Clem Chambers gives us the latest run down on Apple's place in the market...and what to do with your shares!
Moving' On Up
Apple is selling millions of iPads and a visit to US stores will often leave would-be buyers empty handed.
iPad is a huge success and so is Apple's share price. It wouldn't take a big rally to put Apple at the top of the charts as the US's most valuable company.
Leading the Big Dogs?
This last fact is really the hurdle in imagining Apple having a big rally. If it was to double in value (something it's done many times in the last few years) it would be worth nearly half a trillion dollars and be far and away the biggest company on any American stock exchange.
At some point the sky IS the limit because you are in the stratosphere: Apple is in the stratosphere.
Should You Stay or Should You Go?
When stocks go ballistic, investors are often only left to look at the stock chart of the price history of the company to get a feel of what has happened and what might happen next. Often it's just a matter of putting one's investment finger in the air and guessing a direction. Yet right now Apple's share price has been see-sawing $20-25 in wild swings of manic depression. Not once or twice but six times since May.
This sort of action is strictly for fun-loving speculators. Anyone with vast profits and no portfolio diversification should think of selling down their position. Of course anyone brave enough to ride Apple from zero to hero is not about to listen to any naysayer, they have $300 in their sights.
The golden rule of investing is: no one should ever risk what they can't afford to lose. Meanwhile the golden rule of gambling is: leave the table while you're ahead.
Clem Chambers is CEO of stocks and investment website ADVFN. For free real-time stock prices go to: www.advfn.com
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OS 4.0
Here's what we're looking at: people want multi-tasking, global email integration and GPS Navigation because (let's face it) Android phones already have them. If the iPhone wants to keep up it can't just be the most stylish handset around. Looks and brains, right? So hopefully we'll b introduced to those features come 10am PST Thursday. We know, we know...they've been a few years coming. But this Android thing is so new and--we think--the first wave of real competition the iPhone has faced since its debut. Ergo, it's time to step it up, fellas.
On the wish list but highly unlikely (no matter how much you want it): a Verizon iPhone. They just inked the iPad deal. Doubtful Apple's going to turn its back on AT&T now, even if the masses would prefer a little more choice in their providers. We'd love a screen rotation lock like the iPad has too, but we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and see!
iPad Opinion
There have been hundreds of iPad opinion columns posted over the web in the past few days, but ComputerWorld's Michael DeAgonia has done one thing in his we haven't seen yet: an honest attempt to capture the feeling you get when you use one for the first time. We've all been running on and on about screen resolution, brilliant graphics, ease of use: DeAgonia is trying to quantify the emotional aspect of this device...and trust us, there is one.
The column is long and involved but worth the read--it's so interesting to see a different tack taken. If you're tech nerd like us you know you want one...or you already own it. But the intuitive interface, seed and portability make it a worthy consideration for anyone in the market for an e-reader or netbook.
Point of Sale?
We've worked in a retail environment or three in our time and the worst thing about them is old, clunky, outdated Point of Sale Systems--especially when your employer is still using a Micros from 1985 in 2008. Why didn't they switch? They're EXPENSIVE.
But enterprising businesses are already making use of the iPad as a POS...like the Sightglass coffee shop in San Francisco. Brilliant. And about ten grand cheaper than updating your Micros.
Any more awesome iPad sightings? Tweet us!
