COMS without PALM is not exactly a basket case. Granted, the modem and network card divisions are limping because those have both become low-profit commodity items. HOWEVER, E.B. and cohorts are wisely redirecting their efforts to the burgeoning, soon to be exploding, wireless market. 3COM's existing market share/penetration and the reputation their products enjoy will facilitate this nicely. BESIDES - with all of the merger/take-over activity that has occurred in the last year or so, just about everyone concedes that 3COM is one of the most enticing, still free-standing acquirables out there. Once PALM is fully-divested, 3COM will be an easier morsel to swallow. There have been repeated rumors of European telecomms seriously looking at such an acquisition to keep them viable in international competition.
Some of the "3COM without PALM" bashing that goes on in this thread could very well be the desperate efforts of 3COM shorts trying to foment uncertainty. They would have a hard time pooh-poohing all of the PALM-related excitement so they must resort to a strategy of "Yeah, well PALM's nifty, I suppose, B U T just wait until THAT'S out of the picture! BEWARE!!!" To that I say, "Harumph and p'shaw! Better COVER YOUR SHORTS NOW, you nay-sayers, because your negative strategy is about to CRASH AND BURN!" IMHO |
