flatman

Apple, Microsoft Run for the Clouds in the New Client Software War

Interesting that several comments questioned security and availability of thin client applications. Seems counter to the rapid acceptance and adoption of online banking and brokerage applications.

Apple, Microsoft Run for the Clouds in the New Client Software War

I think the analysis is accurate for the consumer market. The inertia in the enterprise, however, can really extend the existing fat client MSFT franchise. If I took this to a logical conclusion, I'd be very pessimistic for TV networks and their advertising/revenue model. Today 80% of the content is almost worthless, and with enough bandwidth a 'pull' model with and enhanced Itunes/Tivo could really disintermediate them.

Big Ben, Please Tell Us You Have a Plan B

Given enough time the weak dollar could create jobs here - unfortunately I think its the baby boomers who actually manufactured 'stuff' and they are retiring - so the timeframe could be quite a while off. I'm still trying to figure out what we manufacture these days.

Sellers' 'Hopeful Overvaluation' Dragging Out Housing Bust

Absolutely agree - visited a couple of open houses this weekend and the unreality of the situation was pretty clear. I asked a listing agent why one house I saw was being offered at an astounding $200K over a recent assessment and his contrite answer was that the owner 'didn't care whether he sold it or not'. Meanwhile 2 other house in the same development were selling at or near their assessed valuations. BTW all the potential buyers were from FL and CA. This was in NC.

The Real Threat of the Housing Bubble

Its been clear to me for a long time that the Fed is really planning for wages to increase through an inflationary spiral. Its obvious that housing is unaffordable under 'normal' credit standards in quite a few parts of the country. There's only 2 choices - prices must fall or wages must go up. The ponzi scheme that juiced housing is done.

How Will the Housing Crisis End?

The solution to the housing affordability problem, which isn't really mentioned, is not looser lending standards which is how we got into this problem but lower house prices which will happen as foreclosures rise.

Financials Likely in Dead Cat Bounce, But Fed's Now a Wildcard

To me the big difference this time is that so many mortgages were interest only or no down payment. A down payment of 20% basically makes it pretty tough to walk out on your house. Even a 10% or 15% decline in house values leaves you with skin in the game. That may be why 'this time things are different'.

3 Reasons To Be Bullish on the Investment Banks

I guess I'm still wondering how well they will do with smaller balance sheets and less leverage.

Consumers Will Continue to Buy Apple's Fashionable Gadgets

Here's the issue with AAPL - Will mass consumers pay the premium for AAPL products? As the economy slows PC's and other devices are getting ridiculously cheap. AAPL's fixed prices look very much like 'overpriced'. So far they've chosen big markups over market penetration but if the economic slowdown is deep they risk losing their momentum. I feel AAPL can 'own' the home user but pricing is an issue. BTW AAPL always low balls guidance and everyone knows it.

Financial Entertainment TV Buries Itself with Disinformation

Are you trying to tell me I shouldn't be making trading decisions based on the ever insightful Trish Regan or Michelle Caruso Cabrera - gee I never would have guessed. I keep waiting for the weather map to show up when they are on but CNBC persists in having them actually appear to be reporting on financial matters. Thanks for the heads up. What ever happened to my mentor Dennis Kneale??

The Credit Crisis and Potential Shorts

The analysis of the problems seemed Ok to me, but I still can't see how banks will make the kinds of earnings they have in the past. They are less well capitalized and many of the techniques they used to earn income will longer exist ( i.e. sub prime and collateralized debt). So unless they revert again to overly speculative investments - they just look moribund at best.

Credit Market Mayhem and the S&L Crisis: Drawing Parallels

You fail to mention the Real estate run up in the northeast in the 1980's and the subsequent failure of the third largest bank in Boston - Bank of New England in the early 90's. It was also a time when Collateralized Mortgage Obligations were developed. Back then they were almost impossible to value and the models were extremely primitive. Sounds eerily familiar to me.

Dick Bove Says Banking Is Sound - Time to Buy Financials?

1990's references always bring me back to Boston when the Bank of New England failed and 10,000 people were out on the street. Home prices had dropped after the big run up. If you bought in 1987 you were underwater until 1995. The S&L's were in liquidation mode. Anybody but me remember those days? Sometimes I wonder.

Opening up: Has Microsoft Saved Itself or Shot Itself in the Foot?

I'm curious about the hardware implications in a 'web services world'. Bloatware has caused the ever more powerful Wintel machines we now use. One might presume a significant change in client processing requirements down the road when the servers are doing all the work.

Apple: Next Leg Up Will Be From Enterprise Accounts

When??? Cracking the MSFT monopoly at the enterprise is a lot more difficult than just providing access to mail. How many IT careers are embedded in the prevailing technology. If you could overcome that inertia, you still have aa significant price difference between AAPL and Windows based technology. Consumers may be willing to pay the premium but will the business community. BTW I have an Iphone and love it so I'm not bashing and I think AAPL has a rosey future. I just think the timeline for any type of mass enterprise adoption is a lot longer that this article implies.