I want to re-direct. My initial posts were in response to your aggressive attacks on Corel and Corel products. For the most part you seem like a reasonable person. My intent is to offer an alternative point view on events you have been so negatively vocal on. To re-cap:
Corel's Java effort - pioneering in initial effort. Had to redirect effort due to the capacity of native Java. Perhaps misguided public relation effort in message to the industry. Result - jBridge - an innovative new technology that appears to be a contender in cross platform computing. A product representative of strong engineering capability.
Corel WordPerfect Suite - An excellent product that is actually more integrated and easier to use than competitor's product. This has been proven through useability testing done by companies like Compaq, and all major industry publications. Corel has done a commendable job establishing WordPerfect as the #2 productivity suite. Corel has had difficulty penetrating OEM and corporate markets, but has shown some gains in this area, and has held its existing client base. WordPerfect is at a strong marketshare disadvantage and must effectively implement and execute a strategy to over-come this. I believe Corel is in the process of doing so. Recent oem agreements both domestically and internationally are representative of this.
CorelDraw - still maintains about 70% market-share on the PC side. Corel is and has always been a solid product. Often implementing new features and tools that quickly are adopted by competitors. CorelDraw 8 for Macintosh is just another example of Corel's ability to engineer excellent products even under pressure. All initial technical and non-technical response to Draw 8 for Mac has been overwhelmingly positive. The product has been endorsed by Apple both through the "Draw Different" campaign and the aggressive Draw 8 rebate program attached to the purchase of iMac computers, which is as good as an OEM
deal. Sure, the magnitude of the iMac's success is still to be seen, but I think Corel's engineering effort and timing of this product is another testimony of a company with a sense of direction and strategy. With the release of Draw 8 for the Mac Corel launches a strong salvo into Adobe's territory. iMac represents Apple first entry into the budget consumer market. The Mac software industry doesn't have consumer priced software. Adobe's, Macromedia's even Microsoft's Mac software is above $600.00. With Corel's marketing strategy, when a person buys a $1,300 iMac, Draw 8 definately becomes the companion impulse purchase. Before you go off and trash Draw 8 for the Mac, check it out.
Closing of Orem facility - Cowpland has been criticized for earlier in the year saying there would be no-layoffs and then a short time later shutting down Orem. I thinks it shows sound judgement that if you are planning to shut-down an operation not to pre-announce it. I am sure the Orem facility contained critical WordPerfect code that needed to be safe-gaurded, I think announcing lay-offs months before they were to come would jeopardize the intellectual property. As for Corel's ability to continue developing product? All-though it is yet to be seen, I think they can do it. WordPerfect from the beginning of ver 7 has been a Corel effort.
Mike Cowpland - The stock trade will fore-ever be open to debate. I personally do find it possible that he was notified of channel inventory and write-offs after the sell. Who know's what the politcal agendas inside Corel were at that time. Notice that Mike Cowpland and Chuck Norris are both named in the law-suits. I think it is possible that Cowpland was given bad information. It seems to be that Michael O'reilly and Mike Cowpland have found a good working realtionship. Financial performance is increasing, channel is clean, retail sales increase, and the company continues to fund pretty strong R&D. The next two quarters will be interesting and will be more telling than any other quarters as to Corel's longevity. I'll leave your criticism of his personal life alone, because,as you agree, it has no relevance. I do believe attacks to Cowpland's ability as CEO are shallow in integrity. It easy to target a CEO who's company is having diffuculties. It is even easier in these times to point out weakness and rally support for your criticism.
Perhaps this is the wrong forum for my opinion, for I am not trying persuade invesment decisions. I am trying to accent some very compelling strengths this company has in the midst of negativity. Has Corel made mistakes? most certainly. Is the company in a critical position, I believe so.
I believe they can and are turning it around.
That's my take. Heated assault, all-though entertaining, becomes tire-some. Rod, you seem like a reasonable guy, you have to see some potential in this company, (that goes beyond having Cowpland step down). You participate on this thread for a reason, I have to believe it is for more than slinging-mud. Anyway, this will probably be my last post, but I'll watch. It will be interesting to have discussion in another 6 months. |
