Well, don't get me wrong, I am a Mac user ever since and I still prefer the Mac over every other operating system. But recent decisions made by Apple and/or Steve Jobs make me ask this question: Is Apple turning to the Dark Side? Here are my points:

Computer hardware
Not much to say here, quality of Apple's computers has been a constant up and down ever since, and given the recent switch to Intel, they're doing their job well.

OS X
OS X continues to be a very good OS, with a few weaknesses here and there which might be improved in Leopard due out this month. OS X is locked to Apple's computers, but some geeks managed to run it on ordinary PC hardware, too. So there must be some kind of evil DRM, but nothing compared to Microsoft Vista, which is crippled by its DRM, not to say unusable. Not much to complain here, either – The lock most probably is to not have to support thousands of different hardware parts and to sell their hardware as a package. This is Apple, and it's okay.

Computer software
We're still on the right side, Safari being very good at W3C-standards, iTunes uses (besides DRM crippled shit) MP3 and AAC and iWork and iLife packages are nice to use. I'd love to see ODF support in Pages (and iWork as a whole), but that's not a reason to call Apple a dark-sider.

iPod
Now here's where it begins. iTunes and iPod hold a huge market share in the digital music marketplace, which per se is not a bad thing - the iPod is a good player, fact. I can't rant against Apple for not opening FairPlay to other competitors, either, although that'd be a nice step.
But with the latest iPods, Apple now checksums synced iPod databases. Not a big deal, as long as you use iTunes. But what if you can't? Or don't want to? Like on Linux? This checksum has absolutely no use other than to block alternative music software from syncing to the iPod. Bad move, Apple, very bad move! I'm glad the Open-Source-guys cracked this checksum within 36 hours.

iPhone
And this is quasi the Death-Star of Apple. Technologically it's really a superior product, nothing less than a must-have. But then, the EmpireApple uses its power as a weapon.
First, you can't install software other than Apple's own. Not only does Apple not give you the tools to do otherwise, Apple even prevents this through encryption of vital parts of the iPhone-OS-X. Stupid. Just telling the buyers not to do so and if they do so nonetheless, Apple guarantees no flawless operation would have been another option. A better option.
Second, and this being the final strike against all good, you can only use the phone on selected carriers. And what does Apple to those carriers? Apple forces the carriers to surrender supposedly up to 10% of the bill you pay them! While this is greedy and therefore evil enough already, with the latest iPhone update to 1.1.1, Apple impairs all those iPhones who have been SIM-unlocked; they don't work anymore after you update to 1.1.1.
Yes, there are reasons to use specific carriers, namely the new visual-voicemail function. Having a data-plan is a good reason to use your iPhone at its best, too. But hell, why not just recommend specific carriers? Deactivate visual-voicemail if it's not available? There'd be enough good alternatives to solving that problem.

So, the latest announcements of Apple have all been peppered with evil details. And all these details target at gaining more control. More control for Apple. There already is another company in the computer business which successfully practices this all-control strategy, and I don't like that company much.

Is Apple going down that road, too? IS Apple turning to the dark side?