There's often a competition between first and best. The ideal is to be first and best. First can also pay short term dividends. Best, as long as you're not too much later than first, is the next preferred option.

I mention this in connection with the modern tablet market. In the large tablet space, Apple was first and best with the original iPad. They sucked all the air and profit out of the space.

In the smaller tablet space, Google and Amazon were first. This had short term benefits, but almost no profit.

Apple just entered the space this weekend with the iPad mini. They’re not too much later than first. They're also now the best. Time will prove this out.