MacDailyNews Take: And, oh, if history is any guide, some of those questions will be doozies!
Madway reports, “With a market capitalization that has approached $200 billion in recent weeks, analysts say investors may be looking for a fresh catalyst to send shares that have already more than doubled from a year ago, even higher. Shareholders want to know what Jobs has planned for the iPad, whether the iPhone can sustain its growth momentum amid greater competition, and what the company will do with its eye-popping $40 billion cash balance.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple should keep saving the cash until they can guarantee a minimum 200-year life span for the company. Over and above that, they can spend on whatever they’d like.
Madway continues, “The iPad has generated nearly as many questions as publicity, since no one knows what the consumer appetite is for a so-called “third category” of mobile device, which bridges the gap between smartphones and laptop computers.”
MacDailyNews Take: We know what the appetite is among Apple fans, at least. So far our poll, “The next Apple product I will buy,” with nearly 2,000 responses, has 65% answering “iPad.” The distant second on the list is “Portable Mac” at 11%.
Madway continues, “Analysts’ estimates put first-year iPad sales at about 2 million to 5 million units. It will appear in stores as early as the end of March, starting at $499.”
MacDailyNews Take: The analysts’ top-end estimates are too low. Apple will easily sell in excess of 5 million iPad units in its first year. Go ahead, iCal us.
Madway continues, “The attention at last year’s meeting was focused on Jobs, whose six-month medical leave had heightened concerns about his well being at the time. But with the CEO back at the helm, and with no major issues on the voting agenda, interest may shift to operational matters. All seven of Apple’s directors will stand for re-election.”
Full article here.
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