ipod

04/06/2006, 6:45pm, EDT

Thursday, April 6th

iPod sales may beat Street expectations

Analyst firm Bear Stearns today said it expects Apple iPod sales to exceed Wall Street expectations for the second quarter, and reiterated its outperform rating on Apple shares. Analyst Andrew Neff said that despite many recent estimate reductions, he has confidence that Apple will reach 10.5 million iPod units, well above Wall Street's expectations of 8.5-9.5 million. The analyst cited checks of suppliers for the higher number, as well as continuing strong end demand, according to BusinessWeek Online. Neff believes Apple is planning to eventually put Windows on its Macintosh computers, and despite uncertain timing, the analyst views Windows on Mac with full support as a natural progression in Apple's strategy. The analyst kept his post-option EPS estimates of $2.25 for fiscal year 2006 ending September, and $2.91 for fiscal year 2007. Neff holds a 2006 price target of $100 on Apple shares, according to the report.

Bear Stearns is not alone. The day Apple released its Boot Camp software -- which allows Intel Mac owners to install and run Windows XP -- American Technology Research senior analyst Shaw Wu said the move could hurt other PC makers, while growing Apple's own market by attracting more "switchers."

The same day, UBS analyst Ben Reitzes told clients that Apple "could benefit from a significant OS upgrade cycle starting in its December quarter," and that he believes the move "positions Apple to gain share with customers reluctant to purchase Macs due to concerns over interoperability with Windows systems."

Analyst firm Merill Lynch said it isn't convinced Apple's Boot Camp technology will lead to more sales, but admitted that it could expand the company's potential market.


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Apple switching to Win?
0
04/06, 9:27pm, EDT
Is this guy serious? What breed of stupid is he? Obviously he has never used a Mac. If Apple started using Windows and abandoned the best OS in the world, then I'd abandon them and build my own machine just like I used eons ago. Apple currently has the best OS and the best suite of software of any PC maker in the world by a HUGE margin. And this guy thinks they would drop what truly differentiates them in the marketplace so they can be like everyone else? That explains why he works on Wall St and not Main St.
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agreed beeble
0
04/06, 9:38pm, EDT
steve jobs is not in the business of making empty boxes. hell one only needs look at NeXT to the very end jobs kept the OS and ditched the hardware despite it being pretty cool. i've been using apple products since i was 7 back with the ][+ and i've followed jobs from apple to next to pixar and back. while he can continually surprise me, ditching OS X is so antithetical to his personality that i'd sooner believe that apple was shutting down permanently.
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it doesn't say "abandon
0
04/06, 9:40pm, EDT
support of windows does not logically lead to "abandon osx." they'll support both, my friend. if it puts more apple boxes in the workplace with the option to run the company legacy proprietary software on the windows side and everything else on the osx side, it's good news for all.
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Margins in PC Production
0
04/06, 11:01pm, EDT
I agree, this guy is a complete moron. The margins in hardware production are NOTHING compared to software, just look at Microsoft's Cost of Goods Sold. Apple would just be a high-end Dell, where is the long-term strategy in that (IE.. Dell's stock has been flat sicne last century)? If Apple does any radical more radical moves with PCs they would open up OS X to all PCs, however I really doubt that would ever happen unless Apple became desprate.

I thought Wall Street analysts had to go to college?
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Analysts go to college?
0
04/06, 11:54pm, EDT
I think you are quite mistaken. Analysts grow under steaming piles of cow shit. Thus the anal in the title.
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Expanding Market
0
04/06, 11:57pm, EDT
"Analyst firm Merill Lynch said it isn't convinced Apple's Boot Camp technology will lead to more sales, but admitted that it could expand the company's potential market."

But this will not lead to more profits? What school did these people graduate from besides pre-school. In just two days since this announcement I have gotten our company to start ordering MacBooks in place of some PC hardware...and they will not be alone. The IT manager was excited about having a chance to try OS X for security while keeping the Windows compatability.
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Analysts
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04/07, 12:55pm, EDT
I am just *so* excited to read what analysts have to say all the time on MacNN - it really makes visiting the site worthwhile and genuinely makes my day!
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