Journalistic hyperbole is not equal to fact. Apple acquired NeXT, for $400 million in cash in stock, at a time in which Apple had a market cap of $3.1 billion. I don't know why you seem to think otherwise. Read it from the horse's mouth along with the relevant financial statements:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020208190346/http://product.inf...
Within a period of, I believe, 12 months, Steve Jobs became CEO, installed NeXT execs in almost every key exec role in Apple, and replaced the board of directors.
Although Apple acquired NeXT, in every meaningful way, NeXT consumed Apple.
http://news.cnet.com/Apple-acquires-Next,-Jobs/2100-1001_3-2...
http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Apple_(AAPL)/Data/Market_Capi...
Again, I don't understand why you seem to think otherwise.