
Then Steve Jobs who doesn't have a charitable bone in his body and would happily have the furnaces powered by burning kittens
I'm sure comparing Gates to Hitler will play nicely with the anti-semetic lunatic fringe but everyone else just thinks you are a sick individual
Just think if Microsoft had the apple tax on all their products. Microsoft would be able to buy 2 Exxon Mobil sized companies then. =P
Soon they will be unstoppable! suing company's left right and center, claiming all technology is theirs!
Wait that's happening now!
it's time to wake up msft... and other companies...
Good work Jobs, Sorry Balmer, you suck bigtime.
First off, you're spouting rhetoric that's more than a decade old; How is Bill Gates the most hated person? He's more of a philanthropist than you'll ever be.
And secondly, you're saying Microsoft is overpriced, but then you state that Apple has a 7% market share... and but according to the article, they are worth more than Microsoft.
Hmm, 7% market share yet wealthiest tech company, and not overpriced? Your logic is flawed.
Oh well, moving on.
Wow, you are one deluded puppy
Windows allows you to install pretty much any software from anyone
Windows places no restriction on whose hardware is used to be installed on
Whereas...
Apple places strict controls on what you can have and by who
Apple forces you to use its hardware
Then...
You compare Gates to Genghis Khan or Hitler
Despite Gates being the single largest contributor to charitable causes in the history of the world, more than the rest of the next 100 richest people in the world combined
Then Steve Jobs who doesn't have a charitable bone in his body and would happily have the furnaces powered by burning kittens
I'm sure comparing Gates to Hitler will play nicely with the anti-semetic lunatic fringe but everyone else just thinks you are a sick individual
what are you sorry for?
I haven't used a standalone Mp3 player in years, so that takes care of iPods. iPhones look like they are gonna have one last Summer of good sales. The iPad sucks. And Apple gave up making serious computers almost 5 years ago. God forbid Jobs has a stroke or something...
When Macintosh does that, I may consider another look. Otherwise, for now, though while slimmer, and better battery life than most, I find them ugly and overpriced without having the hardware I crave.
I miss Bill. Screw Ballmer.
I prefer not to think about that, even though I'm Canadian...
You are right but the fanboys don't care about truth just like the Democrat party does not care about truth.
Idiot their has been MS taxes in place for decades and the number one tax is buy a new computer (save for Apple and a small Linux company or 2) you have to pay for their OS. Go ask Dell for a PC without an OS.
steve jobs is hitler. corrected.
I'm sure Dell would be happy to sell you one without Windows.