<p><pre><code>  it’s not hard to imagine Apple doing their best to phase 
  out the Macintosh in the next decade, just as they phased
  out OS 9
</code></pre>
I completely disagree. There's a need for high end machines for image, sound, and other professionals who use these machines because they are really good.  Sure, some people who would have bought a iMac will end up buying an iPad instead because really all they need to do is surf the web and check their mail.  But from there to discontinuing Mac OS X altogether it's a big leap of the imagination which I find unfounded.