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Technology Stocks : America On-Line (AOL) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Smart Investor who wrote (8735)	3/31/1999 12:19:00 PM
From: Philip Williams	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 41369

The sun will also run out of fuel, collapse in on itself and become a white dwarf (not enough mass to become a singularity). Would you please separate the company from the stock? Arguing that you and your friends don't use Aol just isn't a viable reason for me to short the stock. But, using your logic, here's a hot tip for you: My cat loves Meow Mix, won't eat anything else, so you should go load up on Purina.

To: Smart Investor who wrote (8735)	3/31/1999 12:34:00 PM
From: billwot	Respond to of 41369

Smart-Re: ISP is a highly competitive commodity kind of service, and there is no lock for customers. I am long AOL, but not a customer. I believe the error in your logic is calling AOL and ISP. Perhaps for yourself, like myself and many other SI members, the internet is primarily a source of specialized information (financial news, a research resource, a business tool, etc)and a basic ISP (which I use) is all you need. I suspect, however, that for most folks, the 'net is an entertainment device, an extension of the daily newspaper, an alternative to TV, a really big GameBoy and Nintendo, etc., and this is what AOL provides and this is what people are buying. BTW, I tend to agree that by conventional measures AOL is overvalued. However, we all know that the market value of any commodity is what the market is willing to pay for it, and it clearly will pay dearly for AOL stock. As others have said, I wouldn't stand in front of moving freight train, no matter how sure I was that it was going to stop! All JMHO billwot

To: Smart Investor who wrote (8735)	3/31/1999 12:45:00 PM
From: MaryinRed	Respond to of 41369

if you look at AOL as a mere ISP...then perhaps...you should take a teensy weensy glance again...

To: Smart Investor who wrote (8735)	3/31/1999 3:11:00 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 41369

<< ISP is a highly competitive commodity kind of service, and there is no lock for customers.>> Wake up Smart Investor...Its all about access to eyeballs. AOL has subscription revenue, sponsorship revenue, and massive e-commerce revenues. AOL runs the largest global shopping mall -- and access to their users is what retailers, financial service firms and others pay BIG BUCKS for. AOL is also a global media franchise. Beyond that AOL has bought NSCP and has an alliance with SUNW -- do I hear business to business e-commerce player? AOL is IMO "a gorilla" in the internet world. Don't confuse them with a commodity business. Best Regards, Scott