would love to have some AAPL right now! Up almost $12 today. And now with the holiday season right around the corner...

time to start pricing some december calls just out of the money.

So ... if a few hundred thousand people have an iBrick, it's okay because the stock is up?

Absolutely.

The bump in stock price reflects the companies past present and future projected performance.

Performance due based on demand for the products that they manufacture.

If someone wants to gamble on hacking the phone and bricking it then whose fault is it?

All the North American carriers will only buy handsets that are locked to thier network. Handsets are heavily subsidized and they want to ensure you use your subsidized phone on thier network. Years and years of "Free" phones have created this problem and I dont think users are going to be wiling to pay the $200+ for thier "free" phone anytime soon. Some phones are easier to unlock than others but trust me Apple isnt the only product that can turn into a "brick" by hacking. Dont want and Ibrick? dont fark with it.

It does sound fishy, but I work with someone who bought two about a month after they came out and has still not activated either.

I'm not saying Apple isn't a good company, but if ever there was a stock with emotional value...this is it. Apple stock seems more like baseball cards in that the fundamentals aren't important, or at least not as important as they should be.

But in the end things are worth what someone is willing to pay...Apple stock is just unique as to why they pay. Will it last? Hell if I know.

It's weird; this thread gets bumped on the topic of how many phones . . a Q is raised about the # of phones activated vs bricked . . .and the iDefense is Look over here at the stock price.

. . hookay.

btw, what phones are #'s 1, 2 & 3 ?

only a moron buys the phone betting it'll get cracked. How in the world is that Apple's fault?

Oh yeah, it isn't. Only the moron who bought the phone. As opposed to those of us who knew the story, bought it, and have had zero issues (ie most people). Oh wait, I forgot...Apple is supposed to anticipate the hackers and make them feel better. After all, there is no personal responsibility here...

I agree, you brick it...you buy it.

yup, same with any product you choose to mess with.

It's hardly Enron type accounting. Industry reports say that 18% of iPhones are 'cracked' to work on other networks. And there are plenty of iPhone users who appreciate everything else the thing does and dont' use it as a phone at all.

It's funny that the blind Apple hate propels the same people into wrong conclusions time after time.

agreed here as well. ...who was saying anything else?

I'm not an Apple evangelist, just a user, but folks can always invest in Microsoft, Dell or HP as an alternative. BTW, didn't MS just get spanked in Europe for their usual business practices. After the verdict and a large fine, they cooperated quickly under the threat of $2mil or so per day. It seems over here they merely get their hand slapped. Let's hope they eventually get it.

As long as Apple creates products consumers want/need without alienating that same customer base, they'll do fine, just like any other company.

Sherwood

I'm not an Apple user (yet), but I probably will buy an iPhone some day when the price drops again. Investing does not have to be "mutually exclusive", and imo there's no problem owning lots of successful, companies (that might compete with each other) as long as you remain diversified overall.

You say that like it's a good thing. Microsoft is the institution, the world requires their products to function. Apple makes trendy toys (save for the the ad/marketing industry).

Microsoft has a built in stability, Apple needs to keep hitting home runs to maintain their current stratospheric levels.

like Middle East stability?


Not true. Apple has to keep developing lifestyle personal electronics that tie into their computers. The growth of all of the iLaunch products point to their steadily increasing marketshare in the PC market.

It comes down this from a product development and marketing strategy:

Microsoft is part of a person's business life, and they typically hate it. And yet Apple can't compete in this marketplace. What should they do?

(I believe) Apple wants to become a part of a person's personal life, giving them every reason to love it.

Both are important to the consumer as a computer user, but they are completely different strategies for each company's success.

I agree. It's ALL about marketing and these companies are targeting different segments that are not mutually exclusive at all. Apple does NOT have to continue to hit "home runs", as they have a VERY profitable niche nicely secured imo. I'm not an Apple user, but how many folks do you know that move away from an Apple product to some other offering...talk about a loyal consumer base :)!

I don't care enough to argue this anymore. If you think Apple is worth 50% of Microsoft...then fine I guess.

Do you think Porsche is worth 50% of General Motors? ;)

I don't know if your're arguing (with me) or not :). I'm not debating Apple's value (as a company) vs. Microsoft as I currently have positions in both. At various points in time, I've had a vested interest in every company mentioned in this thread, but this topic was about the profitablility of the iPhone launch. Apple's performance numbers can stand on their own merit as they have for several years...YMMV.