patrick.net

They have a P:E of 17, which is reasonable, but if you look at their quarterly reports for 2011, they were around 25 to 30 billion in revenue and 6 to 7 billion in profits. Then, suddenly after Jobs dies, they get 45 billion in revenue and 13 billion in profits. So, they double profits on 50% increase in sales? Maybe they sold more of their profitable products, but it seems like someone may be adjusting their accounting systems or not keeping R&D up in proportion to revenue.

That said, I haven't been following them, b/c I'm not invested directly, dislike their crappy windows software enough to stop using my ipods, and am also put off by the cult of apple.

Apple is not a cult. It may have been seen as a cult when we used the mac while the others were still struggling with a $5000 IBM PC running DOS, i.e. NO graphical interface. Do you remember?
But the Apple products are simply superior and the service and software are also great. It's not complicated.
The fact that they also have gained a cache is also inevitable, since as the usually highest priced items they gain status among the women and youngsters. Yet, still, the iPod device was simpler to use than the cheapo Sandisc mp3 player I bought at Walmart.
The reason to buy Apple is the growth of profits as they increase their sales in markets that are still growing. Chinamobile has 600 million subscribers who are waiting for their iPhone.
Almost every American has an Apple product. The population of the rest of the world is another 6 billion or so.
I predict more profits for Apple for a decade or more. Eventually every dinosaur gets too large to support its own weight. So, by then, I hope to be getting dividends and will sell a couple shares of AAPL when I want to buy a small boat, take a trip somewhere, etc.

clambo says

Apple is not a cult.

You sure about that?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/kid-sold-kidney-ipad-helps-police-arrest-five-191527813.html

clambo says

Apple is not a cult. It may have been seen as a cult when we used the mac while the others were still struggling with a $5000 IBM PC running DOS, i.e. NO graphical interface. Do you remember?

I don't remember that. I remember Apple IIe's cost 2-3x a C64 with vastly superior graphics and sound. And both didn't come with Graphic Operating Systems.

I also remember Amigas, which blew early Macs out of the water, again vastly superior sound and graphics, and did have a graphic operating system.

Also, Mac OS is based on BSD, but it is only Unix-like.

clambo says

But the Apple products are simply superior and the service and software are also great. It's not complicated.

Quite a few people disagree. They say Apple does everything possible to blame all faults on the customer and fights any and all warranty claims tooth and nail.

Since they are made from the same components and assembled at the same facilities that make Droid Phones, Tablets, and PC Components, I fail to see how Apple components could be superior.

Samsung Galaxy chips and the A4/5 chips are both designed and made by Samsung.

Apple does a great job marketing and branding. That's it.

I wrote when the MAC came out it was the only computer with a graphical interface, while the IBM pc did not. To use the graphical interface, it had the first mouse.
I have an android phone and it does mysterious things sometimes. I have a Sansa MP3 player that is confusing compared to an iPod. I have used an IBM PC when they ran DOS, I owned a mac and a windows 3 laptop, later a mac and a windows xp laptop, so I am familiar with them all.
In my opinion a macbook air is superior to any and all ultrabooks , which are not much cheaper either.
If I have any kind of problem or issue with my Apple stuff I have a place to go. Do you go into Fry's with your windows laptop when it's acting up? Or do you take your Android phone into a verizon store or maybe a radio shack?
The broker I talked to at Vanguard when I bought another 100 shares of AAPL said he also had Apple stuff, the iPhone and the iPad.
Sorry but if you visit the Air France lounge in SFO, you see Apples, if you then are in the airports in Paris, Hong Kong, you see them. Then go down to Mexico and you'll see them in the Starbucks and here and there.
Everyone on earth wants an Apple product. They are just waiting to get the dough together to buy one. There is presently no other brand on earth like it.
Eventually this will not be true. By then I am not going to care.

clambo says

They are just waiting to get the dough together to buy one.

Or to sell their kidney for one.

I'll admit apple devices have always been more reliable and better looking than most of their competition. That seems to be their contribution & I hope it drives their competition to make more reliable products.

I had a mac in early 90s & PCs from then on. Have run Linux on various machines since 1995. Win 95 & millenia were atrocious & drove me to Linux. Win2K & XP were pretty stable & vista/xp are good as far as I am concerned.
Currently running Linux on servers and Win vista / 7 for work/productivity.

For me, the best thing about Apple products is that they are stable and responsive. The worst part is that they are restrictive in many ways, their users are smug & like to proselytize, everything is expensive, & their stores are a nightmare.

I bought a nano and one of those clip-on ipods back when other brands couldn't make a reliable device. The ipods just worked, and the last thing you want is to fuss with the pieces of crap non-apple mp3 players made between 1998 and 2007 or so. Problem is, Apple tries to make you run iCrapware (itunes and family of junk) on your pc to get music onto the ipod. I think that the cult idea comes from the small and dedicated user group & the shitty attempts to install bloatware and screw you into their ecosystem once you buy an ipod or iphone.

As an example of the apple store experience, last fall my brother had me drive him to an apple store to get some version of iOS. He had to install this so that he could install an upgrade to the latest iOS, so that he could run some software he got for a gift. Well, the apple store stopped selling that version of iOS, and it could not be purchased and downloaded as an iso from apple. It had to be purchased and shipped by snail mail. Rather than making something pretty basic and needed available, the apple store had bright lights, over-designed displays, crap loads of toys on display, and tons of kids running around drooling on themselves. I was amazed.

They're pending over $5600 per square foot in those Apple stores in between the drooling.
My experience in the Apple store and with all Apple employees was always outstanding.
Similar to yesynot I put ubuntu Linux on an XP craptop just for fun and it was great. I loved it. A friend wanted it so I sold it to him. "But, can you put XP back? I am more familiar with it." Within a month he had destroyed it probably from a porno website and had to take it in to some nerds and pay $100+ for a new XP install.
I gave my friend down in Baja a laptop with Ubuntu Linux on it but she's gonna put XP back on because she wants to use some software or other, not realizing she likely has a free linux version of it anyway. Oh well.

YesYNot says

As an example of the apple store experience, last fall my brother had me drive him to an apple store to get some version of iOS. He had to install this so that he could install an upgrade to the latest iOS, so that he could run some software he got for a gift. Well, the apple store stopped selling that version of iOS, and it could not be purchased and downloaded as an iso from apple. It had to be purchased and shipped by snail mail. Rather than making something pretty basic and needed available, the apple store had bright lights, over-designed displays, crap loads of toys on display, and tons of kids running around drooling on themselves. I was amazed.

That's another funny thing with Apple. The OS upgrades.

I'm proudly 5-6 years behind running Vista and it doesn't stop me from running anything, including brand new software releases. There are still many PC users running XP SP2, which is a decade old, and they also can still run the vast majority of *new* software.

Not to mention the Lion-PPC problem for Mac Users. I'm glad my PC can still run stuff from more than 6 years old.

Seems to me Apple does everything possible to squeeze their fan base. A company with $80B in Cash doesn't need to cut corners and could have easily included some means of running older software on Lion systems - the dev cost would have been a drop in the bucket for them.

The advantage of having the widest distribution OS - the developers have to incorporate the needs of a huge range of users, such as businesses who are running decades-old software.

Power pc chips are on OLD Apples. Upgrading to Lion would be absurd on this stuff. They can however run 10.5
Apple does everything possible to make good products and software. If you are some snot nosed nerd who won't buy something, be satisfied with your computer running 10.4 which works just fine. Or, be satisfied with your power PC old computer and run 10.5 on it.
Apple is going to make money for its shareholders and make good products.
I wonder how many PC people will continue to downgrade to XP which is going to be finally killed by Microsuck?

clambo says

Power pc chips are on OLD Apples. Upgrading to Lion would be absurd on this stuff. They can however run 10.5

Yep. Difference is that you can run old, even ancient, software on new Windows OS. You can't on Apples. Microsoft makes sure users can continue to use old software.

clambo says

Apple does everything possible to make good products and software. If you are some snot nosed nerd who won't buy something, be satisfied with your computer running 10.4 which works just fine. Or, be satisfied with your power PC old computer and run 10.5 on it.

Seems to me snot nosed nerds would be the ones rushing out to buy the newest OS, newest hardware, newest everything. And that a consumer who is just interested in running his software - "It just Works" - would not be pleased with having to give up his old software every time he upgraded.
clambo says

Apple is going to make money for its shareholders and make good products.

Yep, including collusion to set E-book prices.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2012/0412/Apple-five-major-publishers-accused-of-e-book-collusion-by-DOJ

On Wednesday morning, the Department of Justice filed a complaint in US District Court against Apple and five publishers, including Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster. The allegation: That Apple and the publishers conspired to raise the prices of e-books by as much as $5, in an effort to prevent Amazon, which prices many of its e-books at 10 bucks, from locking in what publishers believe is an artificially low price.

As Amazon likes to say: "The price was set by the Publisher". I fail to see how colluding with big publishing houses to inflate the price of E-books helps the customer.

Interesting that MS is held up as the great Monopolizer. I would rather live in the near-monopoly of Windows today, than in an alt universe where Apple has the dominant OS. I'd probably be forced to update my old OS every couple of years, and have to choose between running my old software or new software, force to pony up another $100+ dollars to get a new version of software I already own when the older version served my purposes just fine: "It just worked".

Like the Lion-Quicken problem.

As long as idiots with money exist...

Apple will continue to prosper along with it's shares.

Calculated from Phone Models sold:

#1 Android - 68.4%
#2 Symbian (!!!) - 18.7%
#3 iOS - 5.7%

The total number of smartphones sold in China grew by 35% last year.
http://news.yahoo.com/android-beats-apple-china-mobile-platform-race-report-085626787.html

Apple products are not expensive. They just cost more than some people can afford.
The iPhone is superior to the hardware and software of Android phones. I own an Android phone and I like it, but it does very mysterious things from time to time. It reminds me of a windows xp laptop that way.
The mac os is superior to windows as is the hardware. The macbook air is superior to the ultrabooks.
The iPad is vastly superior for the price compared to any other tablets, including the soon to be released "Steve Ballmer edition Zunepad!"
The new mac OS with iCloud is nothing too fantastic, but others with windows or andriod have to download, install, and register for Dropbox to have the same function.
If you guys know any 1. women 2. older people 3. Luddites, you know they would rather NOT download or install ANYthing to their hardware.
Apple is going to start really selling stuff soon, in China wages are rising and people want the Apple products if they can afford them.
Android was ripped off from Apple which is why Jobs was so angry. Either way, it's not going to slow down Apple. In many ways, Android helps sell more iPhones.
I was in downtown Santa Cruz and stolled by a popular cafe full of latte-sipping slackers and I told my friend "let's observe the Apple stuff on display here: Macbook macbook, macbook, macbook, iphone, iphone, ipad, macbook, macbook, macbook air. Oh, there is some forlorn guy with a gateway. Poor slob."

The problem of mac os not running software is not a big deal. Keep the old hardware.
I have used Appleworks forever and I realize if I buy a macbook air it's not gonna work on it.
But I am running 10.5 now and my ancient Appleworks that ran on 9.2 STILL works fine. What more can I ask for? This Appleworks has been with me for 10 years, what more can I expect?
People have come here to moan and complain about Apple being so smart and dominant.
I suggest therefore you never buy Apple products. There are probably lots of Zunes on Ebay, Pantech tablets, and HTC android phones. Try giving them to your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend as the case may be. See the delight and surprise.
The Amazon nonsense will be decided in Apple's favor, since Apple was trying to loosen Amazon's MONOPOLY on reader content.
Either way so what? This is about how Apple keeps making more money. They keep making more money and will continue as China Mobile gets the iPhone, they have 600 million subscribers.

thunderlips11 says

Yep. Difference is that you can run old, even ancient, software on new Windows OS. You can't on Apples. Microsoft makes sure users can continue to use old software.

You can pretty much get an emulator for a Mac or Windows which will run older programs and other OSs. Heck you can even run OSX or Linux on Windows or Windows any version on Mac. Or take the next step and partition your drives to run various OS on one PC..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulator

Even get Wine or Crossover (Codeweaver) to run Windows programs on OSX

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

I'm aware. I run Frodo to enjoy the C64 days.

Problem is, emulators aren't perfect. The more complicated the software, the more likely a user is going to run into problems.

Quicken, particularly the newer versions, are problematic with Emulators. Stuff like arcGIS is near impossible to run emulated on Macs even for advanced users. Baldur's Gate might work fine. Lots of niche software doesn't lend itself well to emulation.

In my experience, if a piece of software really slows down a mid-range system, it will probably be very difficult to emulate.

Let me put it this way, I always hear Mac users talking about Boot Camp and Emulators. I never heard a windows user saying "Damn, I need an OS emulator to run this important piece of Mac software, and there's no version out for my Windows PC." It's also an additional expense Windows users don't have.

PS I've mentioned this before - I actually am one of the few souls who uses a Mac at work. I have universities as clients and am required to use an old prop database that only works on Macs (it gets continually rewritten for successive Mac OS). One day I'll write a post about the GOOD things (and well as the bad things of course) about working with a Mac over a PC.

So, your theory that Apple is not going to make a gazillion more bucks forever is that Quicken runs better on windows? That is almost funny if it weren't so meaningless.
I bet a pretty small % of the people jamming the Apple store in Los Gatos are worried about how to use Quicken on anything.

thomas.wong1986 says

Even get Wine or Crossover (Codeweaver) to run Windows programs on OSX

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

I tried this program and it epically failed to run so many programs that I need. And yes, I read the instructions carefully and made sure I was doing everything right.

Maybe for others who don't use the programs it doesn't work on, it maybe suitable.

But for me, this thing did nothing to solve the problem.

Get a good PC. Same specs and even in MANY cases much better specs and features for only a fraction of the price with the SAME exact hardware from the same exact manufacturer and factory.

Anything that is done on a mac, you have so many ways to run just as good on a PC and sometimes even better.

Adobe THEMSELVES say that all their software runs better on a PC!

Macs are overpriced. Even artists, graphic designers and those in music production DO NOT need a Mac. A mac will not do anything better. They have so many compatibility issues, it's ridiculous to be honest.

The virus, spyware and trojan argument is so outdated and faulty. You have to be a REAL idiot to get a virus these days. They are so many free anti-virus, trojan and spyware softwares out there. Even Microsoft offers one. Use one just in case.

Firewalls are also there for a reason.

Do NOT download cracked software either. No programmer in their right mind is going sit on the computer for several days to crack software for free. They usually want something out of it and what they usually want is to put a trojan or spyware in your computer so they can steal your personal and financial information to commit fraud.

And they only reason PCs get more viruses is because a majority of people use a PC. Committing fraud is a number's game and thieves know this.

In fact, if a mac was owned by the majority of people - the virus, trojan and spyware problem would be MANY MANY times greater.

Why? Because Mac's operating system is extremely insecure. Macs are NOT more safe. In fact, they are unsafe in their security settings.

They are much more easier to hack and infect than a windows. Mac's problem of their inferior OS and their troublesome security will be magnified many times more than Windows ever was as they get more popular.

In fact, some hackers and identity theft fraudsters prey only on Mac users because they know how easy it is to hack but also that they are demographically targeting a group of people who most likely have money but also may lack some intelligence.

Their prey may have lots of money since the chances are greater of finding a rich wealthy yet dumb person with a mac. Mac users also tend to be off their guards because they think Macs are really safe, secure and they do not ever get a virus.

Rich & Wealthy + Dumb + Off Their Guards = Perfect Prey for Fraud.

Warranty is the same for Apple as is the warranty for most PCs.

User interface is not better in the Mac. And even it is, why would you pay close to 3 times more for it and not be able to upgrade it to prevent it from being obsolete?

Mac's OS is not only something inferior to Windows but it is something you want to avoid.

Mac's also crash. Mac's are also not that stable and they are defiantly not more stable than Windows by any long shot.

Mac's being able to run Windows is there because Apple knows that users NEED Windows. Hardly any Windows' users complain about not having OS X on their machine. And even IF they need OS X, they can run it too. But why would they want too? There is no need. Trust me.

Aluminum built computers can also be found in PCs. So that is also a invalid mute argument on why macs are a better buy.

Aesthetics: Many PCs look better than the Macs or equally as good. This point is subjective which is why you should go for PC since they have many more choices to choose from. Macs all have the same style and some people actually don't like the way they look. PCs are also more customizable for aesthetics as well as specs.

Otherwise nothing is "premium" about a Mac except the perception that it is "premium". Buy it if you are so concerned with impressing others and trying to keep up with dumb sheep. You get way less for your money. All you pay for is the name and a shiny partially-eaten apple logo because it tastes like shit. So they had to make it shiny and glow with light so more people will be FOOLED by appearances.

They only Apple products I like and will buy are the iPods. Anything else is not worth the money. Maybe the iPhones are worth the money depending on the contract details and why you need a iPhone instead of a more simple phone.. iPads are really not that great and the price for what they are giving you is a complete rip off.

Sorry for bashing Apple but they kinda deserve it for their vastly inferior overpriced computers.

I will still give A LOT of credit to Apple... For there business and marketing strength. They are geniuses when it comes to separating people from money. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are both very smart people who every business(wo)men should learn from. They knew that the majority of people are idiots and that Apple was guaranteed to be a major long-term success.

Steve Jobs for marketing, leadership, branding and public image. Steve Wozniak for managing the technical side of Apple which was also extremely critical for Apple to be a success.

Any person that bought apple shares going back when they were first available is a genius to also admire and learn from because they were able to spot potential.

I notice part of the problem with stock investors is also that many of them tend to look at everything that is ALREADY a success.

Very few of them try to look for and spot a potential big-time winner so they can buy extremely low. That takes investment and business talent but the rewards for developing and using that talent for stock investment comes with a very big payoff.

You need a VERY long-term view in investment mindset to succeed.

Quick money can be had but it is extremely risky and comes with less rewards. Take a lot more work too and time is extremely critical in day trading. Stressful life is not worth the money unless you REALLY need the money and are willing to take some risks but also learn. But if you love it, knock yourself out.

Most investors (stocks, real estate and anything else) forget the broad range big picture of their investment which is 20-50 years. Which is why within a period of 10 years... The majority of them lose their money.

But I guess it's also because they may not cash out when it's time to sell and they are too late to buy when it's time to buy. So they sell at the wrong time or not when they should sell and they also buy at the wrong time.

"When it comes to stocks, quick in - quick out."
-Rothschild

I guess rigging the market and insider trading is much better and more profitable. That's what the Rothschild's do.

George Soros does it. Warren Buffet does it.

White collar fraud is the best way to earn money. Whether it's in business or investment in any kind.

You just need to cover yourself legally and make sure you know how to screw the sheep legally. In other words: Steal but do so in way which makes it 100% legal. No one can ever arrest you.

Make sure you are also above the law in case you accidently violate some laws without intending too.

John Corzine would be behind bars if he wasn't above the law and in bed with the government.

J.P. Morgan will make sure you never go to jail or have any charges pressed if you are one of them and if you are a trusted ally. All the money from MF Global went to J.P. Morgan.

J.P. Morgan paid off the authorities, judge, prosecutors and the government not to fuck with Corzine...

He had a $2500 a plate dinner with President Obama too.

The most successful thieves tend to be the ones who do their crimes mixed in with some legitimate business plus morally corrupt ways in a business suit, tie and black dress shoes with a suitcase and in a office with a desk. They also tend to be the ones who never get caught and when they do... They get off scott free or with very little repercussions. The worst is usually a civil case... where you pay off whatever idiot sheep you fucked over some chump change settlement.

Only idiots rob with a mask, gloves and a gun. Do your thievery legally with legitimate business built into it plus morally corrupt business. Just double make sure you are doing everything legally and under the law. Do not fuck over the wrong people, even if it is legal. Make sure to be on very good terms with the government and authorities.

Some people are so high up with the government that even if they murder someone and some prosecutor has all the evidence needed to prosecute. They will NEVER spend a minute in court.

Bernie Madoff fucked over the wrong people. That's all... AND he did it way too directly with no legitimate business mixed in it and EVERYTHING he did was completely illegal. He also left a lot of paper evidence and a financial trial of evidence. He also had no special status with the authorities and government. His status was that of an commoner. No special treatment.

The more vast the theft, the greater the sophistication needed and the greater the connections needed to get away with it.

Just make sure you have all that in check.

Never steal in a direct fashion. It's the dumbest way to steal even legally. It's payoff is much smaller, limited and it's much easier to get caught. Do everything legally but indirectly and mixed in with something that's not morally corrupt.

Be moral and immoral at the same time.

The indirect method of being a scumbag crook also applies to being a mass murderer.

Example. Bankrupt a nation and make them so poor that they can't even buy food or water. Make sure no one can help them in anyway or give them any shelter or any assistance of any kind. They will die within a few days from dehydration.

Example: War.

Peasants commit crime directly. Royalty commit crime indirectly.

Everyone is a scumbag... Honesty is just a front and only to be used genuinely with those closest to you like family, trusted friends and a small circle of people.

They only thieves that are looked down upon are those who do their swindling honestly and in a direct fashion.

The thieves who do their swindling dishonestly and give the appearance of them actually giving you something in return are the most respected, admired and envied. These are usually found in professional business suits, suitcases, professional offices, sitting in a office desk, a phone line, a computer, a pen, legal pads, paper, printer and a copy machine.

thunderlips11 says

I have universities as clients and am required to use an old prop database that only works on Macs (it gets continually rewritten for successive Mac OS).

Same thing would happen in the PC world, need to rewrite in-house apps for successive Windows. Ditto for Linux and mainframe.

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

Steve Jobs for marketing, leadership, branding and public image. Steve Wozniak for managing the technical side of Apple which was also extremely critical for Apple to be a success.

Wozniak permanently ended his full-time employment with Apple on February 6, 1987.

hanera says

Wozniak permanently ended his full-time employment with Apple on February 6, 1987.

He did all of the the work in developing the software, hardware and circuit board when they first started. He owns several patents as well.

Without Wozniak's technical abilities, Steve Jobs would have NEVER been able to create Apple and taken it to where it is now.

Wozniak gave Apple it's start.

Steve Wozniak ending his employment with Apple in February 6, 1987 is a useless fact and useless information. He is still a Apple shareholder and receives 120K per year till this day.

He receives a paycheck till this day even though he left for over 25 fucking years... There is a REASON why... It's because he contributed a lot for Apple and Apple owes him.

Apple paying off Wozniak till this day speaks louder than your useless facts.

It is always low people do all the work.
Then high people get credit.

I feel been used.

This pyramid food chain scares me.

Steve Wozniak's contribution was in the design of Apple I, II and III, he played no part in the design of Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Definitely didn't manage the technical side of Apple after 1987.

clambo says

I bet a pretty small % of the people jamming the Apple store in Los Gatos are worried about how to use Quicken on anything.

Yep, Which is also why I'm thinking Macs will never supplant Windows as the dominant OS either in home or business.

xenogear3 says

It is always low people do all the work.
Then high people get credit.

Everybody play a part. Someone need to design a product, someone need to manage the process and someone need to market it. We get compensate for whatever we did. Teamwork is what get done. Once we doubt other effort or unhappy over others' compensation, teamwork would suffer, leading ultimately to the collapse of the firm and left us we no job, lose-lose. I would rather win-win, is ok I make $1 while the other folk make $10, at least I still got a job.

thunderlips11 says

Which is also why I'm thinking Macs will never supplant Windows as the dominant OS either in home or business.

Most likely so. Windows has won the desktop war. The new battlefront is in the mobile space. So far, Apple is winning with products like iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Apple's selling increasing numbers macbooks, macbook airs and imacs. They keep increasing the sales and profits of their computers.
If it's constantly growing I wonder who is buying them then?
The growth of macs has exceeded the growth of sales of windows computers for 5 years+.
The synergy of people owning an iPhone, iPad, will entice ever more people to buy mac computers.
On the other hand, there still exists the poor slob in sitting on the floor of the airport gate area charging his antiquated Gateway craptop while he listens on his Zune and tries to sync it with his Pantech tablet. He's ready to make a call wth his windows 7 phone, no sense getting so distracted like those poor iPhone guys.
Gotta pull up that chart "sales by region".

Looks like the OP made a good call.

Wow, that's a drop today.

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

I tried this program....

SNIP (long-winded ramble of insane person with too much time on their hands)

hanera says

Most likely so. Windows has won the desktop war. The new battlefront is in the mobile space. So far, Apple is winning with products like iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Except they aren't. Android is already the dominant Smartphone OS in America, Europe, and China, and soon will be for tablets in a quarter or two.

wthrfrk80 says

Looks like the OP made a good call.

You mean March 11th was a good time to have gone short?

Don't think so.

thunderlips11 says

Except they aren't. Android is already the dominant Smartphone OS in America, Europe, and China, and soon will be for tablets in a quarter or two.

I believe my eyes only. Hardly see any1 using Android. In any case, classifying all Androids to be the same is the same as classifying all Linux variants to be the same. AFAIK, Android is only dominant in China. Is arguable whether those handsets are smartphones or feature phones like Nokia Symbian.

Wow, that's a drop today.
Twenty-five dollars? Why that's almost as much as carriers are charging to upgrade an iPhone. Carriers versus Apple, where have I heard that before?

hanera says

I believe my eyes only. Hardly see any1 using Android.

Well, that's your privilege, but going by both activations and phones sold, Droid is the dominant Smartphone in the US, with a clear lead on the iPhone.

hanera says

In any case, classifying all Androids to be the same is the same as classifying all Linux variants to be the same.

Different distros of Linux are more similar to each other than they are to Windows or Macs. Ditto with Droid.

EBGuy says

I believe that one of the biggest threats to Apple is that their iPhones are massively subsidized by the carriers. At some point, the wireless companies WILL rebel.

This. And, that in much of the world, carriers don't subsidize - phones and service are sold separately.

Vicente says

You mean March 11th was a good time to have gone short?

You must don't play stock market.
No one buy at bottom and short at top.

xenogear3 says

You must don't play stock market.
No one buy at bottom and short at top

Agree. Since the introduction of iPod in 2001, AAPL is appreciating at an average annual rate of 60% per year. 1000 shares bought for $10,000 in 2001 is now worth $580,000.

thunderlips11 says

but going by both activations and phones sold, Droid is the dominant Smartphone in the US, with a clear lead on the iPhone.

Not so sure about that. Please refer to this http://gigaom.com/2012/01/09/iphone-breathing-down-the-neck-of-android-in-u-s/. In terms of profit share, Apple is leading for sure. Also, data didn't include iPod touch.