by Andrew LaVallee, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Apple is now calling its MacBook laptops “the world’s greenest lineup of notebooks” instead of “the world’s greenest family of notebooks” in response to a recommendation by the Better Business Bureau’s advertising division.
The division came to the recommendation after rival computer maker Dell challenged Apple’s MacBook marketing, which refers, among other things, to the devices’ energy usage, packaging and recyclable components.
It’s up. It’s down. It’s up. It’s down. That’s the brief, updated history of a billboard-style ad posted by the Norwegian hacker Jon Lech Johansen next to Apple’s store in downtown San Francisco, the subject of an item here last Saturday.
by Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily
Apple’s Black Friday discounts are less than some analysts had expected, though they’re pretty much in line with what was offered last year. Many retailers are offering deeper discounts, but Apple stores are price-matching. Some expected that Apple, with its strong cash position and favorable production pricing costs, would offer more to a vulnerable consumer base. There will be no iPhone discount today.
by Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily
Analysts don’t quite know what will be the impact on iPod, Mac and iPhone sales in light of new challenges facing Apple: the economic downturn, the explosion of the smartphone sector, the impact of netbooks on PC sales and the entrance into the market of new competition. In light of these circumstances, though, many analysts continue to recommend the stock–which is up four percent this morning, to $85.85.
Apple last week introduced a pair of very nice notebook computers that, not at all surprisingly, looked like riffs on the MacBook Air. … but what strikes me is what won’t be announced–the big surprises that are missing. What happened?
Despite a raft load of nifty new features, Apple’s new Mac notebooks will have a hard time moving off store shelves during the economic crisis, industry analysts say.
by Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily
I’m sitting here in the parking lot on the Apple (AAPL) campus in Cupertino outside Building 4 on Infinite Loop, waiting for this morning’s unveiling of updated Mac laptops. The event should get under way around 10 a.m. PDT.
by Arik Hesseldahl, Technology Writer, BusinessWeek
When they’re not hand-wringing over the recent drop in Apple’s share price, Mac enthusiasts have been transfixed lately by the mystery product, code-named “brick,” that’s due for release later this month.
The MacBook Brick is a block of high-quality, aircraft-grade aluminum. It is the beginning.
The beginning of what?
It is the beginning of the new Apple manufacturing process to make MacBooks. It is totally revolutionary, a game changer. One of the biggest Apple innovations in a decade.
by Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron's, Tech Trader Daily
BMO Capital’s Keith Bachman this morning raised his EPS estimates for Apple’s (AAPL) September 2009 fiscal year to $6.36 from $6.21, reflecting increases in his estimates on both notebook sales and iPhones average selling prices. Bachman repeated his Outperform rating and $205 price target on the stock.
Apple had a solid May for both Mac and iPod sales.
As Lehman analyst Tim Luke points out in a note today, new data from market research firm NPD shows Mac unit sales grew 50% on a year-over-year basis in May, ahead of the 37% Q2 growth Lehman had expected. Sales of iPods in the month were up 11.6% for the month in units, slower growth than the 14.6% gain in April, but well ahead of the 2% year-over-year decline Lehman has been modeling for the quarter.
by Fred Wilson, Managing Partner, Flatiron Partners and Union Square Ventures
I know Apple is one of the most loved companies in the world. I know that my girls and my friend Howard have ridden Apple’s stock from pre-split $20s to 10-to-15x returns. I know that the Apple lovers will hate me and flame me for what I am about to say.
My brand image of Apple [...]
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