patrick.net

My 6-year-old Lenovo ThinkPad is still going strong. If you want a good Windows laptop, stick with Lenovo ThinkPad X, T, or W.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is the most useful tablet computer on the market.

The MacBook Pro does not even have Home/End/PgUp/PgDn/Del. Which genius designed that?

Strategist says

I have also had Sony Vaio's.

Now we are talking.

Yeah, I started working with Macs in 90s on imaging and all they did was crash. At the same time Apple advertised crash-free OS. It was all bullshit yet everyone bought into it. People say they are better now, but Apple has always claimed to be crash free, even when they were shitty computers.

Strategist says

Would take for ever just to boot up.

Hibernate! Or better yet, leave on. It helps generate more CO2 so that CiC's climate can improve. :)

CL says

Apple's foray into payments will be big. Unlike Google Wallet, people will use it and they have millions upon millions of active payers already registered.

I rather trust Google's security. Google employees tend to be smarter anyway.

Mind you, a similarly configured ThinkPad may cost more than a MacBook Pro, but it is worth it.

Alas, I am typing this on a MacBook Pro. One weakness of Windows is that it has advanced DPI scaling. As a result, application developers do not bother to optimize for high-res displays on Windows. Some applications simply look better on Retina displays for now.

Peter P says

CL says

Apple's foray into payments will be big. Unlike Google Wallet, people will use it and they have millions upon millions of active payers already registered.

I rather trust Google's security. Google employees tend to be smarter anyway.

Oh yeah? Then how comes Apple has Geniuses, huh?

CL says

Oh yeah? Then how comes Apple has Geniuses, huh?

Only at the bar.

Peter P says

CL says

Oh yeah? Then how comes Apple has Geniuses, huh?

Only at the bar.

At the bar all the chicks are beautiful, but the guys get me mad enough to slug 'em..on printhiple.

I prefer the Microsoft Store experience though. There are usually twenty employees entertaining me as the sole customer. LOL.

The thing you have to ask yourself -- is over 400 ppi excessive? You've got to drive every pixel on the screen. Apple's iPhone 6 has HALF the pixels of a 1080p display. And that translates into a smaller battery and thinner phone. Cough, cough... not to mention something about margins.

EBGuy says

The thing you have to ask yourself -- is over 400 ppi excessive?

I think up to about 400 ppi is still useful, speaking as a amateur photographer.

EBGuy says

The thing you have to ask yourself -- is over 400 ppi excessive? You've got to drive every pixel on the screen.

Well, it's a good question, and here is the answer (at least in the samsung v apple saga):
iPhone6 (5.5",401ppi): 158x77.8x7.1mm, 172g
s5 (5.1", 432ppi): 142x72.5x8.1, 145g
note4 (5.7", 515ppi): 153.5x78.6x8.5, 176g

iPhone thinner? Yes by 1 mm
Smaller? No
Lighter? by 4 mg vs the larger note. Somehow the iPhone is heavier per cubic mm than the others. Interesting... Steve Jobs' ashes?

You don't reason with religious beliefs.

Strategist says

JH:

"Somebody please enlighten me about AAPL"

Apple is one of the few products that have both beauty and brains. There is no substitute. As of January 2, 2014 we became a 100% Apple family. 4 computers, 4 iPhones, 1 iPad, and an Apple router. Never had a problem. Never Ever.

In other words:

"I like shiny things and I don't like to think".

My favorite piece of electronics is the $35 Chromecast. It is good enough to change my purchasing habit of streaming contents. I used to rent/buy movies/shows on Amazon Instant Video. Now I buy them on Google Play.

To the original question of why AAPL stock is being bid up. It probably has something to do with this:

"Samsung's mobile business operating margin dipped to 16 percent in October-December from 18 percent over the whole of 2013."

"IPhone margins are now in the mid-40 percent range, down from 50-60 percent a few years ago, analysts estimate."

From:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-analysis-idUSBREA3806J20140409

swebb says

To the original question of why AAPL stock is being bid up. It probably has something to do with this:

Interesting information. It's like SFBA real estate. The homes are shittier and smaller than anywhere else in America, and yet people pay more for them.

swebb says

"IPhone margins are now in the mid-40 percent range, down from 50-60 percent a few years ago, analysts estimate."

I found this analysis interesting also:

Shares bounced around $100 a share as the meeting progressed when two models of the new iPhone were announced as expected. The stock picked up steam following the plan of to allow consumers to add credit card information to their phones. The gains held as the company unveiled the much rumored $350 smartwatch, but evaporated as the timing and iPhone requirement was revealed.

Especially the boldface haha.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2014/09/09/apple-product-unveiled/15334771/

CL says

Got a .edu discount

That's the biggest crock of shit in the history of retail.
What .edu discounts expose, is just how much they are fucking the other consumers.

CaptainShuddup says

What .edu discounts expose, is just how much they are fucking the other consumers.

It would appear that such fucking is consensual.

"Why on earth is AAPL stock so fucking high? They have proven once again the inability to innovate. They are quite simply behind in everything and not catching up. The iPhone 6 is a joke. And some of you think stocks are going to continue climbing? For what? What is apple innovating or producing that is worth the money? I realize people buy it, but at the same time their stock is doubling annually, they are continuing to lose ground to their competitors."

The short answer is they made 40B net of tax and have $100B+ in the banks net of debt. That puts the PE around 12 or 13 net of cash.

I would not buy APPL shares now as I do think cell phones will be comoditized and Apple will struggle to maintain margins. All phones look the same now. The Iphone 6 is no different the the HTC one M8 with the aluminum chassis and the Apple watch pricetag is absurd. Ipad sales are struggling.

SFace says

I would not buy APPL shares now as I do think cell phones will be comoditized and Apple will struggle to maintain margins.

A religion cannot be commoditized though.

JH said: iPhone6 (5.5",401ppi): 158x77.8x7.1mm, 172g
You have a typo there. It should read iPhone6 Plus.
Here are the specs for the iPhone6 (4.7", 326ppi)138x67x6.9, 129g
Apple went for the Less is More approach with size, weight, and power (and as I said before, probably, margins). YMMV. Should keep the fan bois happy and allow us to have endless discussions as you can't make a direct comparison with Samsung's flagship. Well, here's something close from Motorola: old Moto X (4.7", 720p) 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4, 130g.
And for the record, I have never owned an Apple product.

SFace says

I would not buy APPL shares now as I do think cell phones will be comoditized and Apple will struggle to maintain margins. All phones look the same now. The Iphone 6 is no different the the HTC one M8 with the aluminum chassis and the Apple watch pricetag is absurd. Ipad sales are struggling.

SFAce, you've come around a long way on this. Apple will have a hard time getting the higher prices for the phone as the industry is shifting away from subsidies and prices for similar Android phones are falling. We've switched our plan to no subsidies and will be saving lots of money buy buying our own phones. Apple will be profitable for a while, but there is a risk that in 5 years there sales could decline 20-30 percent.

People used to buy tons of beanie babies...

EBGuy says

JH said: iPhone6 (5.5",401ppi): 158x77.8x7.1mm, 172g

You have a typo there. It should read iPhone6 Plus.

Here are the specs for the iPhone6 (4.7", 326ppi)138x67x6.9, 129g

Apple went for the Less is More approach with size, weight, and power (and as I said before, probably, margins). YMMV. Should keep the fan bois happy and allow us to have endless discussions as you can't make a direct comparison with Samsung's flagship. Well, here's something close from Motorola: old Moto X (4.7", 720p) 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4, 130g.

And for the record, I have never owned an Apple product.

I was comparing the 400ppi plus from the post I quoted. I agree they went with less but I don't know there was a more.

Call it Crazy says

Strategist says

In the long run Apple has what you would want in a wife....Beauty, Brains, Loyalty, Obedient. :)

That's what I have in my dog.... Good luck finding that in a wife!

So your'e saying....dogs are better than bitches.

New Renter says

Strategist says

JH:

"Somebody please enlighten me about AAPL"

Apple is one of the few products that have both beauty and brains. There is no substitute. As of January 2, 2014 we became a 100% Apple family. 4 computers, 4 iPhones, 1 iPad, and an Apple router. Never had a problem. Never Ever.

In other words:

"I like shiny things and I don't like to think".

No brainers don't require thinking.

So do you work for the competition? Or just sore you didn't buy the stock when it was cheap?

I have been holding AAPL a while now and glad I did. It's P/E is good and so far it's been a good investment.

I work with IT stuff during the day, and don't WANT to dick with it after hours I want it to "just work" which so far Apple products have been very good to me about. You claim to be asking for explanation, but your tone says you just want to gripe. Piss off there's no explaining it to you.

Anyone who follows the stock chart 30 seconds after a product announcement is a day-trader. Apple stock has in past run up a bit before new products, deflated after launch, but then resumed it's trend. I don't argue with the long-term trend while it's going my way, although I do keep an alert set for large drops.

Call it Crazy says

Vicente says

If you don't, then piss off there's no explaining it to you.

*

You see that sheep way in the front? That's me! I can hardly wait for my iwatch. You guys are dinosaurs.

Strategist says

JH:

"Somebody please enlighten me about AAPL"

Apple is one of the few products that have both beauty and brains. There is no substitute. As of January 2, 2014 we became a 100% Apple family. 4 computers, 4 iPhones, 1 iPad, and an Apple router. Never had a problem. Never Ever.

Bought Apple laptops for more than 15 years now. Had some problems with them but generally been very happy. Also have bought the phone and ipad over the years. Again generally happy with both. However, I'm in the market for a new unlocked phone and was waiting on the new 5.5" phone. I'm not bothered by the (likelihood of) low Ram, but that thing as a whole is HUGE and not exactly cutting edge. They seem to be over focused on the software side of things and losing ground on the hardware. The unlocked version also looks like it's going to be ridiculously expensive in comparison to what is now out there. Think I might take a serious look at the G3 and Z3 despite the money I've spent on the apps. The G3 looks a lot of phone for less than $600.

Strategist says

You see that sheep way in the front? That's me! I can hardly wait for my iwatch.

It's sooooo shiny! And it has an apple on the back!

I'll stick with my HTC Rezound. I've had it for three years now and it still works great on the Verizon 4G network.

Vicente says

That's exactly right.

If you have a much better solution than what Apple offers, why do you even care enough to come here and complain about them?

I see no one posting threads about Amazon's phone or Microsoft's phones. And it's not because they are brilliant pieces of technology.

Vicente says

You claim to be asking for explanation, but your tone says you just want to gripe. Piss off there's no explaining it to you.

You claim apple people are less fanatical but just proved you can be as big an ass as me so piss off yourself.

Thanks for the intelligent contributions to the conversation.

JH says

You claim apple people are less fanatical but just proved you can be as big an ass as me so piss off yourself.

I'm no fanatic. I own their products. I own some stock. Once they suck, I will be the first to desert them. I'm no longer interested however in a "WHOSE WANG IS BIGGER" contest with the guy next to me. If the tech I have in my pocket is working reliably and elegantly that's all I require of it.

Vicente says

'm no fanatic

You posted the pic

Strategist says

Call it Crazy says

Strategist says

In the long run Apple has what you would want in a wife....Beauty, Brains, Loyalty, Obedient. :)

That's what I have in my dog.... Good luck finding that in a wife!

So your'e saying....dogs are better than bitches.

You are so wrong, it may be what you want from a woman, but you don't have to make any woman your wife.

Smart phones should be cheap, easy to use, gorgeous, un-jealous, disposable, interchangeable (operating systems). I bet Apple will continue to loose marketshare worldwide. The cheaper brands will be taking up the lions share in the next decade.

ChapulinColorado says

So your'e saying....dogs are better than bitches.

You are so wrong, it may be what you want from a woman, but you don't have to make any woman your wife.

Just giving the girls a hard time.

ChapulinColorado says

Smart phones should be cheap, easy to use, gorgeous, un-jealous, disposable, interchangeable (operating systems). I bet Apple will continue to loose marketshare worldwide. The cheaper brands will be taking up the lions share in the next decade.

Apple does not have the largest market share overall. They have the largest market share among the high end users. The difference in price is not so much, the difference in technology is tremendous.

Strategist says

They have the largest market share among the high end users.

Teenage girls and GenX moms? CC was talking about phones, you know.

Strategist says

The difference in price is not so much, the difference in technology is tremendous.

Price difference is negligible at best. But the difference in technology is staggering as shown in the OP.