Comments for "More Intel Conference Call Comments"


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almost #1!

lawyerliz


they would have done better if they just orpahned their december numbers


Harrah, the number of comments is up!! It's wrong, but it's there!

lawyerliz


They would have done better had they bought some credit swaps from AIG.


My elderly pc is broke. I have one slightly less geriatric that I was gonna swich. But maybe Intel will inspire me to buy a new one.

Naahhh, I don't think so.

lawyerliz


maybe intel could get their warehouses full of old 286 and 386 chips tarped by timmay


If only we could reduce excess new single family housing inventory at 19% per quarter! Problem solved!

Problem is: houses still being built (just not as many) and then the problem of more housing coming on the market due to foreclosures/unemployment/dislocation.

And lest we forget, the shadow inventory of REO.

So many empty houses, so few qualified buyers, & so many more months of housing inventory to work down.

The same problem applies to US autos apparently. A parallel auto bust and housing bust make for a perfect storm.

Add in zombie banks, zombie commercial development, and zombie workers (U6) and we are all Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21, verses 5-9, looking for those horsemen: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."


Maybe they'd like to tarp my windows millenium version?

But. . no free money for liz. Maybe if I lie and say I work for GS?

lawyerliz


Yep, somebody ought to be providing some financing for REOs.

But that might help the common folk too much.

lawyerliz


Maybe if I lie and say I work for GS?
----------------
These days everyone is working for GS... ok ok shutting up.


Reposting my message from the previous thread. I'm interested to know if they discuss the product mix in the conference call. Saying "desktop" or "notebook" doesn't reveal whether they are selling inexpensive Atom-based product or mid-range/high-end Core2/Nahalem-based products.

INTC revenue would plummet If everyone bought Atom processors.

---------------------

INTC has a problem now that they have introduced a high-end, high-margin line of processors based on a new architecture (Nahalem) [1], and a low-end, low-margin line of processors based on another new architecture (Atom) [2]. The problem is that mom and pop are generally happy with Atom ($10 CPU) and don't require Nahalem ($100+ CPU). Intel needed to release Atom to keep competitors out of the low-end, but they risk cannibalizing their mid-range which currently buys PCs with $100 Core2 CPUs

Also, Intel is pushing back the introduction of more consumer-oriented Nahalem derivatives since the market for them is very weak [3].

There is no natural bottom for INTC margins/profits since what they sell is undergoing rapid commoditization. Yes, they lead the industry in chip fabrication, but that matters very little when mom and pop are happy with a $300 PC.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehalem_(microarchitecture)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_atom
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i5

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


fallonPDX brings up a good point. How many IT dept out there are now holding back on new purchase? Simply recycle the PC from recently laid off workers? Can that bite further into Intel's sale figure?


- Tech is much more willing to make cuts quickly, it is used to sharp downturns and volatility. Unlike banks or other businesses lulled into a false sense of security by a long march of growth: Goldman's non-trading revenues are down 30% and falling, yet they have not made equivalent cuts to employees in those areas. Ditto for homebuilders. Ditto for big box stores that physically cannot adapt to a leaner/flexible storefront


Add in zombie banks, zombie commercial development, and zombie workers (U6) and we are all Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21, verses 5-9, looking for those horsemen: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."

It seems we're on the same page Smile

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


"...the global environment hasn't changed but our ability to look and plot some points, historical points, has given us the confidence to essentially say that we've seen the bottom,...

Bernanke said the same thing this morning. Or did he? Wait. I was wrong. Bernanke said the world had changed but he also sees the bottom. So. One person thinks the world has changed and sees the bottom and the other thinks the world hasn't seen and sees the bottom.

Personally, I think the solution to this paradox involves something about not being able to see the bottom.


- Inventory went down 19%. That can happen from a 10.5% increase in sales, and a 10.5% decline in stock
- Not that it is Intel's problem, but 60% of sales through the retail channel sound to be on the back burner along with the rest of consumer electronics


Let's all moon the economy!!

Bottoms up!!

lawyerliz


Personally, I think the solution to this paradox involves something about not being able to see the bottom.

My realtor told me that all bottoms are local.

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


The Associated Press
Somali pirates on hijack spree since weekend
By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY – 50 minutes ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkE...
"Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons," Gates said


lawyerliz,

Here is a good one.. $429.99

Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor T3400 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9263496&type=product&id=12...)

The best part is that you can go to the Toshiba website to get device specific WinXP drivers, so that you can install WinXP on the laptop..

Vista Sucks!!

I have a very similar machine with WinXP Pro.. very good

Evil


Did anyone see this Yahoo news article?

Weak retail sales report halts stock market rally
Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street shifted into reverse Tuesday after a surprisingly weak retail sales report punctured investors' optimism about the economy.

I am trying to figure out how to contact the author Tim Paradis so I can ask him who was surprised. I wasn't, my hamster wasn't and I can bet most people weren't. Very curious why he thought it was surprising.


For Those Who Would Be First:

To work around a really annoying bug in blogger's templates, I've had to do some contortions to pass the title of a post to hoocoodanode, which requires script to run on the page. If someone manages to to be the first to navigate to the comments without the script running, a bogus title will be generated in hcn. Since I don't much like manually editing every page, I'm going to add a guard against this, and you will get a polite version of a 404. Once someone else has actually clicked on the link, you will get a valid comment page.

There does exist a way to automate this process. I leave this exercise to the reader.


Tupuli,

Though Atom CPUs might be much cheaper than other designs, Intel can put them in everything from MIDs, Smartphones, Netbooks, Home Entertainment Centers, GPS Devices, Cars..

Evil


I own Intel stock. I don't know why. Have a low cost basis I guess. That said, when nobody is making margins on their business, nobody is upgrading tech. It is great Intel's inventory levels are down, but so is broad based demand. High demand and high inventory is much better than lower inventory and even lower demand, IMO.


--
The Most Important LEADING Index of the US Economy Shows Continuous Downturn

"The Index of Small Business Optimism fell 1.6 points in March to 81.0 (1986=100), still the second lowest reading in the 35 year history of the NFIB survey (80.1 is the low, reached in 1980Q2). Two of the Index components improved and 8 declined. There we no components that delivered a strong signal of improvement, that will have to wait for the April survey."

When this index falls below 80.0, and remain below that level for three months, the probability that the US has entered a depression is very high. Of all segments-BIG Business, Consumers, and small business-small business does the worst during a prolonged depression and the BIG Business, headed by crooks that control the Fed and the US government, does the best for the simple reason that the US government stands ready to help the BIG Business as much as it can without widespread public revolt (riots are OK!)). If born-and-bred American dopes want change they would need a Million Gunmen March on New York City!! The lazy exercise of a vote for Barack "No Change" Obama wouldn't do it.

Rogue economists never mention this index in their outlook.

Jas


A new baseline.. Funny stuff....

This is the bottom based on the loosest credit being taken away...

The next bottom is based on the last 6 months of unemployment.

The next bottom is based the next 6 months of unemployment....

Down and down she goes.. where she stops, nobody knows...


lawyerliz,

If you like netbooks are not doing any heavy computing, try the NEW 12 inch Dell mini (They do have an older version of the 12 inch Dell mini that has a s**ttier keyboard).

The battery life is about 2.5 hours, but it is an awesome netbook.

Evil


Jas,

I see that Goldman-Sachs is trying to silence detractors...

Evil


This was a little to rosy a forecast for me.... I cant say he's delusional but I know he's a salesman.....


lawyerliz

I think we need more than help for just common folks. We have friends with very good incomes and very good credit. One turned down for condo (too risky / deflationary market) and one turned down for a refinance (house has lost chunk of change in value despite or because of, being in a very desirable neighborhood).

Common folks ain't gonna carry us out of this recession. First in and last out. The solidly middle class and upper middle class (what is left of them) will lead us out. But if the banks do not lend to solid , creditworthy folks, then the bottom is a way out.

And my solidly solidly middle class and upper middle class ain't buying PCs and where they work ain't buying PCs.

Where I work, we are upgrading based on demonstrated need and working through budgeted replacements. That budget is toast in a serious way come July 1st.

Intel better hope the Chinese decide to put a laptop in every forsaken village.

Rob Dawg- I believe they worked off the inventory by cutting production. I have an acquaintance whom is a CFA at Intel. I will put a call into her. Had lunch with her husband today. He stated they are very concerned her position will be going away sooner than later. Why? Intel is lousy at forecasts. Why? Because they are one supplier of one portion of the end product. My theory is that Apple is probably helping out a ton when Apple switched from Motorola to Intel processors.


--
Government Sucks is headed in the same direction as the US econo-political system--COLLAPSE. Don't get carrried away by bear market rallies. They are to suck more dopes.

Jas


lawyerliz,

Have a look at this one.. you will not know how you lived without a good netbook till you used one. It is perfect for travel and can do web browsing, e-mail, video/music, documents, non-technical spreadsheets, presentations very well.

The big advantage of these machines is weight and size.. very usable! I have a laptop and a netbook.. and I use them both.

(http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron...)

Evil


Though Atom CPUs might be much cheaper than other designs, Intel can put them in everything from MIDs, Smartphones, Netbooks, Home Entertainment Centers, GPS Devices, Cars..

Yep, and then they'd be a $1B company just like ARM (ticker ARMH), which does all those things today.

Like I said, CPUs are being commodotized. The difference between an Intel CPU and a CPU produced by AMD, VIA, ARM, IBM is vanishing. Furthermore, the cost of being at the leading edge of the manufacturing process is growing astronomically. Beating your competition to the next node (e.g. 32nm process) is not worth billions anymore.

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


Tupuli - thanks for the well written post on processors.

Jas - you should be come a member so no one can steal your handle... tho the 'drunk Jas' from a few months ago was a hoot!

Bernanke sees bottoms, Obama sees bottoms, This guy sees bottoms....

This economy has more bottoms than a Hillcrest bar....


You have not used a good netbook.. those things are awesome for average use! 300 USD for a 10.1 inch netbook with WinXP..

I think China could actually put a decent netbook in the hands of every chinese at that price.. though they will do it for less.

//Intel better hope the Chinese decide to put a laptop in every forsaken village.//

Evil


Credit will come back when uncertainty diminishes, because risk lessens. Times will be uncertain for awhile, so don't count on credit coming back for awhile. When it does come back, hopefully, the interests rates will be high enough, so people don't continue to over leverage when credit is there. Hunker down for now.


How do i search the comments? I forgot the syntax.

TIA! Beer


A new CPU foundry costs about the same as a years bonus for ML or GS..

//Like I said, CPUs are being commodotized. The difference between an Intel CPU and a CPU produced by AMD, VIA, ARM, IBM is vanishing. Furthermore, the cost of being at the leading edge of the manufacturing process is growing astronomically. Beating your competition to the next node (e.g. 32nm process) is not worth billions anymore.//

Evil


Jas,

What do you think of the Armstrong pamphlet on goldman-sachs?

Evil


CR - Have not passed on my congrats on the commenting system, been engaging in a salvage op for a coy which is asking too much painfull time and energy so I have only been able to drop in now and again - the commenting system seems to be working.


Who killed Elvis and replaced him with a proto-mammal?


" the cost of being at the leading edge of the manufacturing process is growing astronomically"
---------

Exactly.
This is what happened in previous industrial revolutions.
Marginal gain shrank while costs grew and finally a shakeout occurs.
High tech is not immune and in fact, the 2001 Crash was the first sign.

I use the post-Civil War railroad industry as a guide for high-tech from a broad,strategic level.

I interviewed a couple of startup companies last month. I feel sorry for those kids, they're pouring out tons of effort into a very unworkable, low-percentage environment. Even during the DotCom runup, your odds of making money wasn't high. My theoretical net worth peaked at $400K but I only realized about 10% of that. Now the odds are much lower, far too much competition and the marginal cost of information is falling faster.

Very hard to make money except in specialized niche markets which are willing to pay a high premium for essentially custom-work.
That's really what large corporate IT is.
A lot of it will be standardized and shelved over the next few years.


Elvis lives. He is just busy these days and was unhappy with the prior commenting system. This is much better. Might have to come back more often again. Where'd everyone else go?


Since I don't much like manually editing every page, I'm going to add a guard against this, and you will get a polite version of a 404.

KCoop:

Can it read: 404 -- You are too early. Please wait for Nemo's refresh monkey to catch-up

NorkaWest


Rob Dawg (member) wrote on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 4:00pm.
"...the global environment hasn't changed but our ability to look and plot some points, historical points, has given us the confidence to essentially say that we've seen the bottom,...
Bernanke said the same thing this morning. Or did he? Wait. I was wrong. Bernanke said the world had changed but he also sees the bottom.

~~~~

The question is where that bottom is ... maybe he sees it a lot lower !


--
I haven't seen it but I understand crooks at Government Sucks well. And they understand born-and-bred American dopes well!

Jas


The question is where that bottom is ...

It's currently serving as his collar.



A new CPU foundry costs about the same as a years bonus for ML or GS..

Yes, a new foundry costs $5B-10B, but that's about 2-5x AMD's market cap.

With the exception of INTC, and maybe IBM, no one owns their own cutting-edge foundries. It's simply too expensive to go it alone.

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


fallonPDX (member) wrote on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 4:18pm.
Rob Dawg- I believe they worked off the inventory by cutting production. I have an acquaintance whom is a CFA at Intel. I will put a call into her. Had lunch with her husband today. He stated they are very concerned her position will be going away sooner than later. Why? Intel is lousy at forecasts. Why? Because they are one supplier of one portion of the end product. My theory is that Apple is probably helping out a ton when Apple switched from Motorola to Intel processors.

Apple is only buying next to top tier products (officially). And Apple is an interesting product paradox. An Apple lasts twice as long so even their 8% is only worth half that to Intel.

Just speaking, oh just guessing but if Apple makes a $599 Atom Apple it will be a monster popular hit but won't help Intel that much.

I know Intel has been bad a forecasts but this time I think they are making a bad guess for the ages. I can't think of any sector outside of technology that would even notice a 2-3 quarter suspension of technology acquisition plans. I'm talking $0 for half a year plus and no appreciable loss of competitive positions. And don't think some aren't counting on vastly cheaper prices in 6 months. Would we call that a long squeeze on supply chain?


With the exception of INTC, and maybe IBM, no one owns their own cutting-edge foundries. It's simply too expensive to go it alone.

Sounds like power plants...


Intel said it will invest $7 billion over the next two years to deploy new 32 nm manufacturing capabilities

AMD is also in the process of preparing a 32 nm fab ... expected to cost about $3.2 billion

Intel to pour $7B into 32 nm factory upgrades


--
Thanks much. Armstrong is brilliant and dangerous to the ruling elite.

Jas


"Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21, verses 5-9"

About six months ago I had a vivid dream of a similar nature. But the chariot and pair of horses was a tank, the charioteer was the driver of the tank, and Babylon was...

Pavel Chichikov


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NEW POST at Calculated Risk.

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I just put in an order for a new Pavilion dv2. Everything I could possibly want in light/thin laptop, for under $800. It's AMD Neo can fill the retail space just above the Atom. The days of the $2,000 laptop -- and associated profits -- are rapidly drawing to a close.

And heck, if I'd been willing to wait, I bet the dv2 will be under $700 in a month or two...


Pffftt. I bought my Acer for $399. Since my last $1500 HP lasted me only 2 years, I figure even if this one only lasts a year, I'm still ahead. Works fine for me.

OT -- Ken, you fixed the comment count! You Da Man!


They are rapidly drawing to a close, much in the same way as those GS share purchasers who will be hurt "down the road" found out that down the road is a matter of hours.

HAL : I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. (CHONG : Dave's not here.)


NEW POST

OOPS. Nevermind.

Had to adapt to new CR format, forgot this would happen.


Thanks for the link Lucifer, I've been researching that bunch of thieves for awhile now and hadn't seen that article yet.


Market isn't optimistic about Intel.


Are they serving workers cooperative, sustainable agriculture, organic tea?


Simon Johnson and his sidekicks with their "Baseline Scenario." Intel's new baseline. Know what I meme?


Maybe they'd like to tarp my windows millenium version?

You aren't actually surfing the web with that are you?

Maybe if I lie and say I work for GS?

But you repeat yourself.


Armstrong's pamphlet is all over the place and not really coherent - that said, some good little juicy bits here and there. It would be nice if it was minimally footnoted or referenced.

And plus, "J.P. Morgan Stanley" - really?


eeepc 1000he. the apple killer. has everything the average user could need. this is my second one and it is better than the first. $389. very portable 7-8 hours battery life. intel inside.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001QTXL8C/ref=ord_cart_sh...


Anyotis wrote on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 5:14pm.
eeepc 1000he. the apple killer. has everything the average user could need. this is my second one and it is better than the first. $389. very portable 7-8 hours battery life. intel inside.

If you had bought an Apple Macbook you'd still be on your first and have made no compromises and have had infinitely fewer issues with viruses and security and the time and expense associated therewith.


dawg, the first one works fine. i gave it to my GF. i can buy 3 or four eee for the price of an apple. never had any problems with viruses with xp. also have two other xp machines. i build my own and will continue until xp pro can't run everything i could possibly need. the eee was just too sweet to pass up and filled my need for ultra portability. i am very pleased with it.

macs are far from perfect anyway. my brother was die hard mac early on. he does video for WWF, operas, NBA, bob dylan, blue man. he's the guy who drops the ball in times square. he builds big systems running fiber. only xp pro and vista. calls apple mac n' crash.

way more fun custom things can be built with xp.



bobn, in case you missed it, make sure you read my comment regarding bot updates. It's important that we get the right titles into hoocoodanode.


Christ Rob, you really are an Apple zealot.

A MacBook would have cost $1000 more and might be worse at what he wants to do. The EEEpc is a 'netbook' or mini-laptop, which is a different class of machine than a 15 or 17" MacBook. They come with Linux as standard, which pretty much nullifies your virus and malware argument, or XP if you want to pay $100 extra. You can even hack OSX on to some of the netbooks.

I really have to wonder though, what makes the Intel cpus in Apples so much better than the Intel cpus in PC's? Or how about the memory? Or the motherboard, or the video cards, or the keyboard... I guess its the light sensor and single mouse button that really makes MacBooks superior.

The biggest difference from what I can tell is the OS, but, oops, that can run on PC's too.


Lucifer,
As long as you are on related subjects, remember that the upcoming Windows 7 is actually a backing-down from Vista. It should have lighter hardware requirements than Vista which effectively extends the life of some older machines.


www.aminyc.com is his site. his thing is media servers. none of the stuff in the videos can be done with mac, he says. he also says fast computers in the future will use graphics cards for processors.


One thing about Apple: for a long time the memory didn't have parity checking. On my desktop intel box I have ECC memory.
I have an ibook G4, and have only had to replace the hard disk -- did it myself, with only two or three screws left over when it was done.


--
To quote Fleck, "Intel is a gift [for bears] that keeps on giving."

CSCO, INTC, MSFT, ORCL, etc., are all heading below $5 (penny scams). BBAD are natural-born Scam Lovers and they will suffer the consequences of their "love." What a bunch of morons.

Jas


the eee-HE is available for 349 at zipzoomfly

Still in Stock. ZipZoomfly has the much-anticipated ASUS Eee PC EPC1000HE-BLK005X Intel Atom N280 10" Miniature Laptop for a low $349.99 after rebate. Free Shipping. Tax in CA only.

Search for item # 10010058 (Blue) or # 10010057 (Black)

www.techbargains.com

Mind you, if you look at huawei's website they've got an announcement for an ASUS EEE that's got 3.5G connectivity embedded in it that will only be available via telecomm carrier marketing channels soon
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/news/view.do?id=982&cid=61&type=0

-K
o yeah, OT of course


This morning I saw a lot of the retail sales numbers were down 1-2 percent. So what. That aint no depression.

15 percent unemployment next year might mean depression.


"It's important that we get the right titles into hoocoodanode."

Even if bob's bot sleeps to prevent the problem, it doesn't mean that other people couldn't cause it. Which means that this is a vulnerability and should be fixed on your end.


15 percent unemployment next year might mean depression.

Forget depressions, 15% unemployment means the Zombie Apocalypse has begun.

|
|
V

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


This morning I saw a lot of the retail sales numbers were down 1-2 percent. So what. That aint no depression.
15 percent unemployment next year might mean depression.

~~~~

Easter was in March last year, not so this year ....

But it can't account for the entire difference ...

Real unemployment rates sees 15% in the rear view mirror .... 25% on the way ...


Matt Taibbi hits another home run on tea bagging.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/21289


I work for an Intel customer. Do not underestimate the amount of inventory reduction that is occurring right now both in the channel, and at companies. It's enormous, and the drag on GDP, while I can't quantify, I can say it's enormous.


"Which means that this is a vulnerability and should be fixed on your end."

I am, as much as I can. And the bots don't need to sleep. They will be denied access to the page until someone has posted a 'valid' title.

At some point I may need to write a cron script that verifies titles, but in the meantime, be aware that intentionally messing with titles will not be seen as a friendly gesture. Use the title that is in the page.

It's not hard to find.


WTF, I just noticed myself that someone had registered the anonymous name. Mildly amusing, but not nice.

Should guard against that. I'll see what needs to be done.


Well, the high end stuff ain't moving, so we re-branded with a bunch of numbers that mean nothing and clocked them high with no cache and labled them Intel Dual Core 2.1 GHZ and sold them cheap....cuz they were. This helped move inventory.

The snag is, fab plants are horrendeously expensive, and if we can't get big caish for low yield, high speed silicon...

Well, let's just say we didn't get where we are today selling Celery...Celerons.

Nostrovia,



Here's an OT for you regarding 'conference calls' & exec wisdom in general...

Just got off the phone w/ a biz buddy... he does a ton of work for an ag equip mfgr and did lunch w/ one of their new VPs [Cool can I come? NO! DF you will piss them all off with your bearishness - go to Mc Ds by yourself instead and feast on misery...] The VP just joined the ag mfg company after spending a quarter century w/ a major Detroit auto mfgr now rumored to be 'in trouble'... joined the ag mfgr as a VP in a similar capacity... the VP told my buddy:

"When I worked for XXXX I never had to buy a car - or least I didn't for the last 15-20 years... we got them comped to us. Now that I'm working for YYYY I have to buy & finance & service & insure & pay gas for my own car and man are they expensive... I had no idea... none of us did at the top... if we did maybe we might have made better choices about product features and what they cost consumers."

No shit - that was what this 'VP Guy' told my buddy at lunch today. Wow. Just wow - talk about silo mentality... no wonder we are all screwed.

My only thought was 'Okay - he missed the boat on how much cars cost their customers when he worked for big auto... now he works for big agriculture... does he realize how much tractors, combines, diesel fuel, etc., cost farmers? Were there any real lessons learned?' Didn't get to ask that one because - of course - I wasn't there. My guess is 'no'...


Staged Homes Being Burglarized!!!

Entrepreneurship survives. Evil


WTF, I just noticed myself that someone had registered the anonymous name. Mildly amusing, but not nice.

beware, they are legion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)

--
The Zombie Apocalypse begins when U3 hits 15%


Tweren't me, Ken.

I don't know squat about coding. Or computers for that matter.

But..."I'd like to spit some Beechnut in that dude's eye..." Just for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4s0nzsU1Wg

Sorry, folks, I couldn't resist.

***Take special note of (country boy) Hank's sunglasses- Gucci.

LOL


Never believe an Intel conference call. The entire call comments typically change 60 days later with a new guidance press release. This is especially true in bad times for Intel.

In these economic times everyone can and likely will push off new computer purchases.

The worst part of the call was gross margins going to low 40%. This is a huge drop from a year ago.

If these margins stay in place for 6 quarters this would make new manufacturing capital expenditures almost impossible from generated earnings.


Broward Horne: "niche markets which are willing to pay a high premium for essentially custom-work"

Can you say "services"? My employer sells software products to corporate customers, but the business practice (model?) increasingly looks more like extended installation/maintenance/consulting contracts with the additional twist that we are selling our own products, not reselling somebody else's. At least for coveted "key customers" that make for the big bucks.


I have to add: Not that there is anything wrong with substantial services rolled into the product offering, but while the aspect that services don't scale makes for (some) job security for those rendering the service, it also makes for a somewhat mundane and multitasking style business process.


Done