Follow Apple long enough and you’ll begin to wonder what analysts get paid for. In 2006 Gartner said Apple should get out of the hardware business, for Pete’s sake. That’s like the poster child for Apple analysis derangement syndrome.

But there are a few whose opinions I respect.

• Michael Gartenberg, of course. Still interested to hear the story behind his two-week employment at Microsoft.
• Ben Bajarin, who prompted me to think of this.
• Frank Gillett of Forrester Research. I don’t think much of many of Forrester’s other analysts (and particularly not its CEO), but I knew Frank years ago and his analysis is solid.

I’m sure there are others I’m not thinking of. Theoretically, anyway. The list of analysts I don’t like is too long to get into.