Posted on 11/02/2005 7:24:45 PM PST by Panerai
Shares of Apple Computer on Wednesday jumped to a record high as investors made bets on growth in its digital music and video businesses, analysts said.
Shares of Apple, maker of the market-leading iPod digital music player and Macintosh computers, closed up $2.45 to $59.95 on the Nasdaq, a gain of more than 4 percent.
Apple dominates the digital music business it helped establish, and its growth appears to be accelerating amid concern that industry sales are less than robust.
"When everyone else is slowing and you're not, it means share gains," American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu told Reuters.
In July, the company said it sold around 1.5 million songs per day. Based on recent comments from Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, Wu estimated that Apple was selling about 1.8 million songs per day in September.
"It's probably closer to 2 million as we enter the holidays," Wu said.
Compounding confidence was Apple's announcement earlier this week that its iTunes online service sold 1 million videos in less than 20 days. The company recently released a new iPod that can play video on its 2.5-inch color screen.
"I think the 1 million video mark in 20 days gives people comfort that video isn't a dud--that it's being accepted," said Rochdale Research analyst Daan Coster.
Apple's PC business is also growing faster than the overall market.
Analysts said the upward momentum in Apple's stock may be a result of investor movement into names already showing good results with credible prospects of growth.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.com ...
So what was that about video capabilities killing the iPod, and therefore Apple's stock price?
To this day, one can trace a continual stream of "APPLE IS DEAD" articles back to the early 1980s.
yay pump of century
Apple was dead, then Steve Jobs came back.
No comment, as I don't own either device.
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Even further back than that, as I've worked with Apple PC's since 1977. I remember articles in the late 1970's that computers by Radio Shack (TRS80), Atari, etc., would put Apple out of business and that Apple was dead. Then IBM came out with their crappy PC and the articles were printed again. Biggest mistake I made was not buying Apple stock early on. I've been making money on it for the last 10 years, especially now.
Yeh. "The rumors of (Apple's) death have been greatly exaggerated".
Let's see:
Hard drive: Sony 20GB, iPod 30/60GB.
Format: Sony mp3/WMA/ATRAC, iPod mp3/AAC/Lossless/Audible. iPod supports better music formats.
Display: Sony 1.5", iPod 2.5".
Video: Sony none, iPod yes.
Navigation: iPod has the click wheel, 'nuff said.
I'll go with the iPod. All that costs you only $20 more. And I like that the battery isn't removable. It's an engineering decision that results in a smaller device.
I was talking to my 13 year old daughter about the new iPod. She wants a Nano, but when I asked her if for $50-$100 more she could get video capability on her iPod, she responded, "Why?" I explained about the episodes of Lost and Desperate Housewives that could be purchased online just like iTunes, but she didn't want to watch them on a tiny screen.
Jury's not back yet, but by all means sink your life's savings into AAPL if you think the stock is going to continue to rise.
None of the above features can beat what Sony offers- MegaBass. You need to hear both to notice the distinct difference in audio quality, with the same MP3 file.
I know, because I have used both.
I stand by what I mentioned earlier- the Sony player, with the iPod's ClickWheel™, is a combination that'll beat both.
20 GB may be improved(although more than enough for most ordinary folks). But none of what Apple offers can beat the superior acoustic engineering that Sony enjoys. As for formats, well who uses anything other than MP3 these days? Native files are not tag-able.
And about the display, it is good enough if it can show the album, name,title, essential settings, etc., the rest are all ribbons and wrapping, for a digital AUDIO player. Besides, Sony's display is reversible. And the removable battery does not mean an increase in dimensions- in fact, Sony's is smaller.
Besides, on a long trip, the iPod's battery lasts 8-9 hours tops, if you are into frequently shuffling and skipping songs. Turning on the EQ feature drains battery life out of an iPod worse than a sandbag with a hole.
With the Sony's DAP all you need to do is carry an extra battery pack(or more), no bigger than a cube of butter, and you're ready for hours more, unlike in the iPod.
I'll give in on the ClickWheel™ though.
And since the iPod is not designed to be battery-replaceable, when you return it to the store to get the battery changed, you end up having your iPod with the new battery installed, but unfortunately the physical prying-open manouvre on the iPod to access the battery, leaves it with damaged edges. Not something you want happening to a $300 device. And lithium-ion batterys aren't good for more than a year or two.
With the Sony player, all you need to do is buy a new battery and pop it in through the access-door and you're done. As good as new.
But look at the Sony! The form factor and interface don't even compare. There is a reason people a Mercedes instead of a Chevy. Style!
For something that's half the time in your pocket, what use is "style"? To me functionality beats style. And audio quality and performance is King-Emperor.
Believe me you, hear out both, and you will choose Sony.
Apple stock up $1.60 this morning to around $61.50...
I never liked MegaBass, I never used it in my Sony Discman or minidisc player.
As for formats, well who uses anything other than MP3 these days?
Anybody who enjoys quality. AAC is far superior.
And the removable battery does not mean an increase in dimensions- in fact, Sony's is smaller.
Only because of the smaller screen. The iPod actually managed to be thinner even with all the extra stuff.
With the Sony's DAP all you need to do is carry an extra battery pack
There are also iPod chargers and external battery packs.
A lot of it just amounts to personal taste, there are no absolutes. I simply prefer the iPod package and abilities.
I guess so. But I still think Apple needs to make the iPod's battery better accessible/removable. Then, it would be a perfect DAP.
Personal tastes definitely influence matters such as the ones you and I mentioned earlier. I concede on that note.
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