Back in the 1980s and the 1990s, Microsoft was the undisputed king of the operating system and computer world. Bill Gates dominated a monopoly in which there was no real competition from anyone. However, the world in which we live in today has seen that dramatically changed. Microsoft does have a hold on valuable items such as the Microsoft XBOX and the new 360 console as well as the new and thriving Microsoft Zune, both of which are compatible with each other. Microsoft is still continuing their dominance in the PC community, though it is not as nearly as dominant as it was in the past. Apple is turning heads as it has taken a huge lead in today’s world in regards to importance. The Mac computer has given the Microsoft PC a hard run and now it is almost as popular as it, though more expensive. A lot of people are now switching to the Safari browser which is made by Apple. This means that there is a changing of the guard in the way in which people look at technology. Apple has become more valuable than Microsoft for one simple reason: the have things that are in demand and popular, something that Microsoft is beginning to lack over time. The iPod has been a popular accessory all around the worlds and there are so many versions and generations of the Apple iPod from the classic ones to the sleek and new Nano ones. There are also the new iPod touches that are just like the iPhones without the phone capabilities. Sporting a wifi browser, YouTube, and an array of new applications, it has become one of the most popular iPods and tools of all time as it holds a superior advantage of the Zune in many ways. There are also the iPhones which make a lot of noise within consumers. With the release of the new iPhone 4 impending, there are sure to be many new customers on their heels. Apple has made a louder wav e in technology today and as a result has become more valuable than their Microsoft rivals.