Well, OK Jim. We can ALL cry together, collectively ... <smile> ....
Believe me, you could NOT find a bigger Novell cheerleader than myself prior to February of this year (that's a significant date... for me anyway). There is (was) nothing I wanted to see more than Novell to:
a) succeed definitively
b) deliver a "statement" to the industry, and
c) just plain kick a$$!.
And, I had that particular umm... interchange (kick a$$ that is) with people ranging from Frankenberg, to Marengi, to Gibson, to Schmidt, to the media to present.
Well, we (I) got [lip service] but "no cigar" <s>.
Anyway, yep, you're right -- that's "history" now. And as has been said here with regard to the importance of Q2, then Q3, and now Q4 ...
Q4 (coming after the "monumental surprises of Q2 and Q3) is most certainly pivotal, at least the way I see it for any "future" interest by individual investors and the street in general (for the short term). The bigger issue is 1998 and forward. Again, IMHO.
Jim, seriously, as you say, the focus should now be *very intense* on Q4 because not only does it mean a lot to the new investors but to all of the former over the last 2 years.
I don't have the conference call number any longer, however, If there's anyone who does (or can get it) it's Elmo.
I wish you would run the numbers for yourself (and the rest here) because the last time you did, they were pretty accurate.
My biggest concern is not so much the picture of "declining revenues" as I tried to show in my post above. My main concern was the indication of "Flat Sales" remaining in 97 and going forward through 1998, further allowing MSFT to chip away at their base. To me, this is as important, if not "more" important for the future of this company.
It also tells me whether or not *I* myself want to "re-invest" in Novell in 1998. As I said in that email I posted up above, I asked the person if 1998 was felt to be a good year. The answer I got was, well... at best indeterminate. That is what Eric Schmidt and his "turnaround team" have got to "project" to the World IMHO "now", actually "yesterday". But, I don't feel that they've done a good job at that.
And, I KNOW Novell has the better product. So does IBM in OS/2. But... well you know where that discussion will lead <g>.
Anyway, looking forward to what "you" think Q4 will bring to the investors. Cause' I sure don't know <g>.
Regards,
Joe...
PS: Elmo, you said First Call had Q4 EPS at .01, correct?
Is that good? Will it be perceived as good? Is it good enough?
Like you say, we need some CPA's here to figure that out.
|
