Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Apple Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kelly G. who wrote (59481)	12/20/2006 12:56:50 AM
From: inaflash	Respond to of 213182

One thing that has always struck me as curious. We have heard rumors about the iPhone for a long time - much longer than normal development would seem to dictate. What took them so long? Was it just Mr. Jobs perfectionism? Waiting for some new technology? Waiting for the appropriate deals to line up? Regardless, Apple has had plenty of time to come up with a kick-ass product. If you believe those that worship Jobs like a God, the main reason would to orchestrate the perfect timing for when iPods loose a bit of their sparkle, and the computer sales growth stalls a bit, and just when everyone says the ride is over, the iPhone is out and pumps up another wave of profits. Or it could just be the realities of product development that do take time and limited resources management can devote to the effort. Jobs has been very good at having competent executives under his leadership who have been able to deliver, particularly at Pixar, where it seemed he wasn't as involved. This talent pool is limited and it's not in Apple's interest to spread them too thin with all these products. There's also the distraction with the accounting department that's wasting time at Apple and many other companies. Once these issues are behind, expect a boost in productivity from the very companies that are being dragged down right now, potentially a double plus down the road. Well I know that there are thrid party software solutions that make existing products (WinMobile and Palms OS) work fine with Macs. Are you guys all waiting for the officially sanctioned Apple offering? Well, that's the problem, having to add third party solutions. There the cost and compatibility issues. In many cases, it means trying to be compatible with a Windows world, even on the handheld. Palm would be my guess for the best choice, but I haven't followed the Mac side closely. Right now, the Verizon sold Mororola Q makes an interesting offering in the smartphone category. I believe it's going to give Palm and Blackberry a bit of a headache. It's not the best device by any means, but the overall compromise and value make it an interesting proposition. Palm/Treo introduced the $500 PDA/phone and carrier subsidies make the startup hardware costs $200-300, which entices a lot of buyers. The Motorola Q can be had for $0-100 starup which is gaining more attention. What a lot of people overlook is the $50-80 data service for any of these phones, and nearly $1000 annual bill for the service because it's paid piecemeal. Still, when advertising and shopping, the startup cost is the most variable, since service charges are nearly non-negotiable for individual transactions.