deaverb

Ten Back to School Stocks

Nice article. We sell schools, libraries, parents and even students audiobooks and software such as Musical Instruments. High prices are really annoying these buyers so many are looking for lower prices such as ours. Dollar Tree, for example, has a whole "Teachers" area--that parents, students, and libraries shop, in addition to teachers. The textbook people need a new paradigm or will wither away. Certainly poor investments--trying to catch a falling knife.

Agriculture Is Still Growing - Fast Money Recap (5/15/08)

Very helpful summary. Thank you.

What It Would Take To Fix Microsoft For Me

Perfect commentary. Microsoft is no longer relevant except for being a menace to computing. Doesn't really matter "what" they do now.
Simply is just promoting OpenOffice.Org, the antidote for Office. Our military buyer suggested I try it after having trouble on our new Vista (only for testing purposes; our work horse continues to be 98 and XP).

Slick. So Microsoft has a near free competitor in OpenOffice.org or free on their site (a bit geeky and scare-y; but the developers just have very high standards--unlike Microsoft). Apple is the competitor for OS. Google for online; lots for Xbox.

Microsoft is no longer best at anything. So no break up required. The market is taking care of that.

Scott, the author, is right--and sounds like the experienced warhorse. Why are we bothering? Why think about Microsoft?

Much appreciated. Give it a rest (including me!). Well done.

Apple Earnings: The World Is Going Macintosh

Momentum is going MAC. In the non-Jobs era, Simply software moved away from MAC compatible software because of the complexity of doing so, the demands of MAC people for exact conformity to MAC standards, and our inability to get the "code" from Apple to make everything work. Of late, MAC people have been more forgiving and we have introduced several products with MAC. We are just putting up a MAC section on our website.

Of course, Vista is a mess (listen to our users!). When XP came out, they blamed us for XP; now people blame Microsoft--that is the problem for them. Word's out. We have a new MAC at home; two iPhones (what a device; how can you say enough good things about it).

As a software provider, we KNOW they should have just renamed XP Vista--and moved on. They have inflicted such pain on the public. It is so unfair. That and $1.59 will buy me a Grande at Starbucks--but it is important that Microsoft has done an awful thing to the public--forcing this Vista mess on everyone.

Last weekend, I went to our place in the country with the old 98. What a pleasure; started; didn't crash; sweet. Like the early editions of Quicken (which, by the way, no longer makes the top 100 brands, because they too emphasize complexity v. simplicity of the folks with the magic touch--at Apple).

The Microsoft Waiting Game - Fast Money Recap (4/23/08)

More diversified THIS time. Sorry.

The Microsoft Waiting Game - Fast Money Recap (4/23/08)

A nice article giving a running commentary on stocks. What recession? Companies seem locked and loaded, by and large.

Costs in line; solid thinking; lots of big caps with strong overseas positions. More diversified in the last dip 2000-2001, which much broader markets for the big guys. This author makes this clear.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Again a great start to the day.

Apple Taking Notes From Disney

As the first commentator said, Apple has stayed too proprietary, their long term weakness--this drove our company to have to make all PC software (ugh). We never got cooperation to make MAC software.

Having said that, let's praise the fabulous part of Apple: MAC, iPhone (I have one and love it), iPod (had one; gave it to a family member now that I use the iPhone), iTunes--holding out for 99 cents. As long as Steve stays, and stays "Steve," Apple will soar as the author says.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

I love Eli's work. Especially the EPS drill. Saves so much time. Go Alpha--support Eli. Reminds me of the classic statements of Warren Buffett: "What is the biggest vice of investors?" Warren, "Being overactive." "How could you have made more money?" Warren, "Sat on the porch more; done less." Eli helps me do both. My addition: Most companies need a MBA/Mgt playground so they do less and keep sustaining their brands....

Will Apple Follow in Google's Footsteps?

Momentum is incredible behind Apple, its brand, its products, its stores, and fighting the dark force--made even more dark by the Vista mess. If Apple stays the course, they'll leave MSN in their wake. A Mac is back in my house (after being gone since the late 80s; several iPhones and iPods; iPhones in our business; will Macs be next--we kept our XPs thank goodness; and only use a Vista for testing purposes). Go Apple!

Blockbuster CEO: I Wanna Be Like Apple

Impresssive article willing to state what "some" would think obvious (but clearly not the CEO of Blockbuster) and build upon it. Sounds like two drunks trying to cure themselves. As the author states, they have no innovative talent where Apple is loaded both inside and out. There is no "second" to Apple; it is cool in a very special way, as google is. Both suffer from being on the wrong side of Clayton Christiansen's The Innovator Dilemma (I refer to a lot, but I don't think too much), simpler and cheaper wins. Netflix doesn't "punish you" for being late; that's why I use them. Our local video stores closed first; Blockbuster not yet--but traffic is lousy (parking lot observation). CC is a weak alternative to BBY. CompUSA went out which gave their business to both. But this doesn't hide the weakness of both with mass merchants selling more and more tech, downloads, direct to consumer, and so on and so on.

In my opinion, they will die alone or together, doesn't much matter. The consumer has moved on.

CD Sales an Improper Proxy for Measuring Purchased Music Demand

Author makes excellent points about his generation's preferences, which are spilling over to older people such as myself (64). Now my music is almost all iPOD, iPHONE, MP3 played. I buy an occasional used CD and use it form these devices. He is trend right--and early.

iPhone in Your Business: Pondering the ROI Case

Our folks plain like the iPHONE and use it more than any other device. For $481 plus case, $20 a month, a win for everyone. It is just nicer to use people say. This is a cheap price to make your most valuable people happy--and more productive. It is not a tech issue; it is a consumer preference. That's where Jobs is so astute. Also, a quick way to duck turning on your PC so many times to have Vista torment you.

Apple COO Cook Confirms Forecast for 10m iPhones Sold in 2008; Stock Jumps

Excellent report. In one year, our company has moved over to iPHONEs and MACs now communicate better, especially with Google docs. People are tired of Vista crashing. We have introduced Open Office on CDs for $1 to $2, with audiobook support for how to use it. Why? Consumers really want to get untethered from Microsoft. If Apple stays on track, they have to be a big winner. Love the detail in this report.