AAPL.O

What was Steve's last big blunder? Sure there's been minor fuck-ups but I think the last time they were truly going off the rails was the Cube in mid 2000 (or was it 2001?).

It's been a long time since that Steve's made a major misjdgement and frankly, I don't see him making another one any time soon.

These days he calls things that don't conquer the world instantly a hobby. But in reality, Apple has been firing on all cylinders since about 5 years now and they've enjoyed a generally positive press during that period. Of course someone is going to start asking questions about just how much a company that belongs to the 3 most valuable companies in the US is depending on a charismatic cancer survivor.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2010 09:58PM by tliet.

Oh that's fine to ask that question. I've previously stated that's the one reason I'd be wary to buy AAPL.

What's not fine is to say the company will go tits up without Jobs at the helm and then in the next breath that Steve Jobs' mercurial and temperamental nature is also going to make AAPL go tits up if he's left at the helm.

It's one or the other - they can't have it both ways.

Hm, I think there's something to be said for both scenarios. Apple has proved to be incapable to keep itself afloat when he's not at the helm. Of course, things are different now, but really, the sheer arrogance of the company has nearly cost its life more than once. And (also historically proven), big egos at some point over inflate themselves and get cocky. It may very well be that Jobs doesn't feel invincible any more now that he's been ill and I think it has improved certain decision making processes as well during his absence. But the fact remains, both scenarios may very well be possible. And with Apple on the top of their wave, a more pessimistic analyst may come to the conclusion that there's only one way; down. Maybe later than sooner though.

I think Steve just needs a big hug.

It would have paid off spending money on Apple's stock instead of its products during the past decade: http://mashable.com/2010/04/26/apple-products-apple-stock/

lol



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2010 02:50AM by tliet.

Is the mashable guy kidding or is he that stupid? I mean even if I would have bought gold bullion don't you think it would have performed less well than the stock of a gold mining firm? Shares are traded, goods have physical costs associated with them, even if the 'commodity' increases in relative cost one must still expend funds to "safe keeping and care". You gonna keep a pouch full of cut diamonds tied to your waist?

Is the guy unaware that TECHNOLOGICAL goods tends to depreciate at a faster rate than most normal goods? Ain't just consumer stuff either. Ditto for IBM mainframe vs stock.

Gimme a break!

On the WSJ article no suprise the author would fuall into the "Steve is the company / Steve will ruin the company" trap -- it is a CLASSIC example of the kind of article that MOST publications run ALL THE TIME to get their readership to recognize / acknowledge them. "Click bait" is what is gets called on the web, but years before there were interwebs the WSJ and other business oriented publications have run articles that play both sides of the fence to both 'identify' with the readership that is almost certainly split close to 50/50 on such a topic AND goose-up circulation numbers to help with ad rates for seasonal 'bookings'...

Nothing new in article. Big YAWN....

Jobs has been back at Apple (since Apple acquired NeXT) longer than he was away. That seems odd to me... I remember his exile and travels in the wilderness as being a longer period.

Quote
John Willoughby
Jobs has been back at Apple (since Apple acquired NeXT) longer than he was away. That seems odd to me... I remember his exile and travels in the wilderness as being a longer period.

Suffering through the period of CRAP machines, shrinking user base / relevance, prematurely AXED products and general malaise while other 'no name' firms were born, blossomed and died can have that effect on one's memory. I suspect it is also why dementia patients often think their full grown kids are still infants...

Personally, I'm not all that impressed with the offerings of Macs right this minute.
I think some of the old crap machines were very good during their time. Very niche-y but dreamy in some things.

And frankly Power Computing had some drool-worthy stuff. All crap now, of course. But eBay shows that amazingly old, worthless stuff is still desirable to some folks.

Apple is now worth more than Microsoft.

AAPL Market Cap: $225.1 Billion
MSFT Market Cap: $222.7 Billion

Does that now mean Jobs is our imperial overlord and Ballmer is the renegade who thinks different(ly)?

I would agree that Ballmer thinks differently.

I've been kind of on the fence about the Foxconn suicides... after all, if hundreds of people lined up every day seeking employment it must be seen as one of the better employers in the region. But if this is true, then they are definitely a sweatshop and Apple needs to either change the way that Foxconn works or seek another partner. I worked a 31 hour shift once*, and that was bad. But this guy probably had to pull a number of these shifts, which would be horrible.

*And then drove 90 miles home. I don't know how I didn't hit anybody.

I read thousands every day line up.

It's going to take a mass exodus of companies to get anything to change.

They do say that China is the next bubble.

It's not dead, just resting!

Rob Endlerle praises Apple products and foresees expanded Apple sales. Abandon ship!

That's about as praiseful of Apple as a poker player saying "well played" to a donkey who, but for luck, would be chip-dumping.

He does say nice words, but digs as much as he can. HP can't make enough tablets? Oh, marketshare *back down* to 4% after some non-heinous alternative comes out? "Windows 7." "Windows 7." Oh, it's not Apple, it's Anyone-but-Microsoft ..."suggesting potential similar benefits for Google and their ChromeOS efforts if they ever bring out a competitive tablet"...

Bleh, he hasn't crossed over to actually admitting anything real yet.

As I mentioned, I put a bit of investment money into Aapl. I think the Mac store is going to be huge. The Verizon iPhone will do well too. Plus the Macbook Air is awesome. Pending redesigns of the MBP line seems compelling and the next generation iPad will no doubt be a good deal sexier.