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

To: James F. Hopkins who wrote (22918)	3/22/1998 12:17:00 AM
From: Night Writer	Respond to of 97611

James, I think you are looking for parity. There are some option quote services that compute parity as a part of the service. I don't subscribe to one, but I have seen it. Everyone could use a little humor at this point, or first thing tomorrow morning so here is a joke. NW WHAT IF PEOPLE BOUGHT CARS LIKE THEY BUY COMPUTERS? General Motors doesn't have a "help line" for people who don't know how to drive, because people don't buy cars like they buy computers -- but imagine if they did . . . HELPLINE: "General Motors HelpLine, how can I help you?" CUSTOMER: "I got in my car and closed the door, and nothing happened!" HELPLINE: "Did you put the key in the ignition slot and turn it?" CUSTOMER: "What's an ignition?" HELPLINE: "It's a starter motor that draws current from your battery and turns over the engine." CUSTOMER: "Ignition? Motor? Battery? Engine? How come I have to know all of these technical terms just to use my car?" HELPLINE: "General Motors HelpLine, how can I help you?" CUSTOMER: "My car ran fine for a week, and now it won't go anywhere!" HELPLINE: "Is the gas tank empty?" CUSTOMER: "Huh? How do I know!?" HELPLINE: "There's a little gauge on the front panel, with a needle, and markings from 'E' to 'F.' Where is the needle pointing?" CUSTOMER: "It's pointing to 'E.' What does that mean?" HELPLINE: "It means that you have to visit a gasoline vendor, and purchase some more gasoline. You can install it yourself, or pay the vendor to install it for you." CUSTOMER: "What!?" I paid $12,000. for this car! Now you tell me that I have to keep buying more components? I want a car that comes with everything built in!" HELPLINE: "General Motors HelpLine, how can I help you?" CUSTOMER: "Your cars suck!" HELPLINE: "What's wrong?" CUSTOMER: "It crashed, that's what went wrong!" HELPLINE: "What were you doing?" CUSTOMER: "I wanted to run faster, so I pushed the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. It worked for a while, and then it crashed -- and now it won't start!" HELPLINE: "It's your responsibility if you misuse the product. What do you expect us to do about it?" CUSTOMER: "I want you to send me one of the latest version that doesn't crash anymore!" HELPLINE: "General Motors HelpLine, how can I help you?" CUSTOMER: "Hi! I just bought my first car, and I chose your car because it has automatic transmission, cruise control, power steering, power brakes, and power door locks." HELPLINE: "Thanks for buying our car. How can I help you?" CUSTOMER: "How do I work it?" HELPLINE: "Do you know how to drive?" CUSTOMER: "Do I know how to what?" HELPLINE: "Do you know how to drive?" CUSTOMER: "I'm not a technical person! I just want to go places in my car!"

To: James F. Hopkins who wrote (22918)	3/22/1998 12:35:00 AM
From: SDNA	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

Hey Mike...It's so great to see you're still posting here...wish I would see more of the old bulls back here...How are your calls doing? The way I see it, most of the doomsters think of this great company as a 3 letter word (CPQ), with a price in front of it. They never think of it as an entity, making & offering products that are at the center of this information revolution. To them its another Media Vision, or Pan Am, way into chapter 11, maybe even so deep into it, as J. Hopkins would put it "SHE'S" in chapter -11. Would anyone here prefer to get into a market trying to sell yesterday's technology to serve today's needs? I don't think so, that's why CPQ is getting those inventories out the door ASAP. Let's put things in perspective here, the main competition is box makers and big computer services companies. As for box makers, IMHO, CPQ is thinking way faster and smarter, and at least 1-2 years ahead of the hottest of them, after all, we're only beginning to have a commodity business in PCs, and the way CPQ is handling that is by diversifying into services, in addition to other areas such as the internet, storage, networking, etc. As for computer services, EP himself mentioned in a recent news release that those companies are taking notice of what CPQ is doing. Can anyone imagine when the aggressiveness of this management team hits that sector of the business? Revenues will soar for sure, and earnings will follow. If you ask me, I feel sometime down the road, maybe another 2 years, CPQ will acquire another one of those computer services companies, a big one I may add, this only fits their strategy of growth, which does not stop at $50Bs. When selling PCs was the hottest thing around, CPQ mastered that art. Then came servers, and you know the rest of the story. Now the hottest thing is services and I'm sure they'll get it going like a piece of cake. They have to, it's their bread & butter for the future. At a point, I don't see it being too far, everybody will start seeing value behind those three letters, and the buying will start... Good seeing you here. Sorry for the long post, I hardly ever post here, I do always read this thread...if anything, maybe too much. Go CPQ! Ps. IBD of 3/11/98 had an extra on computer services, the heading goes "Computer services, Technology's true giant"...I could not get the article online, I would've loved to post it...everybody is all of a sudden an expert on those services, thanks to CPQ for opening a lot of eyes...let's wait and see. I know I will.

To: James F. Hopkins who wrote (22918)	3/22/1998 6:52:00 AM
From: Mike Gordon	Respond to of 97611

<AS I can tell by open interest about when the original writers came in..and what they got..each time these babies trade there is a sizable spread..and a commission> Jim: I agree. However, most of these options are originally sold to or purchased by funds or large money interest to offset various positions. For instance, you've written extensively about the functionally of short selling. The professionals are quick to short puts on the issues which are sold. The opposite is also true in a long position. When I write a put or call, I supply a service to the manager in need of this insurance. By providing this service, your profits are realized the day you pull the trigger. Therefore, you don't intentionally assume a loosing position. Because many writers hold their position until x day, the trade is profitable, usually around the 2% 3% at a 30 day (2.5 to 5 point spread from market) when in the tech field. The trick is, do not churn the guys unless the stock will be put to you or taken from you when the rate of commission is higher. In closing, I never perform proverbial analysis on the option. I always perform analysis of the stock. However, the analysis is light because I'm only interested in what the issue or the industry will do in the next 30 to 60 days. Have a good week, Mike