Anonymous Wizard

Google Phone: A Lesson in Creating Demand

Take away the name Google and there would be little hype here. Giving away free to employees is not free to the rest of the world and in the long run, will need to make financial sense or will drain Google dry. Possibly the carriers will want to teamup with Apple all the more now that Google has shown its stripes. Apple has been quiet for some time now and you can bet Apple is loading up. They are not going to take away Apple's dominance but are a serious competitive threat although a diluted one with all the Android System copycats competing with each other including Google itself. Schmidt should have been removed from the Apple board a long time ago and I saw this coming about 1.5 years ago and could't understand why Schmidt was allowed to be in Board meetings. Google has had plenty of time to plan for trying to dilute Apple's dominance but they are clearly exposed now and Apple will be clearly stategizing to put Google in their rear lights. The innovative focused Apple ecosystem will be more desireable in the long run on many product fronts than a Googler with diluted player efforts all competing without competive advantage. Just watch Apples's next moves over the forthcoming 3 months.

Apple and Google: Changing My Mind

You are right about Apple's great value. Pound for pound I like Apple over Google. You are totally incorrect about SJ and Apple PR deceit over SJ's health issues. The fact is that even SJ himself didn't know exactly what his health issues were. Sometimes it takes time to figure out and understand what's going on medically and so all is in flux. Hormonal imbalances can be tricky even once recognized as a health issue. So how can you expect the Apple Board & PR to know when SJ doesn't really know himself as he pursues his own personal due diligence with his Doctors ? The fact that SJ was able to do so much at Apple with all the rigor and demands speaks to that as well. It was not some obvious incapable sickly person here that the Apple Board carried on its back to strike the deals and deliver product strategy. Hey, if you feel uncomfortable or squeamish about buying Apple, maybe you should just buy a really safe utility stock or something. But don't try to coach us with any authority.

Apple Investors: Fasten Your Seatbelts, Put On Helmets

Tech will move forward and prevail especially the leaders like Apple. Sorry, I'm going with reckless abandon as opposed to your doomsday alternative. The human race is going to push forward and that means tech moves forward unless you're betting on our sooner than later demise. Apple Bulls--Charge full speed ahead and run over these shorts. We'll just buy any opportunity dips.

Apple & Google: A Detailed Comparison

I would commend you on a very good and detailed comparison using metrics and factual information. I also have seen it this way. I have always said as an investor, pound for pound, I'd rather place my dollars on Apple and not Google although Google is obviously the leader in Internet advertising and I think Apple could become the leader in Mobile and Computing platforms whether home or business enterprise. The upside potential for Apple is inevitable and very much in motion at an increasing rate, whereas the upside to Google is questionable as you point out. Both Companies have strong brands but Apple has the strongest multi-faceted Consumer/product brand that also transitions to business enterprises at an increasing rate. Just wait for the real "Halo Effect" to kick in that's being product positioned on a worldwide basis. You will see a Halo like no other seen before. That is also inevitable. Google does not have this going for them. For the most part, Apple is a master at introducing successful products and they have become both synergized on a product lines basis and yet more diversified which reduces margin and revenue risks. This means Apple is better suited to tolerate any interim misteps. If anything, Apple is quick to correct a mistep and turn it into gold. It's just good product marketing. Also, the IPOD has not shown it is being cannibalized by the IPhone which has been kept alive through product line repositioning, refreshing and transitioning. I expect to see more of this as Apple blends the IPOD business this way (transitioning) with the IPhone business while maintaining the lower end of the IPOD segment thru consumer marketing and brand emphasis.

Is Apple a Better Stock Than Google?

Dollar for Dollar, I've said for many years now ( AAPL Long since 2000 ) , I'd rather buy AAPL than Google. It's been speculated that Apple hasn't split shares to get to the GOOG share price prestige. Maybe it's AAPL that should be in the $500+ range. That's where I've always seen it headed or beyond one way or another. Think of it this way, Apple keeps adding extremely significant business areas (cyclinders if you like) and is becoming more diversified this way. They are doing what they do best and are managing the business area growth cyles very well with more yet to come. Their brand has never been stronger and they have so far yet to climb for market share in most of these areas (computer, cell phone, gaming, entertainment, home market, etc,). Only IPOD business is somewhat saturated (similarity to GOOG business) but still is well managed and transitioning plus have more International growth. Who has better distribution also at the Retail level and who has the greatest "Halo" around them for incremental and related sales. We're not seeing any real significant stumbling here and with such diversification of market businesses, Apple could weather a stumble better than most and we're seeing how well they perform in this rough economic climate--They stand out at the top in the Tech Sector. So, why isn't Apple $700, $500 or even $300 per share like Google ? Isn't $170+ a steal ? I don't doubt we'll see $300 per share before too long (12 to 18 months). Apple pound for pound is your best investment. Google is still too high priced IMO.