“It’s official. Apple is the most valuable computer maker in the world,” Saul Hansell reports for The New York Times.
“In the wake of the company’s better than expected earnings in the quarter ended September 30th, Apple’s shares rose by nearly 7 percent, making the company’s total market value $162 billion,” Hansell reports. “That edges out IBM, worth $155 billion, and Intel, worth $156 billion. Apple also surged past Nokia, the most valuable cellphone maker, which is worth $150 billion.”
Hansell reports, “Indeed, Apple is now the fourth most valuable technology company, after Cisco ($189 billion), Google ($208 billion), and Microsoft ($290 billion).”
“For an investor, one question is whether Apple can capitalize on its momentum to catapult itself to a business that doesn’t depend so much on each successive product introduction,” Hansell reports. “To do so, Apple will increasingly find itself battling with the three other companies at the top of the tech totem pole. Microsoft, of course, thought that it had defeated Apple in the operating system a decade ago, only to find its rival has revived, stronger than ever.”
Full article, in which Hansell inexplicably fails to mention the very real possibility of Apple strategically teaming with Google and/or Cisco on various projects, here.
Haven’t we all known this for years?
Finaly, its about time. How long have you been using macs?
Got my first one in 1993 the great little LC for graduation and haven’t looked back.
I’ve known that since 1985. Hypercard and MacPaint were amazing for the time.
I’ve been a machead since 1991. Been through the hard times and now I’m enjoying the success of Apple.
At this rate, AAPL could pass Cisco in market cap. by the time Leopard is released.
…since 1983. I worked at an Apple dealer and got to work/play with the new Lisa. Clearly groundbreaking.
Bought my first Mac in 1984.
Since then, have used as primary: Plus, SE/30, IIci, Portable (not primary), Quadra, Powerbook 100, PowerMac 7200, Powerbook 145, Powerbook 170, PowerMac G3 Beige, Wall Street, Titanium, AGP Graphics, and MacBook (2.16).
magic word: Yes, I’ve used “several” Macs.
Mac user since 1986
MW: history (go figure)
Since 87…back at SJSU. They mostly had Macs back then.
Since 1989, an SE (At least I think that was the model name. 9″ B/W screen all in one)
Beware of hubris. My grandmother told me, “what goes up must come down”. Markets and economies do all the time. Up one day and down the other. Apple does not exist in a vacuum.
A few other fun market cap. notes:
McDonald’s – 67.56B
Boeing – 74.95B
General Motors – 21.44B
And then, um, GE – 414.66B. Might be a little while to catch up to that one.
“Apple does not exist in a vacuum.”
No, but Hoover does.
Grigori nailed it.
Market cap is only one way to measure the value of a company.
As a Mac user can you, right now, today, imagine your life without all of the products and innovations Apple has brought to market in the last thirty years. Even the last ten?
Unbelievable.
My first Apple computer wasn’t a Mac..
It was an Apple ][+ Family System. 48K RAM, Disk ][ (143k Floppy), Apple Paddles, RF Modulator (to connect to a B&W;TV) With pfs:File, Apple Adventure, TextEdit, AppleSoft Basic and AppleDOS… All for only $3000 Canadian.. Bought from an Apple Dealer in Ottawa named Compumart. As I recall, they were Apple Dealer # 20 something or so.
Started my selling career in an Apple store in 1983. Later we got named Apple Dealer of the Year.
I loved Apple before Apple was cool.
I remember demonstrating a Macintsoh on TV the night they were released – January 24, 1984. Somebody’s 15 minutes.
From the article:
“Microsoft, of course, thought that it had defeated Apple in the operating system a decade ago, only to find its rival has revived, stronger than ever.”
Watch for the (paid and unpaid) FUD machine to increase in intensity and venom over the next few weeks and months. Microsoft has never and will never fight fairly. I don’t think they know how.
I pre ordered the first Mac 128k (it booted with a micro floppy). MacWrite ate the first term paper I wrote on it ( 25 pages was too much I guess), but I forgave it. I have always known Apple was the best. It’s just that no one at Apple knew how to leverage the family jewels until bio-dad was allowed back home.
i got my first mac in 2004!! The stock was i believe at around 25$…
I bought already 3 macbooks and 3 imacs, each time i easely sold one on ebay to buy a new one..
I remember someone writing lately, it was overheard by someone near Bill Gates as he said, “What’s up with Steve Jobs? Doesen’t he know that he is not relevant anymore?”
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1992 Mac Classic: my first computer ever ( second hand )… now Mac Pro Octo… lightyears away! … I believe I can Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…..
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Apple, The Most Valuable Computer Maker in the world, makes the most valuable computer.
If you could strip away all other components (e.g. mp3 players, printers, etc) and just focus on computers, I wonder how Apple would still rate compared to the others? Dunno if it is even possible to guess.
Mac user since 1986…..and still going strong. Scientists LOVE their Macs.
I got an Apple IIe in 1984, and then a Mac Plus in 1986. I’m proud to say I’ve never owned a computer not made by Apple. The few times I’ve been forced to use a Windows machine have been depressing — when realizing that so many people are willing to settle for such shoddy products, hardware and software alike.