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Technology Stocks : Corel Corp. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: A. Reader who wrote (4140)	12/30/1997 9:00:00 AM
From: xdll	Respond to of 9798

OK, I've lost $$$ on this stock as well, but this thread has become awfully negative. I just thought I'd butt in with a few positive comments just for a change of pace. Here's my attempt at a relatively positive spin on Corel... CorelDraw - They've recently released an upgrade. For a company that allegedly has no programming skill, this is a pretty impressive product. It also dominates its market space. They've also unbundled PhotoPAINT for individual sale. This segment is a pretty large market and I think they can now compete in it as opposed to it seeming like an afterthought. WP - There is a large installed base and they seem to be impressed with the recent releases of the product. I think their strategy for the next release of making it completely compatible with MS Word and marketing it as such is brilliant. It gives the current users no reason to switch and gives companies standardized on Word a viable alternative at a very attractive price (especially given MS's new stance on concurrent licenses) Java - Given Corel's cross platform strategy, it is understandable that they embraced Java so strongly. Unfortunately, the strategy was not well executed. Is this the result of poor programmers, bad project management, buggy software from Sun or a immature language? I would say that a case can be made for and against all of them. They went bleeding edge and took a risk which didn't pan out. (We've all suffered for it). I think the biggest mistake was that they marketed this strategy so aggressively that the entire industry put a microscope on it as the first Java project of any consequence. It was a high risk strategy, but at least it wasn't hidden and investors had a chance to get out. NC's and PDA's - OK, even I have a hard time understanding this. At least it is operated as a separate company so it can be sold or closed easier (I hope). One comment that really mystifies me is when people claim Corel's has only a bunch of 'warmed over dos programmers.' CorelDraw was one of the first Windows programs and it made the company. It can be argued that it made MS Windows. Their products have always been leading edge in utilizing the GUI. I think that these sort of comments are unjustified. Cowpland - I have a lot of respect for him. He is a great entrepreneur who is not afraid to take risks. He took a successful company and completely changed directions to become a software company. He bet on Windows when everyone else thought it was doomed. He is now trying to grab hold of another paradigm shift with Java and NC's. Unfortunately, I think he doesn't realize the company is no longer his start-up. I, for one as an investor, like boldness but this bet the company on strategy of the month is a bit hard to swallow. I think he doesn't want to leave the company in the shape it's in. He wan't to fix it. He feels he knows it best and has been successful in the past, so he can do it. I don't agree. I think we all agree that it is time for a change if for no other reason then the street's perception of him. But in fairness he has had a pretty successful 11 years out of 12. Corel has a great history of boldness when it comes to technology. I think it is time for some really bold moves in managing this company. Like a new CEO, streamlined strategy, aggressive fat trimming, and bold cuts. They have a lot going for them and it would be a real shame for this company not to realize its potential. x