Sell Apple, Buy Microsoft

This column was originally published on RealMoney on June 6 at 12:02 p.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. For more information about subscribing to RealMoney, please click here.

Apple(AAPL Quote) has won the hearts and minds of the younger generation in recent years, with its ubiquitous iPod opening the door to market share gains for its less popular desktop computers. Rival Microsoft(MSFT Quote) has responded with the Zune, an odd device trying to challenge the iPod's near monopoly on teenage coolness.

Of course, the Zune will never threaten the iPod's sales dominance, but you can't fault Microsoft for trying. Indeed, the company has been in the knock-off business for generations, trying to mimic the best ideas of other companies rather than use originality or creativity to book its immense profits. ...