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An annual marketing survey rated Apple the No. 1 brand that consumers can't live without — a spot usually won by Coca-Cola. The computer maker also was cited as the most inspiring brand. Google also featured highly on the survey, but no other tech companies made the cut. No surprise there: Does anyone really think Oracle or SAP are inspiring?

I'm inspired. Want more stupid questions? "Which brand would you most like to sit next to at a dinner party?" "If sent back 100 years, which brand would have the biggest impact on history?" Both were won by Apple, but for the second question, Ford ranked fifth. Who are these people who think a computer company that makes shiny gadgets would have a bigger impact than Ford — the company that created modern manufacturing? (Photo by AP/Paul Sakuma)