Originally posted by PeterAM I really don't see the Apple analogy; the Subaru one works better for me. To me, Pentax is not as innovative as I perceive Apple to be. Subaru makes totally competent, highly dependable cars that are not flashy and are (I think) good values. I've owned a lot of cars, of different makes, and think that the Subaru Outback wagon that I own is one of the best of the bunch. No flash, but really good across the board. I've owned Pentax cameras since the late 60's (along with others) and feel that they fit the same description.
I disagree: in my opinion, the very DNA of Pentax by now is that they make seriously good products including very innovative features. Just compare the K10D, when it was launched, with the competition. Several in the exposure modes were completely new and have been later copied by Canikons. And when you have a quiet look at the ergonomy of Pentax dSLR (and particularly the K10D/K20D), you feel it simply WORKS, just like Macs: there is no grease, all is well thought and put in the right place.
Further, if you look at the IQ, you will realize that Pentax, as Apple, focus on what matters (i.e., good, realistic pictures) and forgets about the plasticky image quality of other major brands. Just like Apple offers the stuff you need and forgets about the thousands of useless possibilities offered by Microsoft in most applications, which are used by 1% of users but are bloating the equipment of 100% of the users.