JAG/Dr J/et al ...
JAG, you ask what I like about APLX? Much. Whilst the founder, Jit Saxena, is still involved this is a company worth believing in, my main frustration has always been their diversification and shifting of emphasis of their product line - this flexibility is/was a double-edged sword that was lent by the very nature of the wonderful adaptability of Applix's code via the ELF language - unfortunately it meant too many niches could be aimed at - the success tasted in the financial real-time markets could be replicated and expanded upon with the impressive OLAP technology via TM1 acquisition - this is principally why I still hold stock and believe in them - I am not being negative at all, have too many memories (good and some bad!) to be subjectively negative about APLX.
I believe I am objectively frustrated about APLX, that's all ...!
I just see little/no future in generic (Java enabled or not!) service-desk and office productivity s/ware - if they could somehow get their Java/etc skills adopted by the consumer-market oriented NC vendors then maybe - but not generic office tools vs. MSFT - that is a non-starter, whatever you think (with respect) you anti-MSFT folks in this thread.
APLX is more akin - or could be - to DIBA, who Sun Micro recently acquired, for I think some $80m - and that was a start-up with no solutions just lots of neat ideas in consumer-oriented NC paradigm market. On that basis APLX would be worth $160m+(!).
Dr J, PLEASE do not even speculate that CA may acquire APLX - what a kiss of death that would be!
So, lots to be upbeat about - I do not prophecy doom and gloom, merely I sometimes express frustration at this 'treading water' stage of the company's development - they/we deserve better.
And yes, Dr J, your estimates on ratios of C/VB/Java developers are very accurate ...
Because of Yr2000, Cobol is actually in more demand in many IT sectors than ANY of the above languages, anyway(!). Believe it.
Regards
Carl |
