NeXT basically took over Apple from within. Their technology ended up in basically every Apple product, nearly completely displacing what was there before. Their top people became Apple's top people. Their CEO became Apple's CEO.
Apple watchers from the time often joked that NeXT bought Apple for negative $400 million. Buying NeXT is what turned Apple from a perpetually "beleaguered" niche computer company (remember that word?) to one of the most valuable companies on the planet.
The modern Apple, Inc. is much more NeXT Inc. than it is Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple watchers from the time often joked that NeXT bought Apple for negative $400 million. Buying NeXT is what turned Apple from a perpetually "beleaguered" niche computer company (remember that word?) to one of the most valuable companies on the planet.
The modern Apple, Inc. is much more NeXT Inc. than it is Apple Computer, Inc.