RK

With Apple, There's a Fine Line Between Paying a Premium and Being a Sucker

I have tried many mice: logictech, microsoft, apple, many other no name brands. I have never really liked any of them. Too heavy, too slow, too big, too curvy, too difficult to click. My point is that a mouse is a very personal thing. For people who work a lot of with a mouse (like me), a good mouse will be worth $70. Conversely, a $1 mouse that gives you carpal tunnel would be way too expensive. I am going to order one.

Michael Moore declares all-out war on capitalism with the debut of his new movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, in Venice today. It's clear the time has never been riper for an anti-capitalist rant; what's less clear is whether horrified movie-goers will be aroused to revolt, or return home to watch the cat-flushing-a-toilet video.

And he is showing this in a movie theater --- a capitalist market?

Apple Sold Twice as Many iPhones as Macs Last Quarter; Closing the Gap on iPod Sales, Too

The next 5 - 10 years will be a golden period for mobile devices, with manufacturers trying to outdo each other in form factor, cost, accessories, niche capabilities (nee Kindle), etc. This space is going to be a lot more exciting than desk tops or laptops. Traditional computer makers will have to join this space otherwise they will become irrelevant: think Dell, HP, Lenovo. If these companies do not step up, we will see a change of the guards from American computer makers to Asian based mobile device makers like Samsung, LG, and maybe Acer. Apple would be the lone American standout.

Is Nintendo the Apple of Steve Jobs' Eye?

Apple is likelier to buy a gaming company than Nintendo, which is simply too large. Steve Jobs owned Pixar before. He is comfortable owning game creation. Many game companies (especially emerging) can be bought for under $1 billion, but most of these are not public.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says lawmakers are considering levying a windfall profits tax on health insurers to help finance reform. The revenue would help make up for a proposed tax on high-income Americans, which is being scaled back. (earlier)

I fear for this country the longer people like Pelosi is in power.

Jon Friedman is disenchanted with Warren Buffett's "crocodile tears" for the newspaper industry. "If Buffett truly believed our nation will be a poorer place without a thriving newspaper industry, why can't he step up and direct his laser intelligence to easing, if not solving, the problem."

If you need Warren Buffett to do something to save your behind, you are in real trouble already. Warren is an investor not an inventor.

The New York Times Misunderstands China's Reserve Data

Thanks for enlightening us. Appreciate it. Business reporting is really not NYT's forte.

What's Cramer Got Against Microsoft?

For once, I agree with Mr. Kramer; I don't think MSFT will outperform the S&P. The company is too big. It takes a lot to move this company. Except for Windows 7, there is not much in the product pipeline. Even assuming Windows 7 is better received than Vista, PC is commodity. The next 5 years belong to mobile devices and cloud computing. While we may buy a new Kindle or new smart phone, our current desktops and laptops work very well and will continue to do so for a long while.

Fannie Mae Plus Goldman Plus Tax Credits Plus U.S. Treasury Add Up to Big Mess

I am not familiar with the complexity of the deal. Why can't AIG just auction off the tax credit? On the other hand, I am enjoying seeing how the government runs GM, Chrysler, AIG, Fannie, Freddie and Citi. While I am sure it will not be good for these companies, perhaps the rest of the country and the pols will learn a lesson and think twice about having the government be a majority shareholder.

If I were an employee (especially a valuable employee) at these companies, I would bail.

Microsoft Gets Its Edge Back

I am not an investor in MSFT except in my S&P index. The company is like IBM in the early 90's competing at every front and in technology imaginable. It focuses on everything. It competes against IBM and Oracle on server technology, against Oracle and SAP on ERP systems, against Google on search, against Apple on Mobile OS, OS, and MP3, against Sony and Nintendo in gaming consoles, against Pandora in music streaming, against Amazon in cloud infrastructure, against Adobe in web programming environment, and against Logic Tech in keyword and mice. I am sure I am missing a few more. Is it possible for one company to do all these?

Fannie Mae's $19B 'Request'

These companies can just ask for $20B funding quarter after quarter with end in sight? Why should I be paying taxes? The sink holes are getting bigger and deeper. We now wait for the GM shoe to drop. How many billions are we going to throw after them? 20, 30, 50 billions?

Palm's Pre Goes a Step Further Than the iPhone

The world already has Symbian, OS X, Android, RIM, Win mobile. That is 5. The new Palm OS makes it 6. This cannot last. I see only 3-4 standing at the end. OS X, Win mobile, and Android would be my bet due to they are funded by deep deep pocket companies.

The Shallowest Generation

Quite a rant about how US has gone to hell. By the way, ranting about how the world is bad bad bad is a sign of old age.

I would be a little more optimistic. Based on my reading of history, the last time we had a hugh boom and bust was in the roaring 20's followed by a great depression in the 30's, which was followed by a World War. We are no where near a great depression and a World War --- thanks goodness. The time will get better. Our lives will continue to improve, living longer and playing with the latest gadgets. Both rich and poor will enjoy the advancement of the society: medicine, labor saving devices, be able to travel and entertain.

Oracle Fights Back as EU Tries to Tilt Database Market Playing Field

If Oracle drops MySQL, I am pretty sure another company will pop up to support MySQL. The source code of MySQL is after all public.


On Nov 10 04:00 PM dw57 wrote:

> The transaction does not threaten to reduce competition in the slightest,
> including in the database market.
>
> not really sure thats true. if Oracle were to drop MYSQL it would
> reduce competition. and they both run on the same platforms don't
> they? while bad produces reduce the amount of competition its not
> quite so drastic as a competitor dropping out all together
>
>
> "Approve this or Oracle is out of Europe. Who needs your dying statist
> economy anyways?"
>
> I suspect the last argument would only get them kicked out of Europe.
> one of the 7 largest economies on the planet.

Amazon: Please Drop to $85

I respect you sticking to your model. However, perhaps your model will not bag you growth stocks except in a armageddon scenario. And perhaps you should be content as Mr. Buffet in not owning growth stocks.

As a side note, Mr. Buffet did buy BYD stock. Is that conforming to the FCF of 15 still? I am too lazy to find out the price that Mr. Buffet paid for BYD.