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XM...
Don't know about that. Toronto doesn't offer it. And it isn't in "every city". Sort of like hotspots for WiFi. You need towers to receive and even then there apparently are problems with the signals and tall towers (.com).
The question to me is - are people willing to pay to listen to music stations? A personal phone to walk around with is one thing (call a cell phone - for $1 at the dollar store I can probably pickup a FM tuner and stick the headset in my ear and listen.
Right now things are pretty wacked. So they started the NET and everything was for free. Now a lot of things are going PAY. But $3.95 here.. $9.95 there. It isn't like "everything before the net was available and people were paying and now we are just shifting to the net" -- I strongly doubt people are "going to pay" for these services. To get Barrons I can pay $60US (or whatever it is lately) a year for the NET version - well for a Canuck that is a LOT cheaper than $200 for delivery or going to your local store to pick it up. But going to CJRT Jazz-FM and subscribing to get their "digitial station" - sure it is better than the FM - but worth the money?
Back on Planet XM - Might be a Peter Lynch scenario -- don't buy the technology; buy the companies that use the technology...
JetBlue in the US apparently has a adopted it in their planes.
I am watching..
OT with WiFi - I heard that the phone companies may have some use for those old payphone booths after all -- wifi hotspots...
sssObbb
Nasdaq Plans to Seek Dual Listings
Nasdaq Plans to Persuade Companies to Dual-List Their Shares
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040108/dual_listings_1.html
SoB
FWIW: I dumped my dead money Hemosol today..
All my considations end up consolidating what little cash I have left. So I dumped around $1.50 and told the rest of the Blake clan to follow suit.
Now.. Nortel anyone??
Blake
You like the XM plays? SIRI? /eom
Ameritrade Canada.. and other oddities..
Just wondering if you belong to such a beast already or just thinking about it?
I am wonderng how to get money in - from what I gather I can WIRE the money from TD to "them". Except TD Waterhouse said they cannot wire money straight to the Brokerage but instead my wire to the bank. He mentioned a brokerage firm and they used Bank of Montreal (until he said that I had no idea of that brokerage-banking relationship). To get money to the brokerage the money would be wired to the bank and then I guess deposited in my account at the brokerage.
Talk about crock.
OT or perhaps on topic: I ended up setting up an account at ING a few years ago - the theory was I was saving "myyyyyy money". But in fact I actually use the account more for pushing money around. I have three accounts linked - a Royal Bank US; My TD and another Royal Bank CAN. I can then go to ING and move money from "TD" into ING and then from there into ROYAL - saving the time to go to the bank and the hassle with checks. Likewise TD sends me a US$ check - I deposit at ING US account and then I can login and move the money to my Royal Bank US -- my TD US credit card automatically debits my Royal Bank US account (for purchases). I would have a TD US bank account at TD Canada Trust except they changed their plans and want like $4US FEE each month. Royal Bank US pays no interest but also no fees.
But for some anile reason:
(A) ING puts a hold on Canadian checks - 7days and a ludicrous speed of 30days for US (!!). if in a hurry that is useless but typically my needs are less time sensitive and I get "ok" interest on the money from the day of the deposit - (we are talking small feed here)
(B) ING for whatever reason allows only THREE linked accounts. I said "but it is all electronic". What a crock of seagulls!
(C) I was hoping - I could someone create a link from ING to the Ameritrade or something. But alas no - since I would have to have a bank account with THEIR bank. (plus the 30day hold).
The things I do for England...
$oB - Son of a Banker..
And the nurse will tell you lies..
I got a call today from my MP Byron Wilfert (he tracked my number down). I will be talking with him Thursday regarding our friends to the east.
Nice moves for me?
Nothing cuz I sold everything and told no one - I feel like a tool!!
But seriously..
Nice moves lately on..
CQL great moves..(port +25%)
BKB (PHPI)
NGX
RRI (little down today but doing well)
Holding steady on CKG (since my 50% sell and part repurchase I'm feeling might lo - well not too bad; AGI
RUN - still holding firm..
CPST - a down day today but great run up..
And the piece de path of least resistance..
My RBAK (RBAKQ FAME) now is RBAKD.. a lovely 1 for 73 consolidation.. lovely.. just lovely.
Got a circular in - HML is consolidating 1 for 4.. just peachy.
Bunch of questions out for AmeritradeCanada - will advise my findings.
Still looking seriously at AMTD; CHK and GTW (why not GTW eh Roni?)
But best of all.. LOVING IT!!!
SoB
Current Terror Alert Level
Fresh Fish for Sale... FRESH FISH!
I think the part about the EI is shocking enough. I wonder how many Canucks, including myself, knew how easy it was to get recurring EI? "Little incentive to get out of unsustainable jobs" "fishery workers get 26 weeks of benefits after a few good catches..." ".. it's almost addictive."
That is simply CRAP. One reason why "WE" in Ontario should vote to be part of Canada or not.
Blake
EDIT: I have emailed our MP to comment on the article.
Bryon, I was wondering if you care to comment on this article that was posted in the Dec 29th Business Week.
Especially on the Fisheries "almost addictive" comments.
Kastelco.. please.. please I beg of you, have some faith. Lets see what our elected official will say about this topic that concerns him so much.
Canada: How to Turn Canada into a Powerhouse
Business Week * Dec 29/2003
http://soblake.sent.com/bw031229-intbus-canpower1.jpg
http://soblake.sent.com/bw031229-intbus-canpower2.jpg
Hey Gord.. lets go to Toronto.. there's lots of jobs there, and they have the longest street in the world, YONGE STREET!!!
Looney tunes huh???
Hello, my baby!
Hello, my honey!
Hello, my rag-time gal!
Send me a kiss by wire!
Baby, my heart's on fire!
If you refuse me!
Honey, you'll lose me!
Then you'll be left alone!
Oh, baby! Telephone!
And tell me I'm your own!
Greenspan: A summer hike?
http://soblake.sent.com/bw031229-bigpicture-wash2004.jpg
Blake..
Kresge's....
Jeez.. now thats a name I haven't heard.
I remember going in there and they had a restaurant (or whatever it was) - I never forget the paper cup holders (instead of giving you a cup they gave you a paper cup in a holder). Huh. Memories. Now it is a store for Lozers - called Winners.
I knew that Harvies was the "original" but never knew about the BBQ for Gas. I know Hank Hill's family would turn in their graves.. Hank.. that's another story..
Not sure if I mentioned this, but NO FRILLS is puny - but is one the (if not "the") the most profitable No Frills.
Blake
Buffalo Soldier...
Editca..
buffalo soldier
n.
A member of one of the African-American regiments within the U.S. Army after the Civil War, serving primarily in the Indian wars of the late 1860s
Bush for Prez in 2004!
What I have heard:
(A) Based on history, (ahem), from now to about the middle is flat to lower; last half - market will rise considerably.
(B) According to Zweig.. the party in power will do whatever it takes to stay in power - positive economic action in the year or two before the election. This may result in poor returns after the election.
He took "October-to-October" results. He found two years prior to the election year were best (2002/2003) - average 7% return (30 cases) (market rose 70% of the time).
The next best was the election year, 31 cases - 4.8% return, 71% of the time.
Post election - 30 cases - 3.3% reteturn 53% of the time; Midterm (rest) - +0.3% 30 cases up 53% of the time.
He is saying, the results show something but not a dominant strategy. Likewise don't bet against the market post-election. He gives examples where these strategies (both this year and next year) backfire.
So the question is -- has (can) Bush given everything he has available? From what I have heard, Greenspan will have to start raising interest rates - but at the same time, Bush needs to win and wants rates the same or lower.
I am not an economist, and I don't play one on TV.
SoB
Retirement Planning... its up to me??
What?
I thought I give my money to my financial planner who creates a diversified portfolio with the single mutual fund company his firm deals with. He puts my money into funds with no fees - because I hate paying fees. The funds may have a back-end fee which diminishes over 7 years, but thats ok I won't sell. I know he is always thinking of my best interest and has me in the best funds available.
The fact this guy has only been there a few months, and this is the fifth guy in three years to handle my money, has me wondering a bit, but I feel no matter who the firm puts in charge of my money I know he or she will give me the best advice possible on funds to invest in, so that my money will appreciates over the long term.
I especially like the fact they provide seminars with donuts and coffee and the occasional lunch. Wow they are a great bunch of people. Hmmm.. how they make money when I don't pay any fees, is beyond me. But they are swell.
No fees I tell you. Nothing!
Joe Fish.
Is Ranga Chand looking for someone?
Snicker oh Boy..
US Brokerage?
Need to come up with my % gains for the year..
Unforunately the US side, which accounts for about 30% of my portfolio took a huge hit this year. As I mentioned stocks like PFE - in US$ I broke even, but with CDN exchange factored, I lost a fair bit. This is just yet another part of problems. I need to track the stuff better and make decisions not only on securities but on currencies. Ah well. Live and learn.
In one account I am starting to be mostly cash. Might be a good time to try out another broker other than TD (me thinks it is slightly easier to move cash than portfolios). I am looking for lower US$ costs per transaction. I was looking at ETrade and even TradeFreedom Canada. Most seem to be fixated on charging $20US to wire money out of the accounts. Not bad if I can save quite a bit on the transactions. Not so good if the transaction costs are only marginally better than TD.
Any help would be appreciated..
Please, can you help a poor Canadian out?
Blake
Re: BKB
Playing that over the years here and there. Been waiting for eons for them to list on the Nasdaq. Not holding my breath and watching.
One of my accounts is only up 613%. Nice, but a tad higher back in the DOT BOMBS.
As I mentioned it is a PHPI play.. hearing "SAN" (Storage Area Network) quite a bit at various places in my journeys. They picked a winning technology and moved in the right direction.
Good for a play (technical) but I like it for the business side of things.
SoB
Cheers all!
Charting question...
Yo Yo Yo Frank,
Do you subscribe to the REAL TIME version of Stock Charts?
enquiring minds..
blake
Metallica...
I bot them cuz they were against evil doers that download their music illegally.
I bot Nov 24th - breaking through highs in Mid Sep - I thought it would continue higher (no, ya think?). Anyways then it fell. Added once more than waiting.
B
Merci.. and don't get me started on Crappy Tire either..
Cheers!
Happy New Year Everyone!!
Well as my artwork below depicts, I hope we all have some flippin' fun in 2004.
In the New Year I want to get much more involved - on this thread, and add a few other regulars here at iHUB and SI.
I also want to contribute more on views, more articles and tid bits. I also want to add more tools to my arsenal.
I am also doing some pieces on retail - a topic I love.
Just gotta get my life in gear and focus.. focus Luke..
I'll tell you right out, I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
Sydney Greenstreet aka Kasper Gutman - The Maltese Falcon
But most of all have some fun whilst making money...
Cheers all!!!
Sex to the Blake and back snap...
Re: McGammon
Richview Heights? You mean Richmond Heights? North of Major Mac with the No Frills?
Sorry the teacher does not ring a bell...
FWIW: Salt Water now has been transported. 10 cases - saved about $23+tax. Nice.
Zellers is still crap. But I love a great deal and if it is a Lost Leader.. so much the better..
SoB
Re: The only one with Zeller's and Two Bays
What a crying shame. I tell you what.
With everything that has happened to Richmond Hill, the mall is the biggest eye sore. They spent $20M - TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS on beautification. In the end, it still has 3 HBC anchor tenants and a single floor. JUNK!!!
Well it is interesting we are a stone throw away from each other - small world. My townhouse is kitty korner to the Hospital - I grew up just north of Major Mac & Bayview. Went to Walter Scott and Bayview High..
Oh yeah, I was there opening day to that crappy mall. I was like 10 or something. Loblaws; Sears; Simpsons; K-Mart. Well at least the victors, Loblaws/Sears got the idea to split!
Small world indeed.. 6 degrees of separation..
Cheers!
Blake
KKD!!!!!!
Too much.
Well that is interesting Kirby49.. we must be talking about the same mall? Hillcrest?
KKD (Krispy Kreme Donuts) opened up here last year.. and yes they turned our theatres (if you could call them that) into a gym too many years ago..
Crazy!
Blake
No, I think Kastelco is full-o-.....
Well its Eve of New Years Eve.. so I will let that slide.
Hoof in Mouth..
(A) Ahem, they are speaking of "openoffice". I was speaking of "Star Office" - http://www.staroffice.com/
I would try Open Office with an open mind. Never heard of it until today. I don't have NetNanny but XDandy. It only allows me to visit Investment and Salacious web sites..
Insanity Pricing at Apple.. Everything must go!
(B) I was checking out Apple Canada's Shop.
Their middle/top line systems come with 2x256MB memory (DDR400 memory; PC3200) - for 512MB. To get to "2x1GB" instead, Add $1470. To move to 2GB (so what credit did they give you on the 512MB?. Compare that to my new system - DDR400 PC3200 - Total $400 - mind you that is 4x512MB chips but even 1GB chips would only be at most $100-200 more combined.
Now when I looked at top-o-the-line Corsair memory (2x1GB) - PC3500 (not PC3200), the cost was $600/1GB - approx $1200 for 2GB. And that is better memory than the Mac's.
Mac is charging what - $500 for 512MB? (included) and $2000 total for 2GB? That is still $800 more than I would ever pay.
This is my problem. The prices are insane. And sorry, things like this are NOT "you get what you pay for". I can see spending more at various places, but simple memory no way. Honestly, this is gouging. I would happily pay more for the system as long as the memory upgrade options were reasonable. This is just moving markup all over the place where it does not make sense.
This goes back to my earlier comments. They gotta solve the pricing and retail side of things. They have to get away from hoarding. Look at the success of the PDAs - Palm/PPC - massive. Yet Apple had the Newton.. why did it fizzle and Palm/PPC didn't?
Reminds me of the Business Week story I read once on Xerox. They have invented so many things over the years only to have serious misssteps on execution.
Hell I remember the days - my brother got the parts and build my Apple ][+ (the operators manual had the schematics at the back!). Then Apple changed their tact and "prevented" pirating their systems. I ended up getting a pirated Apple //e - it worked fine. But the damaage was done. People wouldn't pony up the big money (those cheap ass Canucks!) to buy Apple //c's //e's and IIGS's - software houses saw the sales slide and stopped making programs for Apple. I remember the pirate sites - I would log in every few days. So many programs uploaded (games et al). Non-stop, could not keep up. Then out of no where, it was one or two a day, then one every few days, then every week. Totally dried up.
I stopped using my Apple around 1998 - except for Word Processing.. and finally entered PC world in 1990. Apple screwed themselves. Very sad. Microsoft Office? Hah! They had AppleWorks in the 80's - built in Word Processing; Spreadsheet AND useable database application - not this "scratch head" crap with Access. But something the common man could use immediately. My dad entered all his Radio Electronic articles in the database.
And of course there was Beagle Bros.. with their add-in Macro system for Appleworks and DOS Utilities..
Very Sad indeed.
Anyahoo..
Sex-On-the-Brain..
Samba samba..
Tell me about it.
The place I work
- 3 UNIX boxes
- 2 NT servers
and onnnnnnnee.. Linux machine.
Same password issues. Well they are all sync'ed but the work to change - well put it this way. Users passwords never expire and root is changed but takes a bit of work all over the place. I would count about 30 places.. For users the main problem is plebes accessing those of us fortunate to browse.. so they add screen saver passwords.
(hey, how else do they know the internet is working if I don't check the price of WMT at Yahoo! or see what mischief FP is up to )
One bind we have is with SCO. The language we use (Progress) is on the SCO platform. For us to move to Linux, the cost is like $40K - prohibitive right now. We had to upgrade SCO to the most recent rev to get Progress updated. Then we found out with all patches, that SCO cannot be upgraded and we have to do a complete fresh re-install. Oh well..
Funny you say Excel.
I use to use VisiCalc for my taxes - now with Excel. I use it everyday. I hear all these people talk about Star Office this and that. Everytime I tried to use it and open some protected files, the password would fail and I could not open. Junk. I am surprised MS hasn't come out with a Linux version. No, not a "we give up" but "hey, we see there is money to be made". I think the latter hasn't happened since as stated already, the numbers using Linux et al is very small compared to the existing Windows and even Mac base. Plus all the versions to port to. (plus that bugaboo with 'OPEN LICENSING').
As my Mac buddy does - has Macs for his work and for things that must be a PC running Windows, that is what he has.
I am behind in PC purchases - maybe after this one, and if the Presidential Year is good to me (flat to lower first half of year then very strong last half), perhaps in the fall I can get me a Mac of some sort. I am not digital yet. I have a Digital High8 Camera (with iLINK); I have a simple crappy Camera. The goal is to revamp my stuff - SLR Digital Camera (6MBIT); New Digital Video Camera; DVR; Home Theatre etc etc - then the move to Mac would be the icing.
Blake
Thanks.. as Johnny would say "I did not know that.."
I am basically looking for converting my PIII system into a simple Linux Server running samba and the ability to browse the Net. Today it is primary. In two weeks it becomes backup.. hopefully by yearend 2004, it can move into a world of file servering only.
Kastelco brings up Netscape 7.1 for Linux (yes, I forgot that point). But he and I both know not all sites work with Netscape - Microsoft for one (yes lets all laugh at that statement).
If I only have two machines, the backup 2nd must be competent to work with most ecommerce sites. I can't say that is true... like TD Waterhouse, Sears, misc onlines in the US (wife does a lot of internet buying); and perhaps even some of the other brokerages like Ameritrade Canada; ETrade Canada etc.
But even Globe Investor Gold does not work with Netscape 7. Only (ahem - cough cough cough) 4.7x. (read: Bell what crap are you spinning? fire those globe programmers on principle alone and spend money to get that updated!)
Know what - I have no time to breathe let alone tinker with an O/S. Unless I can get a product up and running and browsing all these sites, I won't do it. I want to spend time writing misc investment programs to keep track of stuff - even at that, I have to actually program for work - (as if).
Honestly - ever since I flipped from 98SE to XP things have improved considerably. Before I had my 120GB drives broken into minimum 3 partitions.. so multiply that out for 5 drives and when I open stuff across a lot of those partitions - at times I have waited 30-45m for the "blue screen scan" to complete. With XP, I have converted to single partitions and now never have to wait after a crash. Based on that fact alone, why not keep it running XP; share out the drives and call it a fileserver? Not as crash prone as with 98SE. And use it to access all the sites no problem (via IE601 or NS710).
So basically, moving to XP sort of re-jigged my mind - and I say "Why Linux? Yeah why Linux?".
Blake
Linux - well maybe I will try it then.
Walmart v. Zellers - like that idiot Blake trying to compare Gateway to Apple -- sorry - no comparison.
I go to Walmart believing they do sell the item, hopefully it is in stock - yes often times they are out of stock - but they do sell the item.
I go to Zellers with "I wonder if they sell it" and more times not they don't. If there is a sale, they most likely will not have it. With both these scenarios - I say, why bother going? Same with Shoppers ScamMart - sales on fictious items with the "no raincheck will be issued" clause. F-THAT!!!!!
I am going to Zellers tomorrow to load up on Perrier. I will scream louder than ever if they dare impose a limit that isn't at the display or in the flyer. Even at that, the cost of my time and gas will still be not convered to what I have wasted going there.
In the end I may walk out of both stores without buying what I wanted.
But with Wal-Mart, I can walk out with a Double Royale with Cheese and Freedom Fries.. can't say that about Zellers..
And the question isn't IF but WHEN. Because of the two Zellers is going bankrupt "or" taken out and stores closed - either way, Zellers and the rest of the Bay Crap is gone. ZERO question in my mind. The only other thing I am as sure of is the fact my net worth has increased in the past 6 months for being more involved with these boards..
.._oB
Reliant Prepays Debt, Eyes Acquisitions
Tara Murphy, 12.29.03, 5:07 PM ET
NEW YORK - Topping the news this hour, Reliant Resources says it has prepaid $917 million in debt as it strengthens its finances to acquire power plants.
Reliant (nyse: RRI - news - people ) says it used funds from an escrow account for the debt prepayment, which will help it in buying CenterPoint Energy's (nyse: CNP - news - people ) interest in electricity generator Texas Genco (nyse: TGN - news - people ). With the amendment to its bank credit facilities, Reliant, which also canceled an unused $300 million credit facility, says it now has up to $1 billion to put to work on acquisition targets.
Nice.. (ahem, the stock news too....)
I still have a fair sized position. Playing it a few months ago was bad and I sold some in a bit of a panic. Not happy with that but still think the company and the stock have legs..
S...
Touché!! /eom
Linux - blah. I am not convinced yet. I was asking good old Eric Charters about getting that to work with the major trading sites (webbroker) and he provided enough (yeah I figured as much) negative - I still don't see it being anything more than it is unless they get the Javascript/ActiveX issues resolved.
I would have a PC as a Linux box if I was convinced my electronic banking/trading could function 100%. My plan was to flip my file server into a Linux fileserver - but the down shoot - it cannot be used for anything else. At least as a fileserver and "terminal" I could use it to browse the net (less crash prone versus windows). But no. So the next plan is to keep XP as a fileserver/regular PC. And continue to wait for Linux..
Mac - yeah I was thinking a wireless network - a Mac notebook accessing it. Things have certainly improved between Apple and Microsoft in this arena.
Roni - has Apple made any sounds toward graphic tablets? That is the next thing for me (a Mac notebook for the portability, but the tablet is what I really want).
sOb
Wal*Mart.. ahh.. this is the life.
Well two statements here:
HBC - I love you... Tried True Canadian and Purely Dependable
I ventured out (yes sometimes I do get out) and ended up at our Chitty mall (if I can even call it that). Comes with THREE HBCs - Bay Home; Bay Fashion and Zellers. Yes. KEY-RAP!
I walked into the Bay Home and the alarm went off (might have been stray signal off my phone); I walked over to the counter to ask why it went off (I was the only one apparently worried). Saleswoman asked "did you buy something in Zellers?"
I replied laughingly, "Zellers? Buy something in Zellers? Are you serious?"
So I was looking for something and part of my brain said go to Zellers and look. So I did after finding the Bay, as usual was crap.
Zellers - true to form. NOTHING. Not just a little nothing. Ab-salutely Nothing! I looked for a bunch of things and even spot priced Pharmacy prices on some recent Walmart purchases I made.
I was issuing profanity as usual at the sites I saw. The only thing that did catch my eye was the lost leader "Perrier" for $9.24. Sams/Costco $11.58. So I will be buying a boat load (8-12 cases) tomorrow. But nothing else.
Speaking of Sams Club
I have been going to our Sams Club since it opened in November. Two words: White Elephant. Truely a disaster. No one is going to the store and I have been there numerous times. The wait in line? Well at the worse I was second. About 1/4 of the checkouts open.
Sad news. It appears the cheapo Canadians rule the world again. Won't pony up a second membership elsewhere and Sams will suffer. Sad news for Wal-Mart. Really. And Wal-Mart at any given time has 1/2 the parking lot full. Even at 10PM last week it was practically full and they closed at 11PM.
A test.. I bought 3 cakes of CDs (100) for $33 Memorex. I decided I don't need so many today. So I will return 2 of them - bought around opening day and it said "one time purchase". So a few months later, lets see how their return policy works. Costco is the king of kings in this department.
OT: I am putting together a retail post I will be making shortly -- discusses this and other things I have seen.. hope you all will like it..
Blake
They are the Apple of the PC market.
Retaction: My statement was too bold I suppose.
NO - I am not giving credit to Gateway as being the "Apple of the PC world" wrt comparing their offerings to Apple. If I thought that, knowing the mainstream push of PC over Apple, I would have Gateways everywhere.
I am merely suggesting that when you look at the PC world - we have no innovators. The closest one is Gateway - based on their marketing/products over the years (over the years) Gateway has been innovative. Dell has just swiped; copied; and mass produced (the MS way).
I just strolled over to my PC (ok, I opened a Netscape tab..) and went to Gateway and Dell.
Gateway - Camcorders; 42" Plasmas -- oh yeah, they sell computers too. Read: We got the bit...
Dell is sitting with their PCs; their JukeBox; their PocketPC and teeny weeny 23" LCD "HDTV" if you want to call it that. -- "JUNK" -- Read: Pick me.. Pick me.. ohhh.. Pick Meeeeee
Right off the bat, Gateway wins in my books. To say that makes them equal to Apple NO. But compared to "PC" makers - they are what Apple is to the Mac World.
Don't try and convince me about Apple's products. But unfortunately fixed pricing due to no competition is the one thing they suffer from. End of story. Unless they can bring the prices down and provide a bit more options on the gear, they will suffer.
The last bastion of hope was the classroom. Even with that, Dell is winning. As at September, my 5yr old's school has better equipment and running XP before me..
Again - if I had the money, I would have Apples all through the house. I owned the Apple ][+ and Apple //e (proper spellings) - if Apple hadn't turned "SONY ME NO SHARE ME NO SHARE" on the world, Apple would be #1 today and Bill Gates and Michael Dell would be yelling FOUL!!
Another problem is, as Frank said, with trading platforms.
With my new computer I am hoping I can actually read from my Dad's Sony and get movies into my computer - FINALLY.
If I bought a Mac today, hope would instantly turn to whatever and I would move onto what else I could do.
Merci Ron...
Ron, long Apple Computer and Music for the next couple of weeks.
You are suggesting you are long on AAPL and what music companies?
Blake
HA! HA! Funny guy...
Well the wastebaskets I know of don't have a shroud of neon light.. so there!
In the past year I have learned the most important piece of a good system is it's case and power - something of an afterthought in the past.
Made from recycled fighter jets.*
There are plenty of ways to experience mind-numbing performance. You could strap on a jet and blaze across the sky. Or you could just grab our new P160. Carved from supremely strong anodized aluminum -- the same stuff fighter pilots swear by -- our whisper-quiet case boasts 10 drive bays. A swiveling control panel. And a low-speed 120mm fan. So get a P160. And experience the kind of performance usually reserved for our folks in blue.
*OK, that's not really true. But it sure sounds cool.
http://www.antec-inc.com
sOb
Nice article...
FWIW I just bought a PC. I think for at least a month I can talk sensibly about what computer to buy (jeez need a degree seriously - about as hard to understand and figure out as a Rogers bill).
What are the biggest wastes of time?
#3 - Spec'ing and buying a PC
#2 - Using a PC
#1 - Using a PC to access the internet (any mode)
Speaking of AAPL. Yeah that iPOD is to die for. When I bought my car CD player it had to come with an front input for external devices (namely the iPOD). But alas too many other things to buy (ahem, like stocks)...
My PC is nice but for $2000CDN (incl tax) it came with no monitor; no harddrives; no CD(CDR/RW/DVD); no mouse/keyboard/floppy. Once I get it up and running I will provide a picture of the aluminum case in its full glory.
At Sams Club I am seeing machines for $1000 including LCD panels but the specs are all old and restrictive. Memory if I am lucky would be 512MB all featuring XP Home.
Anyahoo.. Gateway is something to think about.. thanks!
sOb
Gateway..
(not related to your purchase -- but my thoughts)
They are the Apple of the PC market. They have that "neat stuff" that Dell never had - Dell to me has been seen as "excellent duplicators but never innovators". My opinion I am sure.
If I had serious money - my house would be full of Apple gear in a second.
Gateway has had problems alright - trying to expand outside the US only to quickly shut them down. But recently has re-started its Canadian ventures. Costco sells them. Nice machines.
Part of a steady growth portfolio, DELL would fit the bill (can't stop a train).
But Gateway definitely is good for a nice pop/value play from their current levels.
I am struggling finding cash right now.. starting to sweep through the sideway movers..
sOb
CPST.. News yesterday and some nice action today..
So to paraphrase my question - what are they saying?
Customer said "make them for us" and then "well we don't want them yet so hold them"? This can't be a good philosophy can it?
EDIT: Or is this merely a result of their problems -- Customer: "we had to come up with another plan because you couldn't ship your turbines on time".
Based on this logic, I can see as being "ok", why then are the orders "held" and not "cancelled"?
But I guess it isn't negative on the stock.
I am still holding...
...
Capstone Turbine Announces Third Fiscal Quarter Shipment Expectations
Monday December 29, 7:30 am ET
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 29, 2003--Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.microturbine.com; Nasdaq:CPST - News) announced today that it expects shipments for its third fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2003 to be between 2.0 and 2.5 megawatts.
"A few relatively large customer orders totaling approximately 1.5 megawatts, were produced in the third fiscal quarter, however, these shipments are now expected to be delayed as a result of our customers' requests," said John Tucker, Capstone's CEO. "Since our products constitute only a portion of any installation, these types of schedule changes can arise. We continue to work closely with our Distributors and Authorized Service Providers to minimize schedule changes."
Belated BOT CKG @ $4.06... yesterday.
Added a partial fill to my RESP. Partial - duh!
In the middle of house cleaning (literally and figuratively).
Purging some of my legacy KEY-RAP for the 2004 year.. Pfizer, Hasbro, Time Warner, UPS (yeah I had'em all). Excluding PFE (US$ breaking even), UPS, the others are >20% losses w/o exchange. Including all with exchange, I have lost at least more than 10% on all.
As they say out with the old... in with the knew..
My short list includes:
AMTD (Ameritrade) - repeated good things about this stock (Mentioned on Rukysers year end program); from various sources. Been watching it a few months and it is finally starting to take off. Customers have lots of cash on sidelines; Customers if they start buying again pay commissions..
CHK (Chesapeake Energy); still reviewing but good properties; buying new ones at value; gas play..
CRY (Cryptologic).. moving downward lately but interested in it.. (per previous comments already).
ATY (ATI Technologies).. Sexton is in the middle of purchasing an ATI again with his new CPU - after swearing never to buy ATI products again. Why? Like what Creative is to sound; Can't fight it anymore. I have to accept their position in the marketplace and move on. This is huge for me since swearing to never return is something I believe strongly in. But can't fight the tape and figure if I can't, then no one else can making ATY a strong contender going forward. Nvidia has stumbled and I have been reading that at the various sites. Newer models are close but no prize winners.
FDO (Family Dollar Stores). I think this one is esp interesting since when I call it up in TD it says "FAMILY DLR STORES INC". Beaten up too much; pure value play.
Anyways, haven't decided on what yet. I think the best bet on the US side short term would be AMTD.
Anybody else following AMTD?
Happy Holidays..
blake
During the spring of last year, GOD forbid I could find skates for my son at Wal*Mart - but sure had the paint balls and guns available.
OT: I am not so involved in this topic but the goal wasn't to confiscate guns, but to have them registered. Kastelco can correct me.
OOT: Lately I am not so sure, but I thought all of Canada had fewer homicides than Detroit for many years.. Have you seen Bowling for Columbine. Funny one there - "if you open up any bank account with us you can get a gun; and you have lots to choose from and have them all in stock". (you don't see this - in the movie you see the account opening then getting the gun and leaving the bank). On Oprah, Michael Moore said the entire process from opening the account to walking out with a shotgun was about all of 1/2 hour.
Anyways my 2 cents..
Stick em up Blake.. Oh? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Happy GoogleDay...
SoB