Bob,
I gradually realize that Apple is incapable of turning the company
in the short term if Jobs cannot resolve chips supply problem. If
you pay attention on this recent year's quarterly report's conference
calls, you will find out Apple's CFO always has excuses on shortage
supply. If Apple's executives cannot straighten out this issue with
IBM and Motorola and reorganize its sell forecast model, then there
will be little hope to turn to profits. Hence, I call Apple is merely
IBM and Motorola's subsidary company. Apple still can survive, but
miserably hang in there, depending on how IBM and Motorola deal with
it. Jobs tried to switch Rhapsody to Intel-based, and used Microsoft
to balance the inbalance forces among Apple and IBM/Motorola, there
may be some help, but not much because Apple's major revenues still
depend on hardware sales, which indirectly counts on IBM/Motorola's
willingness/cooperation.
Ellison has really helped Apple go through difficulty via boosting
Apple users/employees/investors confidence in recent years. But, with
his help along with strong board members, there is still not enough to
pull Apple out of troubles. They should resolve the issues with IBM/
Motorola, so investors won't want to hear shortage supply in next
conference call.
Jobs has been working very hard to resolve most of issues. To IBM/
Motorola, he seems to be helpless since it is external affair. If
Jobs pushs too hard on the issue, they may walk away in your face.
If he softens his stand, then old problem will keep lingering around.
Two proposals: Sell Apple to IBM or Motorola, or get fully
cooperation from IBM/Motorola or totally revise sell forecast/preorder
system (I don't know which one is more reasonable since I am not an
insider.)
Phil |
