Alan Abelson Died: Lives On Through A Generation He Defined [View article]
James--I echo your sentiments. Abelson's columns were like no other. He could say outrageous things in such a disarming way that his surgical expose of foolishness he exposed brought a smile to one's face, not outrage or anger. Like many other I could not wait to read his column knowing that at some point I would break out into uncontrolled hilarity. His bon mots are and will remain unequalled. There is no voice like his. I hope a book of his columns is published. rdmill
Google Removes Beta From GCE And Declares War On Amazon [View article]
May I ask a "naive" question? IF Google succeeds will this not hurt Amazon? Can amazon's lead in cloud services possibly cause Google to fail in this venture? Not even Google alwys wins. rdmill
Google Vs. Apple: It's About Scalability [View article]
Mr. Waters--thank you writing what is possibly the best article yet on why Apple is "failing" while Google seems to be able to grow indefinitely. This makes most of the other essays on Apple simply irrelevant: An increase in apple's dividend and a share buy back in no way addresses the key problem: Apple's growth model no longer works. My question to you is whether Apple can "fix" or improve its flawed model given its lifelong commitment to "insanely wonderful products" which limits scalability by its very nature. Tim Cook is certainly not the person to bring Apple out of decline. Steve Job's concept was that the unconditional superiority of any Apple product would make it largely invulnerable to competition. And that is arrogance which has been refuted by reality. But can Apple be Apple and solve the scalability problem. Your essay suggests that it probably cannot. You also nicely explained why Msft is in effect a dead company always seeing to stay in place as it pretends it is going forward. I wonder if Facebook also faces the scalability limit given its founder's concept. By the way, Google's attempt to dent Facebook has been less than a success. Thanks rdmill
Google Values Vringo At $200 Billion [View article]
All valid points. I find it less than credible that Google is merely bluffing. This would make the settlement case much stronger for Vringo. No responsible attorney would allow a phony claim to be made by his client. The issue is how good is the walk arpound and how expensive and disruptive ist impliementation would be. Clearly Google wants to use Vringo as a test case for crushing Patent-based companies. Continuing to hold Vringo is now even riskier than before. Getting angry at Google solves nothing. Daviud does not always defeat Goliath. rdmill
Vringo (VRNG +5.4%) adds to the big gains it saw on Friday on Microsoft settlement hopes after announcing it has filed a fresh suit against ZTE, this time in France. Vringo, which sued ZTE in the U.K. and Germany last year, alleges the Chinese OEM is infringing "the French part" of two Vringo EU patents. [View news story]
I wonder if it will hold its gains. Msft ought to buy Vringo lock stock and law suits. Then is can bring Google quickly to the settlement table. This would be good for everyone except Google. Probably will not happen though. Msft is its own worst enemy under the cluesless Balmer. He is like a rotary phone in an era pf smart phones. rdmill
Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust Is A Strong Buy, Part I [View article]
Thank you RA for the article. We look forward to your detailed case for buying CHKR at these prices. Normally a distribution of 19% would be like a bright red flag in front of a well rested bull: danger ahead. Do you expect the distrbution to come down over the next few years? rdmill
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Does anyone have any idea what is preventing the case from moving forward, It is in no one's interest--not even Google's for this to drag in indefintiely with no sign of leagl resolution. rdmill
Leave Apple's Cash Alone - It Will Need It Soon [View article]
Mr. Grillo--If I read this I might assume that you were agnostic or sceptical about whether the current management at Apple is up to the tasks you so rightly outlined here. This is in contrast to Google which appears to be doing just what you say Apple Ought to do. Google seems way ahead and the action of its stock price suggests it is the "new" Apple. From 800 to 1000 is 25% and seems quite doable absent a new bear market. You are right that Apple needs all that cash to reinvigorate its dominance. Paying all that money out in dividends is capitulation. I just wonder if Apple can do it again without a Steve Jobs. A better watch? A better TV? thanks rdmill
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Cliff-Fiscal. Can I learn of your reasons to be bullish on Kerx at this point. Like almost every biotech that runs up on good news, it has sold off considerably from it peak above 9 a few weeks ago. What do you expect at this point? The speculative fever and money is over--at least the initial phase of it. It is true the Options premiums are still quite exalted fro Kerx. Anyway, I will be pleased to learn of your reasoning. rdmill
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
The longer this drags out the worse it is for Vringo's stock price. It will drift lower and lower. (By the way I am long so no nonsense about my being a paid basher). Like Gill and Kim I think that Vringo will prevail and the stock price rises to the 6-10 range. The question for everyone is do we have the patience and would we be willing to add to our positions under $3/share? Let me give an example from a small cap biotech stock:Kerx. The share price collapsed when its collorectal cancer treatment proved ineffective. The stock hung around $2 but then started to rise in anticipation that its renal failure drug might prove effective. For several months it hovered in and around $3. Then one morning good new came out. The stock opened around $4.80. It was 6 the next morning and rose on a spike a day later to 9 before beginning to return to earth. Currenlty it is about $6.60. I ask again of all of us who are long. Can we wait 4-8 months for resolution? rdmill
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Mr Gill--Excellent analysis supported by documentary evidence. Those of us who are long just have to wait. When do you expect Judge Jackson to make this decision? Thanks rdmill
The Cost Of Product Cannibalization Dooms Apple's Growth [View article]
RS--Does the world need another comment on Apple fro me or anyone else? The sad truth is that your argument is likely to prove correct and the fantastic, 3-sigma growth of Apple is over. Google is far more innovative and important over the next decade. Perhaps when Apple's share price settles in in the low 400s, the dividend rise to 3%+, Investors will be able to write calls, collect the dividend and make an easy 10% per year with some upside. And conservative money managers will use Apple as they use Msft and Intel for their clients. 10% on a million is money. The real conundrum is this: If Apple's inexpensive phone is good it will surely attract massive buying in Asia and among young people who cannot afford $600 phones. But then Apple's sale of the i5 to iInfinity wil decline as a percentage and margins will go down as you said. If the phone is not good, it will be a disaster for Apple and cause the share prcie to plunge. It has to be a very good phone! Apple can never afford to make a mediocre product. rdmill
How Apple Can Generate A Decent Return On Its Cash [View article]
Apple could use much of its cash to buy its own stock--after raising the dividend to say 3%. It would then earn 3% on itself as it supports the stock. Towards the end of the year, Apple could issue a special dividend of say half of what it earned from its own dividend and reinvest the other half in acquisitions, R&D, etc. The assumptions here of compounded 8% returns express a pious wish. Remember 2000-2002 and 2008? Yes, I am sure that Jeffey Gundlach would be delighted to manage say 50 Billion of Apple's cash! rdmill
Can The NTP Lawsuit Provide Insight Into Vringo's Ongoing Battle With Google? [View article]
Enhydris--The scariest fact in your analysis is that it took 4 years from the jury award for payment to occur! I wonder what happened to NTP stock during this long wait? You claim that May could be the decisive month--a mere 3 months form mid February. I think the stock would rise into the 5-6 range upon learning that Judge Jackson ratifies the Jury's award. Of course Google will appeal and try to delay any payment as lon as possible. Google can afford an extra 100 Million. What happens to vringo during this longish, uncertain period? thansk rdmill
Alan Abelson Died: Lives On Through A Generation He Defined [View article]
Google Removes Beta From GCE And Declares War On Amazon [View article]
Google Vs. Apple: It's About Scalability [View article]
Google Values Vringo At $200 Billion [View article]
Getting angry at Google solves nothing. Daviud does not always defeat Goliath. rdmill
Vringo (VRNG +5.4%) adds to the big gains it saw on Friday on Microsoft settlement hopes after announcing it has filed a fresh suit against ZTE, this time in France. Vringo, which sued ZTE in the U.K. and Germany last year, alleges the Chinese OEM is infringing "the French part" of two Vringo EU patents. [View news story]
Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust Is A Strong Buy, Part I [View article]
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Is Apple Moving Toward Safe Haven Status Within A Long-Term Trading Range? [View article]
Leave Apple's Cash Alone - It Will Need It Soon [View article]
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
Vringo: Court May Have Telegraphed Decision Worth 40% Of This Stock's Market Cap [View article]
The Cost Of Product Cannibalization Dooms Apple's Growth [View article]
The real conundrum is this: If Apple's inexpensive phone is good it will surely attract massive buying in Asia and among young people who cannot afford $600 phones. But then Apple's sale of the i5 to iInfinity wil decline as a percentage and margins will go down as you said. If the phone is not good, it will be a disaster for Apple and cause the share prcie to plunge. It has to be a very good phone! Apple can never afford to make a mediocre product. rdmill
How Apple Can Generate A Decent Return On Its Cash [View article]
Can The NTP Lawsuit Provide Insight Into Vringo's Ongoing Battle With Google? [View article]