Nice Guys Finish Last

What does it take for a company to be a computing and technology superpower? For Apple and Steve Jobs, its CEO, it's not about following the rules and daring to "think different." It's about micromanaging, demanding excellence and the strictest secrecy, and playing, well, dirty. Or being evil, as some in the tech world have asserted.

Sometimes it takes a "great intimidator" to achieve the great success that Jobs has in bringing revolutionary technology like the MacBook, iPod and the iPhone to the masses. Demanding more and being tough on employees to reach perfection is only part of Jobs' plan for making Apple sparkle and shine with one-of-a-kind products.

With a 70% domination of the portable music player market and billions in revenue every year, other tech companies are noticing Jobs' management style and looking to co-opt it, much to the dismay of Silicon Valley. One thing is for sure—bucking the trends is what helped Jobs make Apple. Could the concept really work in any other tech company? [Wired]