xmichaelx

AT&T's iPhone Service Has Been Excellent

On Dec 21 12:41 PM Apple Investor wrote:
> when I see all these reports on the superiority of Verizon
> over AT&T when I've experienced EXACTLY
> THE OPPOSITE, then I'm compelled to speak up. I
> think these reports are skewed and painting an
> inaccurate picture of reality.

As a former AT&T customer who left in disgust and who has gotten much better service from Verizon, I think these reports are perfectly accurate. Guess what? We're both right!! But only one of us turned his opinion into a worthless blog posting that adds even less to the conversation than the Consumer Reports survey.

PS- I agree with you that Verizon's website is utter crap, but again, I didn't soil this FINANCE site with a blog posting about it.

Why I Would Not Bet on iPhone over Android

As expected, the Apple faithful think with their preconceptions and current preferences rather than looking at facts.

The article has a point, but fails to support it. iPhone vs. Android has nothing to do with PC vs. Mac, and the arguments are not remotely similar. Android will become a superior phone OS because users will not be locked into whatever scraps Apple chooses to give them.

Apple has rejected many, many apps because they compete with Apple (apprejections.com/). Android will never have the same problem. Apple locks users into using only approved apps. Android will never have that problem, either. Even at the same price point, Android+robust app store (approx. 1 year away) is a superior product to the iPhone.

Finally, how many people would today own an iPhone if it weren't locked into AT&T? Android doesn't have that problem, either. Perhaps Apple will catch up soon on that score.

The truth is that both phone OSs can exist simultaneously, and a smart investor can make money on both, either, or neither. This IS an investing site, remember??

The iPhone's Next Carrier Is Likely T-Mobile, Not Verizon

On Dec 01 12:51 AM Michael J. Golde wrote:

> I don't know if users are happy with Android but apparently the app
> developers are not. finance.yahoo.com/news...;.v=1.

1) Most apps in the iPhone store go unsold, or have nearly zero sales. The tail is ridiculously long.
2) Because Android is open source, they already have massive development community interest. Yes, they'll have fewer people saying, "Hey, I think I can be a millionaire with this app." But they have LOTS more who say, "I want to make an Android app."
3) iPhone has a significant head start and Android has only been relevant for about a month, so any commentary on iPhone vs. Android app store (yours OR mine) is irrelevant.

> If this is true, it doesn't bode well for a robust app store for
> Android. Consequently, that would be a major disincentive to
> purchasing an Android.

Yes, that's why it's selling so poorly. Your own link points out that Apple had the same issues early on. (side note: Personally, I'll go with the vendor who lets ME decide which apps I can run, rather than the one who treats me like a 4-year-old.)

Will Microsoft Get Squeezed by Chrome OS?

"Google’s ChromeBooks are really a new category altogether."

False. Google is jumping on the Netbook bandwagon that's been going strong for a year, and hoping that putting their brand on it will create a breakthrough. They're striking at the right time, so it just may.

They're also solving the biggest problems with Netbooks (lack of storage & processing power) by leveraging -- and at the same time pushing -- their cloud computing model. This is really where Chrome is superior to the average Linux netbook, and where there is room for a revolution in computing.

There's little need for the cloud on the desktop, no matter what people getting paid to push that idea might say. But on low-powered Netbooks the cloud can be very advantageous, at least for the next 2-3 years.

The Mac vs. PC Debate Was Never Clearer

By suggesting that MS's recent ads are pointless, the author shows a misunderstanding of the computer-buying public: the vast majority of them know NOTHING about computers, including any difference at all between a Mac and a PC. To these people (80+% of computer buyers) "Macs cost more for the same thing" is a powerful message -- that's why these ads have shown success.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Hanson001 said: "The tide is going out and now we see what dollar whores the CEO's are. "

Yes, we didn't realize that prior to yesterday. Years of payoffs in the form of lobbying in exchange for massive government favors might have been a tip-off.

The suggestion that Big Corporation only recently embraced socialism is often heard, but ridiculous. Many U.S. companies are entirely reliant on government $$, and all rely on legislation and regulation that tilts in their favor.

We haven't seen capitalism here for many, many years -- why start complaining now?

Jim Cramer's Stop Trading! Is Steve Ballmer a Diabolical Genius? (11/19/08)

Editrice-
There can't possibly be specific data -- there are too many variables. If you wanted to compile it, when would you consider the sell? When he says to sell? What if he never mentions it again? When fundamentals say to sell? According to who?

I'm not a fan, but there's plenty of good info on the show if you're too lazy to read up yourself. Kotika98 is right on with his assessment.

BTW - Cramer's biggest claim to fame is being all in cash during the '87 crash - not many others can say the same. I strongly recommend his first book Confessions of a Street Addict (and none of the others).