Microsoft has had to keep Windows a general purpose, one-size-fits-all product that it can license to every PC maker on earth apart from Apple. Microsoft’s business interests often fail to align with those of its licensees, resulting in skirmishes with its OEMs.
Some people say that the environment Apple creates by controlling hardware and software is bad, but Apple has avoided the issues Microsoft has faced by dealing with dozens of companies, all running Windows on literally thousands of different products.
The real winner here? Mac users.