Sweet Bean
[continued in English]
Is Boon uw echte naam? Kent u het Nederlandse gezegde "Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet"?
My opinion about Corel.
I own a small amount of stock. I bought it because
1. I am emotionally attached to WordPerfect (stupid seen from investors point, I know)
2. I thought Corel would be able to do great things with WordPerfect
3. There will always be a (maybe small) market for a second provider for an Office suite for the Windows platform (as long as that exists)
4. There is no text processor available on so many platforms as WordPerfect.
5. I am absolutely convinced about a blooming future for Java and Corel committed to Java.
Now I consider the investment as a loss. Every dime that this stock will go up, I will see as profit.
In the meantime, I find following this thread is very interesting and I love reading and giving opinions about high tech future.
Corel has a lot of serious problems.
They started late with focusing to the core Business: The Office Suite and Draw + Ventura and the Web publishing products.
Even now their product portfolio is not clearly focused. What about "Corel Family tree suite"? What about the integration between all the products? E.g. the syntax of the formulas used in QuattroPro differ from those in the WordPerfect table functions.
They have a weak sales force I gather. They drift about their goal: Retail or corporate? They did not succeed in reaching the corporate market and it did not keep hold on the retail market. In Nederland it has been going pretty well, Corel says, but yet the products were hardly visible.
They have a weak PR, failing to control Corel's marketing communications. A Tough job it is, I admit, with a CEO like Cowpland. They also fail to get the reviews the software earns, that means the relation with the press is weak.
They have weak management, as argued many times on this thread. Cowpland is recognized by journalists and Corel personal as a good CEO for a start up company, but what the company needs now is a different type of CEO.
Maybe there could be a shift of tasks in the board of directors, by which Cowpland is assigned all tasks regarding new products and other capable managers take care of the core business.
I believe there always have to be new products, so that would give Cowpland something to do. However It has been proven be difficult to convince Cowpland that he must entrust responsibilities to other managers.
I think developing the VNC might turn out to be a good move. I see great potential. The succes will depend on the marketing capabilities of Corel.
Will they have a big client right at the start?
Did they do their homework well? Do they have a complete overview of network providers, telephone companies, carrier services, satellite companies and corporate accounts with a network?
Will they be able to reach all these potential clients? Did they recruit a capable sales force to do that?
Will they be able to convince the clients that Corel can fulfil their potential needs:
- Availability of Remagen, Alta, Java Office Suite,
- A reliable version of Linux,
- Software and hardware support,
- Continuity?
Well, A lot of questions all together.
Let's wait and see what the Gala will bring.
Eveline |
