<I believe Apple is on the right track to sell directly thru Internet,
as well as from retailers, in which Apple could reduce inventory and increase forecast accuracy.>
Ditto, esp. on the forecast side of it. They should be able to
collect much better data, than what they have through current
channels.
Things would even look better if they opened spin-offs of the
new cyber-store in the non-US markets in the close future and
if they do something aggressive about pricing there as well.
I don't know about Japan (the reason for the decline there could
just be their general low consuming), but if the 'dollar-uplift'
on Apple systems outside the U.S. is as large as here in Germany,
then there is zero incentives for consumers to be new Apple
customers.
I almost have tears in my eyes comparing a G3/233 priced at
$2,000 to the 5,600 DM ($3,200) that it is expected to cost here.
Of course any localisation costs a wee extra, but the WinTel
folks sell their systems with localized keyboards/manuals, too,
much more competitive to the U.S. prices.
Being new to the thread, I hope I haven't violated any
'talk-iquette'. I enjoy the wisdom and the fever in here :-)
BTW: count me in among the 'longs'.
Goetz. |
