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: Marc Newman who wrote (18463)	9/24/1998 5:10:00 PM
From: Alomex	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213177

That was one of Amelio's favorite comebacks, mentioning that Apple had, what was it, twice as many patents as Microsoft? Or was it just twice as many in the most recent year? Something like that. Well, IBM has a patent server available for perusing. A search for patents assigned to "Apple Computer" gives 1010 (or 1050 if searching for "Apple") since 1971. The same search with "Microsoft" gives 660. If we restrict the search to the last three years we get 706 for "Apple Computer" and 598 for "Microsoft". In the same time frame, clone makers Compaq and Dell (which we all know do not innovate, right?) have 529 and 341 respectively... And if we add DEC to the Compaq count, it has more patents in the last three years than Apple in its entire history... Beware of popular (mis)perception...

To: Marc Newman who wrote (18463)	9/24/1998 6:32:00 PM
From: Eric Yang	Respond to of 213177

Apple's cash and cash equivalent has been growing nicely over the last few quarters. It's growing at a rate of about $200 mil per quarter. Here are the figures. Q3 98 $1,993 million Q2 98 $1,823 million Q1 98 $1,627 million Q4 97 $1,459 million Q3 97 $1,230 million "Eric, what's your take on Apple's growing cash position? Isn't a good portion of it due to cutting inventory levels? Aren't levels hundreds of millions lower than a year ago?" By the end of Q3 98 Apple managed to reduce its inventory by $405 million from Q3 97. So yes, I think it certainly did contribute greatly to the increase in Apple's cash reserve. It's much nicer for Apple to have assets short term investment or sitting in the bank earning interest rather than sitting in a warehouse somewhere in the form of finished goods depreciating. macevolution.com There are a number of other reasons for the increase cash. Some employees exercised their stock options during the last 12 months...and when they do they pay cash to get those shares (even thought at a discount from market price). Our account receivable has dropped as well. Which means other companies paid off some of what they owed to Apple. And let's not forget the $203 million over the last 3 quarters. Eric

To: Marc Newman who wrote (18463)	9/24/1998 9:35:00 PM
From: J R KARY	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213177

CompUSA 10/17 (midnight) begins OS 8.5 demo days ? >> "Jim, are we really expecting that big a push for OS 8.5?" << For some reason (opt expir.) have a feeling we may not see the press build-up until the last possible moment . S Jobs at Seybold 9/2 mentioned there were now 900 Mac ready applications and could be MacResources' basis for this: " According to a confidential source, Apple will have two weekends of Mac OS 8.5 "Demo Days" at CompUSA stores across the country, October 17—18 and 24—25. macresource.com Looks like it will be out 10/17 but CompUSA is planning that and a later weekend for OS 8.5's promotion . Maybe Ian (CompUSA - NYC) could add some insight ? Jim K.