[dennisw]

Apple designs their own Intel-based motherboards (based on Intel standards as all do), their ARM motherboards completely, and even designs their own ARM chips (based on an ARM core standard, as all do). 

Where is this done? Cupertino? Massachusetts? The moon? Who runs that division?  Do you have some links and references. Apple -Glueing an SSD or memory to a motherboard doesn't count as a big deal in motherboard design. Apple also alters mobo dimensions to fit in its machines. I'm saying the move to Intel chips had many reasons and one is that Quanta is more comfortable w Intel and that Apple takes an Intel reference board and works with Intel and Taiwanese to do does minor tweaking to it. Or tells Quanta or other Taiwanese to tweak it

The Chinese/Taiwanese just produce to Apple's specs, and they often have to re-do their manufacturing in order to be able to handle Apple's specs.

That is way off. Proper phraseology is ---  Apple collaborates with Taiwanese to come up w design specs then the Taiwanese/Chinese produce it

[antiRepublicrat]

Where is this done? Cupertino?

Give that man a cigar, we have a winner. When Apple puts "designed in Cupertino" on all the products, it doesn't just refer to the outside case.

Or tells Quanta or other Taiwanese to tweak it

You're getting closer to understanding. That is designing it. You design how it should be tweaked, and order that from the manufacturer.

Proper phraseology is --- Apple collaborates with Taiwanese to come up w design specs then the Taiwanese/Chinese produce it

No, Apple designs, Apple even comes up with new manufacturing techniques, and then Apple works with the Chinese to get them up to speed to be able to produce the Apple design.