mollytjm

Rate of Consumer Spending Decline Stabilizes - Overall Outlook Remains Grim

Target is a suprise, though Warren B sold his Target but not Wal-Mart saying that in a bad economy, Wal-Mart would do better. Now that Apple is off the Macworld treadmill in the future, that will help them place their newest in the marketplace when the timing is good...which ISN'T right after Christmas. Circuit City still gives the customer short shrift. They seem to hire people who don't know products very well. Plus, i know people who aren't shopping there because the company is in trouble and they know there's no bringing anything back if the stores close. Lots of speed bumps out there and plenty of crevasses.

CE Spending Looks Dismal - But Macs Set to Hit New All-Time High

Apple opened 3 more stores in the U.S. yesterday and they remain the most profitable retail space, per square foot. i've read that microsoft is using seinfeld in their ads in an attempt to humanize the company. if they spent that 10 million paycheck on making a better product, that might help.
Apple has the best products but also the best interaction with the customer.
Dell still sells because people think it's cheaper so therefore more economical...until they have a virus wipe their hard drive and realize they need to buy virus protection, which doesn't always work.

I wonder if there's data on the difference between IT departments in companies that have gone Mac and those that remain PC. some businesses are cutting the bottom line by switching to Macs and getting rid of some IT people (who are expensive) and using Apples excellent and FREE tech support, when need, which isn't often. also, in areas where there are Apple stores, companies can sign employees up for free classes. I know there's some movement in this direction, i just wonder if anyone has data.