iPads trump oil: Apple is most valuable U.S. company

Exxon Mobil, meanwhile, posted a 41% increase in its second-quarter earnings to nearly $11 billion, the largest since it set a record of nearly $15 billion in the third quarter of 2008. Its revenue grew 36 percent to $125 billion.

I know that market capitalization (i.e. value) may be more pertinent, but I think revenue (i.e. size) is more impressive.

By the way, it's amusing to compare the revenues and incomes of the two companies. Going off those figures, Apple must be getting triple or quadruple the profit margin that Exxon Mobil does. I wonder why people don't go around screaming about 'Big Tech'?

GO APPLE!!

At the time, the company was considered a pioneer in the technology world, having developed the floppy disk drive in 1971 and the personal computer 10 years later.

By the way Apple was the first to release a computer for consumer use, IBM's was more targeted at business's then targeted the consumer market

IBM 5100 was the first

Masters of the bait and switch, apple.

I still don't get the ipad. (i say that as i type on a macbook pro, which i love)

First they said the genius of it was in the touchscreen keyboard. Why is that, when everyone i know or have heard comment about it admits that it's not nearly as good as a physical keyboard? The mbpro keyboard and touchpad is amazing, btw, and i don't have to wipe finger oil off my screen.

Then they said the genius of it was all about simplicity as there was no real multitasking (in the first model), making you focus on what you really had to do. This was obviously a joke because the second version apparently has multitasking up the wazoo!

I have a feeling that the real genius of the ipad was in creating a market that didn't really exist out of a product that wasn't really necessary, and packing it full of features that aren't really convenient. Let's face it, the ipad is in the truest sense, pure gadgetry.

sourpuss: You don't have to wipe finger oil off your screen, just off your keys (eventually). Anyway, I don't much like the iPad either, given that I have an iPhone which does more or less the same things, but for people without it is an amazing thing. I've heard that iPhone 5 is going to basically eliminate the need for a medium -- or computer. I'll believe it when I see it, but I do kind of believe it already.

The only thing I don't like about this is that I've been an Apple fan my whole life, from the beginning, and have always hated Windows. Now that Apple is taking over, where I was cared for in the past as a fan I will be screwed in the future.

iPad changed my life for the better, oil destroyed the world for worse.

How anyone can own an iphone or ipod and still mouth the same old tired Lefty bromides against capitalism is beyond me.

@sourpuss Ipad 2 keyboard is very attentive and responsive compared to ipad 1 and also much better to type on then the iphone 4 I think it takes time in getting used to it as opposed to a physical keyboard

Ipad 3 and iphone 5 are just around the corner by the way ^_~

iPad changed my life for the better, oil destroyed the world for worse.

if it wasn't for fossil fuels, you wouldn't even own an iPad.

Deplore

if it wasn't for fossil fuels, you wouldn't even own an iPad.

Good point.

While I don't really care for any of the Apple iGadgets, can't help but admire how they've turned the company around. Once thought that Apple would be over as soon the iPod fad died down, but it followed with the iPhone and the iPad. Can't help but wonder what's next. How about iPark, the revolutionary Apple car navigation system?

The iPod, iPhone, and iPad are just over-priced toys. A laptop does most of the same stuff.

This is now old news - Exxon Mobil is back on top, and gas is going up. Apple power is based on production, while Exxon is based on market forces.

It's the iBubble (TM).

Where does Apple make its parts and products ... in the U.S. ... or in China, Malaysia and elsewhere outside the United States. If they are entirely made in the U.S. ... then a full-fledged American manufacturer is No. 1 in the U.S.A. Otherwise ...