> The difference is it only took Apple three years to reach $1B in annual sales.

It took far more than that to earn the trust of consumers. Microsoft decided to sit back, collect rent on Windows/Office, and let other business do the hard work of customer service and let their customers deal with malware on their laptops.

Contrast with Apple, who put customer service front and center, opened stores that my parents could go to and talk to someone if they had a problem. They took ownership of the product. And now they are rewarded with the profits.

Microsoft had all the cash in the world to make it happen. But instead, they put Candy Crush in the start menu.