While things are uncomfortably quiet here in the States, it looks like every once in a while we're going to have to find our plot twists overseas. So hooray for ZDNet, who published a short interview with Thomas Lot, the general manager of Apple France. Lot's comments are almost a window to the glorious past; while Apple is currently struggling after a massive comeback on this side of the pond, the company is just hitting its growth stride over in Europe. Take, for example, the fact that Apple Germany just completed its best year ever.

In fact, Apple Germany's explosive growth (from a woefully dismal 1.5% market share to a markedly less sucky 2.4%) is perhaps symptomatic of the whole "lean and hungry" attitude that Lot seems to be trying to foster. "Reaching a double-digit market share is clearly an objective for Apple," he says, "by innovating, and by integrating innovation with the strengths that a manufacturer can provide." 10% market share or higher? Hey, don't laugh-- technically, it's not out of the question. Remember, in Europe the personal computer market isn't as saturated as it is over here: reportedly 77% of French homes still don't have even one system (oooh, we're going to have nightmares tonight!), so Apple certainly has "room to grow" over there. And Lot thinks that Apple has the gumption to tackle that 77% with gusto: "We regard ourselves as a start-up!"

Okay, so it's a multibillion-dollar start-up that's been in business for over twenty-five years, but it's a start-up nonetheless. What we'd like to see is a wider "start-up" attitude over in Cupertino proper. Sure, the iCEO's working for a buck a year (plus the occasional obscenely-high bonus and jet plane) and there's an increasing focus on stock options as employee compensation, but we have a hunch that Apple got a smidge complacent what with all the warm fuzzies from the press for two years before this most recent stumble. Back to basics! Apple needs to fight to survive, to claw its way up the hill while knocking competitors off the cliffside right and left. It's go time. Caffeine is your ally and sleep is for the weak; now get out there and build the best damn computers in this or any other universe! Perhaps Guy Kawasaki's Garage.com could help Apple find some funding. Say, when's the IPO?