Gary,
I don't think you hit a nerve. What you hit was a dead spot. Kind of like Dilbert talking to the marketing manager.
I can see the Direct model. I can see the channel model. I have difficulty seeing the mixed model, and all the accommodations you suggest appear to be hand-waving over a very difficult issue. But I have no professional experience in this area, so I'm loath to comment, unless goaded into it. My skepticism about the success of a transitional mode is shared by many on this thread, and none of the major players has yet attempted it. How long has Dell been outperforming its competitors? CPQ BTO and Ingram don't compete in my opinion, since they are still based on a distribution model, with its inherent cost of inventory. Even a company which doesn't have the transition issue (GTW) has had a difficult time. This is not easy. It involves the right products, the right plan, the right people, and the right time. This is definitely Dell's time, and others are going to have a very difficult time catching up.
On a different subject, doesn't it appear that the new appliances will be supplemental to PC's even in the home? I believe the growth in appliances (thin clients, whether powered by WinCE or something else) will not come at the expense of PC growth. And for business users, it's a non issue. Thin client appliances are a new market.
Regards,
Stewart |
