On October 6, 1997, in response to the question of what he’d do if he was in charge of Apple Computer, Dell founder and then CEO Michael Dell stood before a crowd of several thousand IT executives and answered flippantly, “What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”
A little more than a month later, on November 10, 1997, new Apple Interim CEO (iCEO) Steve Jobs responded, speaking in front of an image of Michael Dell’s bulls-eye covered face, “We’re coming after you, you’re in our sights.”
On January 13, 2006, after a little more than eight years of hard work, Apple Inc. passed Dell, Inc. in market value, $72.13 billion vs. $71.97 billion at market close, respectively.
On July 27, 2007, Apple’s value doubled that of Dell’s, $127.81 billion vs. $63.65 billion, respectively.
This morning in intraday NASDAQ trading, a mere four months after becoming twice as valuable as Dell, Apple’s market value passed 3 times that of Dell’s, $165.66 billion vs. $54.42 billion.
Got any snappy retorts for that one, Mr. Dell?
AAPL and DELL quotes via NASDAQ are here.
Apple is worth a lot more than 3 times Dell’s market cap!
Ahhh, an oldie but a goodie. And just in time for Christmas, too!
Dell? They still exist. I figured by now the shareholders would be given their money back.
The business modeals speak for themselves.
One company creates tremendous value through hardware and software thus commanding a premium price for its products.
The other relies on trimming microcents off its manufacturing process to try and increase margins on its products that have no value differentiation other than price.
Is there anything more rewarding, more satisfying, than a loud-mouthed bully getting his ramblings stuffed back into his bloated throat?
I just looked back at prices in 1997. Back then, Dell was worth about $200 million, while Apple was about $4 billion. So, Apple was worth about 20 times Dell. Since, Apple is now only worth 3 times Dell, in other words, Dell is catching up!!!
Yikes, Dell’s brochures still fall out of the Sunday paper every week.
Still, they make handy absorbent pads under my daughter’s paint pots.
I wonder what Jobs would say if HE were CEO of Dell? Someone should ask him.
Michael Dell’s and Laura Goldman’s words coming back to haunt them are always great to hear again!
What I love about the Dell situation is that where do they go after this? They’re already cutting everything to the bone. After a while there’s gonna be nothing to trim. Apple are in the perfect situation of being able to increase sales via the quality of their products and earn good money from the preferential portion of the market they’re popular with. If things went “bad” then apple would still have the luxry of being able to cut prices, cost cut, whatever and still be in a healty position. They’ve done the hard work upfront – just like with the transition to OS X and are now benefitting from it.
“What I love about the Dell situation is that where do they go after this?”
A fetal position.
“Apple is worth a lot more than 3 times Dell’s market cap!”
And . . . Apple is worth a lot more than 3 times Dell’s market crap!
“Dude, you’re getting a Dell!” or NOT.
Rarely does Dell make a mistake, but I’d have to say that abandoning the Ditty was the beginning of Dell’s current troubles. Don’t get me wrong, I’m rocking Vista here at work on a Dell and it’s awesome, but the Ditty had so much promise. The IT guys at work told me I should get one, so I did. Mine still works. Maybe an I-Pod shuffle will grow up to be a real MP3 player with a screen that tells you what song is playing, like my Ditty.
This present market valuation situation with Apple is no big deal. Dell will be back, big time. You can’t run Zune Marketplace on a MAC, or play games. Losers.
Your potential. Our passion.™
While we are all celebrating and enjoying our smug notion that Steve beat Mike like a dead horse, let’s look around at what is going on in Cupertino.
Isn’t the course we are on this morning the very same path that was blazed by Dell?
In the quest for money, market share and APPL records, Steve has lost his focus on changing the world (in spite of his claim that his gadgetery phone has done that (it has done no such thing)) and instead become Gordon Gekko.
Too bad – oh, what might have been.
@Realist
Please put down the crack pipe!
Dell isn’t worth SHIAT – to me! I have never in my 33 years of existence given them my hard earned cash! So in my book they don’t exist and as such are worthless.
;0)
Hey Realist, have you always been a “cup half empty” sort of person?
And ZT. I read your post and nearly PMSL!!!
You really should do stand-up Tang boy!!!
What a maroon! You give realism a bad name. Apple is doing great, especially the Mac.
MW: deep–a “realist” in deep denial?
To Realist:
Why are you referring to Appell Petroleum Corporation (APPL)?
Did you hit your head again? And remember, paint thinner is not a toy. Oh, what might have been indeed.
“where do they go after this? They’re already cutting everything to the bone. After a while there’s gonna be nothing to trim. “
They can still trim M. D. off payroll.
Dear Mr. Realist,
Your assessment of the iPhone astounds me. Have you actually ever held an iPhone?
ZT, Dell and Vista….yes you guys all deserve each other. Quality at its best. A fine representation of what is good in life.
Hahahahah somedays I just crack myself up!!!!!
yes i am cool
P.S. Realist, look one inch to the left and slightly up from your post. I love the smell of irony in the morning.