[a repost of mine from "Another Golden Age of Gaming? I thought it applicable]
(Off-topic fer just two shakes of a Parots' Tail....Sept 19 -ITLAPD!! Arrr! I must get me plug in fer the day o' days before me comments. I hope no scallawag keel-hauls (-1 Mod) me fer me ferver -Yar Har!)
Ye' must be three sheets to the wind, if ye' were to tell me 'twer not an age ye' call "GOLDEN" (Yarrr! GOLD!)
Aye, I can recall back to day I was but a gamin' lubber - Me Atari and me spent many a countless watch ravenging the.00001-bit seas! Sailin on, who can ferget (yarrr! who can remember?) the death dealin Captain... errr... Commander Keeeeeeeeen?
Let me take ye' forward a stormy watch or two, and remind ye' of where the ship lies - Weee've got us photorealism, Multiiii-thread Cooores, Swashbucklin and Adventurin An' Lo' Killin. Aye, Killin Galoooore! An' Now in 5.1 audio, needn't bother with letter's yer Eyes
Have ye seen ye Oblivion? Have ye seen ye F.E.A.R. - W.O.W. - Ye Console P-Cube-X? Even now yer belov'd Dungeon-o-Dragons? Ye scurvey dog, could ye live now without PCI-Express?
Yarr - I fear thar be some dissen't among the ranks, the ol' buccaneers tend much t' thar ways Those dogs who worship thar good ol' days, aye, they should walk the plank!
Aye! 'ts ne'r been be'er te see games as a treasure Ye'd have te be plum-gone rum insane,
te think the past be'er 'an than a world with Massive Multiplayer Online Raidin' Pirate Games! YARRR HARRR!!!
First point, I am glad to see that someone seems to support my point that, for the average consumer, when they want a laptop, they don't first think "I want a Toshiba"
With regard to what you are actually saying, I should clarify. Since I know you read my statements in their context, I'm sure you noted that my point was that I had a hunch that having the highest selling laptops, and those laptops being relatively inexpensive, it implied some sales coming from outside of the 'West'. And wouldn't you know it, I was right! Toshiba does sell some laptops in Asia!
Also, Look everyone! My hunch is no longer! I found Data! http://news.com.com/PC+market+surged+in+2005,+will +settle+in+2006/2100-1003_3-6028454.html 9 Months Ago: Toshiba, meanwhile, snuck ahead of Apple Computer to take the fifth place for U.S. shipments with a 3.5 percent market share. Notebook sales helped the Japanese company, said IDC analyst David Daoud. Toshiba periodically makes an appearance in the top five.
For the year, however, Apple topped Toshiba with a 3.3 percent market share to Toshiba's 3.2 percent. For the year, Apple grew shipments by 32 percent, just slightly slower than Gateway.
So Toshiba in the U.S.... top five? Yes. Market share? ~3%
(By the way, this means most of Toshiba's sales are Non-U.S., so relating to my original point, Public exposure in the U.S. for Toshiba is Good)
I can tell I'm getting crabby. No more slashdot for me today.
(I'm just glad the above comment inexplicably is at a +2, as someone might actually end up reading this)
A more obvious conclusion is that once again, America's population has been lied to by its own leadership
Yes Yes Yes. Obvious. Duh. Why doesn't X see how obvious it is. They must be stupid. Let me explain how it is, stupid heads.
Somehow, George Bush has found a way to steal Al Gore's internet back away from the people and turn it into oil somehow, And further, its all just a plot by the Liberal media megacompanies to make it look like its a plot from the right to maintain preferencial access to their lobbiest group constituents.... ad nauseum
Allow me(Mod -3 Flame, Troll, Sarcasm), as obsurdity rarely is pointed out to allow constructive behavior to flourish.
You know about net neutrality. I know about net neutrality. I know a friend who knows about net neutrality. My friend might be a republican. You might be opposed to republicans. I might be Microsoft. You both might hate Microsoft. All three of us might be in favor of Net neurality. Guess what's going to happen if we waste our lungs bitching at each other over none issues like party leaders tend to?
Guess whats going to happen if each of us agrees to go out and honestly inform people about net neutrality, with out tying a bunch of other unrelated selfish political crap to the issue?
Please read my sig, its very applicable. Feel free to use it.
Network neutrality regulations are supported by large Internet content companies such as Google, Yahoo, and EBay, consumer rights groups such as Consumers Union, liberal blogs, and the Democratic Party, as well as some elements of the religious right
I hope and pray that people are going to be able realize the point I'm making - please send me a P.M. if you don't - I would be happy (and its my duty as a U.S. citizen) to explain. Here's a hint: the ideas I'm advocating here don't apply strictly to the isolated instance.
A very good point, I will definately concede the point, I erred, as is often the case with us stupid Americans, of applying myself to the masses (I hope at least someone gets the joke). I retract my claims for the European market, which I was admittedly shaky about adding anyways.
Now I await counterpoint for the U.S. market - I'm happy to be proven wrong on the point- you'll note above I've responded to someone else already who pointed out some interesing info - perhaps it helps to clarify my stance on'household name' with regards to laptops (qualified now to the U.S.)
You'll also be happy to note my comment ranking has been humbled down a bit - but this raises the second reason for my reply, which is to point out, or clarify, that my original point i.e.: SUBJECTLucky for Toshiba was that despite what the initial news may suggest, this is a good thing for Toshiba overal: 1: Press coverage of Toshhiba (arguably responding well) - Hell, it even made Slashdot 2: Negative monetary aspects will be covered by, of all things, Sony, essentially a direct Asian competitor. 3:More savy places will place Toshiba and Sony side by side, and equate Toshiba=Yay, Sony=Boo.
Also, (as I stated previously) I just found it interesting that the recall probably is not bad for Toshiba.
Or as I closed my first post with: So essentially, they are getting free publicity in the U.S. and European markets. (Not that this is a good or bad thing, just and interesting aspect of the situation) Ask someone in a week to name 5 laptop makers, and I'd wager Toshiba moves up the list in recognition. Longterm, (nearly) any press is good press.
I hope that any brief stay (and my personal best, Yay!) +4 was merely a result of others concurring with my interest in the situation, not to my, 'expanded' interpretation of how exactly the world is working - I don't know where I got the idea to take such liberties, especially here on Slashdot, of all places!
Lastly, evidence has shown me to be a baffoon in my statement "small name like Toshiba." I would like to change it to "Huge corporation with 1/4 of the world laptop market(Holy Shite!), that does not advertise much in the experience of one guy in the Central U.S."
I can't help but note that Toshiba has been more favorably protrayed in the slashdotter comments than most Tech companies; I can only assume the rapid strong defence of said company is a result of a well run company and good products.
or they want to screw over Sony I'm not sure we're even disagreeing here, I was mostly intersted in pointing out that all in all, this will probably be a positive long term for Toshiba in the market, and especially as you point out, against Sony. I just happen to think Toshiba is experienceing luck of circumstance, it appears you think there is more maneuver involved.
I must say I was impressed and surprised by the links you helpfully put up, especially the first one. It does appear from the newer article that the stats reflect worldwide marketshare, wheras I was making a claim more about the Western Markets. Also, from your article #1 the three top-selling models all use the low-cost Intel Celeron processor -- a chip that has been in production since 1998) this also seems to imply high sales percentages in less developed areas, although again, its not explicitly clear. Nonetheless, Perhaps I'm completely out of the retail experince, having plinked around on my own with computers for so long.
Nonetheless^2, I feel like putting down some wordage and making fun of consumers. Getting back to the point of the consumer market and marketshare, let me try to clarify my position: I still think Toshiba had/has rather limited recognition in the laptop sector, expecially among the masses (who are often a key to profitable business.) I would suspect (without any evidence, I admit) Toshiba has a large part of its success rooted in technical markets/corporate business. (Again, without research to verify) If you were to ask a non-slashdot average consumer to name 5 companys that make laptops, they would probably state in some order;
Gateway, Dell, Sony, HP, and Apple.. (Or Tandy, or Microsoft, or Intel, or some other uniformed choice, simply because the majority of the market, while tech-aware, is hardly tech-savvy, or technophiliac.)
When Jane soccer mom thinks "Yarr, I be in need of a laptop" She thinks "Dude, I'm getting a Dell" or "I like Bono. I want an Apple Ipod Laptop thing." She isn't going to think "I should go to www.toshiba.com for my laptop," as its simply not a culturally prevalent name with computers (Compared to others).
Completely off topic, but the sad fact is that this is true for Al Qaeda's interests. Being named frequently does help them - they went from obscurity to the wrold leaders of their area - the only problem being that their area is crackpottery and senseless violence....
You will also note I qualified my statement beforehand anyways, hence "nearly" - so I'm not exactly sure if you were making social commentary, or disagreeing with me, or...?
(Off-topic fer just two shakes of a Parots' Tail....Sept 19 -ITLAPD!! Arrr! I must get me plug in fer the day o' days before me comments. I hope no scallawag keel-hauls (-1 Mod) me fer me ferver -Yar Har!)
Ye' must be three sheets to the wind, if ye' were to tell me 'twer not an age ye' call "GOLDEN" (Yarrr! GOLD!)
Aye, I can recall back to day I was but a gamin' lubber - Me Atari and me spent many a countless watch ravenging the.00001-bit seas! Sailin on, who can ferget (yarrr! who can remember?) the death dealin Captain... errr... Commander Keeeeeeeeen?
Let me take ye' forward a stormy watch or two, and remind ye' of where the ship lies - Weee've got us photorealism, Multiiii-thread Cooores, Swashbucklin and Adventurin An' Lo' Killin. Aye, Killin Galoooore! An' Now in 5.1 audio, needn't bother with letter's yer Eyes
Have ye seen ye Oblivion? Have ye seen ye F.E.A.R. - W.O.W. - Ye Console P-Cube-X? Even now yer belov'd Dungeon-o-Dragons? Ye scurvey dog, could ye live now without PCI-Express?
Yarr - I fear thar be some dissen't among the ranks, the ol' buccaneers tend much t' thar ways Those dogs who worship thar good ol' days, aye, they should walk the plank!
Aye! 'ts ne'r been be'er te see games as a treasure Ye'd have te be plum-gone rum insane,
te think the past be'er 'an than a world with Massive Multiplayer Online Raidin' Pirate Games! YARRR HARRR!!!
This is a fairly lucky break for Toshiba - for those who haven't already moved on down the reply-line, let me explain why:
First of all, Toshiba isn't exactly a, how shall we say, 'household name' in the U.S./Western market. Secondly, you can bet that Toshiba doesn't have to pay for Sony's mistakes - that role typically falls to Sony (or Sony's end-users). Thirdly, there is little the U.S. business news, and to some degree European news world likes to cover more than a big huffy-puffy recall, or RECALL RECALL RECALL!
So for a small name like Toshiba, this equates to free publicity, and goodwill; "Aww- look how well they took care of thier consumers."
from the article: "Toshiba's free battery exchange program covers 11 notebook models sold in Japan, five sold in the U.S. and 12 sold in Europe, including the Tecra A7, Satellite A100, Satellite M50 and Satellite pro M70, Ohmori said. European customers can consult a list of affected computers on Toshiba's Web site "
So essentially, they are getting free publicity in the U.S. and European markets. (Not that this is a good or bad thing, just and interesting aspect of the situation) Ask someone in a week to name 5 laptop makers, and I'd wager Toshiba moves up the list in recognition. Longterm, (nearly) any press is good press.
Well, I'm willing to stand up to my failed predictions and admit wrong: HPQ ended UP 2% today. Rather a bummer IMO, but, alas, my abilities at stock picking are shown to be rather too idealistic. Of course it was a fairly strong day for Wallstreet as a whole, but I guess its safe to say HP won't be hurt one tiny bit over this. Nope, not a shred of a point. No negative impact whatsoever. None at all. There is no concievable way that my current outlook will jinx it so that it runs counter to my prediction and HP ends in the toilet. None. At. All.
This kind of uproar over phone fraud is just the sort of thing needed to force general opinion - and political opinion - towards a re-assertment and re-assesment of privacy rights in the United States.
Just watching my newsfeeds, as every 20 seconds a new opinion article berating the utter stupidity and thickheadedness of Dunn is circulated, gives me hope.
Whereas govt. wiretapping on its own has (obviously) brought out much emotion and little reason from (the higher levels of) both sides, this behavoir of HP (and you can bet they are not the only company that will get mud in the face over this practice - Line up, fortune 500's) is likely to bring out the *best of America, for the best of purposes:
Issue Hot Potato+BlameGame=positive steps for privacy.
For example: A red state senator now has a pretext for not being stupid about phone tapping (some of you will no doubt cynically refute this, but I say watch and see how political rhetoric shifts between now and November - the Repubs need language to grasp for the middle)
*most erratic-mob-reactionary-unthought out-groupthinking-headless-behemoth to ever form on this planet.
In this one particular case, we might actually see a bit of justice; as more and more bad ink (hahaha!) comes out on HP, the market will likely take note, at least short term...
Already in the last two days, HPQ has lost a point, almost all losses coming from news circulating after-hours (ie, people like us on slashdot raising a fuss). Give it one more trading day with (I'd guess) a 2% stock price drop, then a weekend for the non tech-savvy investors to hear what a naughty child the company has been, and I bet by bell close monday, their stock will have dipped under $28, meaning their overcompensated board members will loose lots on their current net worth (YAY!) and lots of uninvolved investors and employees will take smaller, but more painful hits to their portfolios (boo.)
Collateral damage aside, I hope HP gets thrown to the ropes; they haven't been a good tech company since sometime in the 90's.
Slashdot Mirror
Yarr Harr Harr! A goodly Joke. Arrrrrr. It be driving me nuts
[a repost of mine from "Another Golden Age of Gaming? I thought it applicable] (Off-topic fer just two shakes of a Parots' Tail....Sept 19 -ITLAPD!!
.00001-bit seas! Sailin on, who can ferget (yarrr! who can remember?) the death dealin Captain... errr... Commander Keeeeeeeeen?
Arrr! I must get me plug in fer the day o' days before me comments. I hope no scallawag keel-hauls (-1 Mod) me fer me ferver -Yar Har!)
Ye' must be three sheets to the wind, if ye' were to tell me 'twer not an age ye' call "GOLDEN" (Yarrr! GOLD!)
Aye, I can recall back to day I was but a gamin' lubber - Me Atari and me spent many a countless watch ravenging the
Let me take ye' forward a stormy watch or two, and remind ye' of where the ship lies -
Weee've got us photorealism, Multiiii-thread Cooores,
Swashbucklin and Adventurin
An' Lo' Killin. Aye, Killin Galoooore!
An' Now in 5.1 audio, needn't bother with letter's yer Eyes
Have ye seen ye Oblivion?
Have ye seen ye F.E.A.R. - W.O.W. - Ye Console P-Cube-X?
Even now yer belov'd Dungeon-o-Dragons?
Ye scurvey dog, could ye live now without PCI-Express?
Yarr - I fear thar be some dissen't among the ranks,
the ol' buccaneers tend much t' thar ways
Those dogs who worship thar good ol' days, aye, they should walk the plank!
Aye! 'ts ne'r been be'er
te see games as a treasure
Ye'd have te be plum-gone rum insane,
te think the past be'er 'an than a world with
Massive Multiplayer Online Raidin' Pirate Games! YARRR HARRR!!!
First point, I am glad to see that someone seems to support my point that, for the average consumer, when they want a laptop, they don't first think "I want a Toshiba"
/ 03/30/2003248395
l +settle+in+2006/2100-1003_3-6028454.html
With regard to what you are actually saying, I should clarify. Since I know you read my statements in their context, I'm sure you noted that my point was that I had a hunch that having the highest selling laptops, and those laptops being relatively inexpensive, it implied some sales coming from outside of the 'West'. And wouldn't you know it, I was right! Toshiba does sell some laptops in Asia!
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005
Also, Look everyone! My hunch is no longer! I found Data! http://news.com.com/PC+market+surged+in+2005,+wil
9 Months Ago:
Toshiba, meanwhile, snuck ahead of Apple Computer to take the fifth place for U.S. shipments with a 3.5 percent market share. Notebook sales helped the Japanese company, said IDC analyst David Daoud. Toshiba periodically makes an appearance in the top five.
For the year, however, Apple topped Toshiba with a 3.3 percent market share to Toshiba's 3.2 percent. For the year, Apple grew shipments by 32 percent, just slightly slower than Gateway.
So Toshiba in the U.S.... top five? Yes. Market share? ~3%
(By the way, this means most of Toshiba's sales are Non-U.S., so relating to my original point, Public exposure in the U.S. for Toshiba is Good)
I can tell I'm getting crabby. No more slashdot for me today.
(I'm just glad the above comment inexplicably is at a +2, as someone might actually end up reading this)
A more obvious conclusion is that once again, America's population has been lied to by its own leadership
Yes Yes Yes. Obvious. Duh. Why doesn't X see how obvious it is. They must be stupid. Let me explain how it is, stupid heads.
Somehow, George Bush has found a way to steal Al Gore's internet back away from the people and turn it into oil somehow, And further, its all just a plot by the Liberal media megacompanies to make it look like its a plot from the right to maintain preferencial access to their lobbiest group constituents.... ad nauseum
Allow me(Mod -3 Flame, Troll, Sarcasm), as obsurdity rarely is pointed out to allow constructive behavior to flourish.
You know about net neutrality. I know about net neutrality. I know a friend who knows about net neutrality. My friend might be a republican. You might be opposed to republicans. I might be Microsoft.
You both might hate Microsoft.
All three of us might be in favor of Net neurality.
Guess what's going to happen if we waste our lungs bitching at each other over none issues like party leaders tend to?
Guess whats going to happen if each of us agrees to go out and honestly inform people about net neutrality, with out tying a bunch of other unrelated selfish political crap to the issue?
Please read my sig, its very applicable. Feel free to use it.
Here is something for all of us 'Creationist' laughers to take a bite out of and chew:
(from Wikipedia, bold added http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality"
Network neutrality regulations are supported by large Internet content companies such as Google, Yahoo, and EBay, consumer rights groups such as Consumers Union, liberal blogs, and the Democratic Party, as well as some elements of the religious right
I hope and pray that people are going to be able realize the point I'm making - please send me a P.M. if you don't - I would be happy (and its my duty as a U.S. citizen) to explain. Here's a hint: the ideas I'm advocating here don't apply strictly to the isolated instance.
Yarr!
A very good point, I will definately concede the point, I erred, as is often the case with us stupid Americans, of applying myself to the masses (I hope at least someone gets the joke). I retract my claims for the European market, which I was admittedly shaky about adding anyways.
Now I await counterpoint for the U.S. market - I'm happy to be proven wrong on the point- you'll note above I've responded to someone else already who pointed out some interesing info - perhaps it helps to clarify my stance on'household name' with regards to laptops (qualified now to the U.S.)
You'll also be happy to note my comment ranking has been humbled down a bit - but this raises the second reason for my reply, which is to point out, or clarify, that my original point i.e.: SUBJECTLucky for Toshiba was that despite what the initial news may suggest, this is a good thing for Toshiba overal:
1: Press coverage of Toshhiba (arguably responding well) - Hell, it even made Slashdot
2: Negative monetary aspects will be covered by, of all things, Sony, essentially a direct Asian competitor.
3:More savy places will place Toshiba and Sony side by side, and equate Toshiba=Yay, Sony=Boo.
Also, (as I stated previously) I just found it interesting that the recall probably is not bad for Toshiba.
Or as I closed my first post with:
So essentially, they are getting free publicity in the U.S. and European markets. (Not that this is a good or bad thing, just and interesting aspect of the situation) Ask someone in a week to name 5 laptop makers, and I'd wager Toshiba moves up the list in recognition. Longterm, (nearly) any press is good press.
I hope that any brief stay (and my personal best, Yay!) +4 was merely a result of others concurring with my interest in the situation,
not to my, 'expanded' interpretation of how exactly the world is working - I don't know where I got the idea to take such liberties, especially here on Slashdot, of all places!
Lastly, evidence has shown me to be a baffoon in my statement "small name like Toshiba." I would like to change it to
"Huge corporation with 1/4 of the world laptop market(Holy Shite!), that does not advertise much in the experience of one guy in the Central U.S."
I can't help but note that Toshiba has been more favorably protrayed in the slashdotter comments than most Tech companies; I can only assume the rapid strong defence of said company is a result of a well run company and good products.
Testicles to you Too!
or they want to screw over Sony
I'm not sure we're even disagreeing here, I was mostly intersted in pointing out that all in all, this will probably be a positive long term for Toshiba in the market, and especially as you point out, against Sony. I just happen to think Toshiba is experienceing luck of circumstance, it appears you think there is more maneuver involved.
I must say I was impressed and surprised by the links you helpfully put up, especially the first one. It does appear from the newer article that the stats reflect worldwide marketshare, wheras I was making a claim more about the Western Markets. Also, from your article #1
the three top-selling models all use the low-cost Intel Celeron processor -- a chip that has been in production since 1998) this also seems to imply high sales percentages in less developed areas, although again, its not explicitly clear.
Nonetheless, Perhaps I'm completely out of the retail experince, having plinked around on my own with computers for so long.
Nonetheless^2, I feel like putting down some wordage and making fun of consumers. Getting back to the point of the consumer market and marketshare, let me try to clarify my position: I still think Toshiba had/has rather limited recognition in the laptop sector, expecially among the masses (who are often a key to profitable business.) I would suspect (without any evidence, I admit) Toshiba has a large part of its success rooted in technical markets/corporate business. (Again, without research to verify) If you were to ask a non-slashdot average consumer to name 5 companys that make laptops, they would probably state in some order;
Gateway, Dell, Sony, HP, and Apple.. (Or Tandy, or Microsoft, or Intel, or some other uniformed choice, simply because the majority of the market, while tech-aware, is hardly tech-savvy, or technophiliac.)
When Jane soccer mom thinks "Yarr, I be in need of a laptop"
She thinks "Dude, I'm getting a Dell" or "I like Bono. I want an Apple Ipod Laptop thing." She isn't going to think "I should go to www.toshiba.com for my laptop," as its simply not a culturally prevalent name with computers (Compared to others).
Completely off topic, but the sad fact is that this is true for Al Qaeda's interests. Being named frequently does help them - they went from obscurity to the wrold leaders of their area - the only problem being that their area is crackpottery and senseless violence....
You will also note I qualified my statement beforehand anyways, hence "nearly" - so I'm not exactly sure if you were making social commentary, or disagreeing with me, or...?
Yarrr! Ye be speekin like a true Pirate!
(Off-topic fer just two shakes of a Parots' Tail....Sept 19 -ITLAPD!!
.00001-bit seas! Sailin on, who can ferget (yarrr! who can remember?) the death dealin Captain... errr... Commander Keeeeeeeeen?
Arrr! I must get me plug in fer the day o' days before me comments. I hope no scallawag keel-hauls (-1 Mod) me fer me ferver -Yar Har!)
Ye' must be three sheets to the wind, if ye' were to tell me 'twer not an age ye' call "GOLDEN" (Yarrr! GOLD!)
Aye, I can recall back to day I was but a gamin' lubber - Me Atari and me spent many a countless watch ravenging the
Let me take ye' forward a stormy watch or two, and remind ye' of where the ship lies -
Weee've got us photorealism, Multiiii-thread Cooores,
Swashbucklin and Adventurin
An' Lo' Killin. Aye, Killin Galoooore!
An' Now in 5.1 audio, needn't bother with letter's yer Eyes
Have ye seen ye Oblivion?
Have ye seen ye F.E.A.R. - W.O.W. - Ye Console P-Cube-X?
Even now yer belov'd Dungeon-o-Dragons?
Ye scurvey dog, could ye live now without PCI-Express?
Yarr - I fear thar be some dissen't among the ranks,
the ol' buccaneers tend much t' thar ways
Those dogs who worship thar good ol' days, aye, they should walk the plank!
Aye! 'ts ne'r been be'er
te see games as a treasure
Ye'd have te be plum-gone rum insane,
te think the past be'er 'an than a world with
Massive Multiplayer Online Raidin' Pirate Games! YARRR HARRR!!!
This is a fairly lucky break for Toshiba - for those who haven't already moved on down the reply-line, let me explain why:
First of all, Toshiba isn't exactly a, how shall we say, 'household name' in the U.S./Western market.
Secondly, you can bet that Toshiba doesn't have to pay for Sony's mistakes - that role typically falls to Sony (or Sony's end-users). Thirdly, there is little the U.S. business news, and to some degree European news world likes to cover more than a big huffy-puffy recall, or RECALL RECALL RECALL!
So for a small name like Toshiba, this equates to free publicity, and goodwill; "Aww- look how well they took care of thier consumers."
from the article:
"Toshiba's free battery exchange program covers 11 notebook models sold in Japan, five sold in the U.S. and 12 sold in Europe, including the Tecra A7, Satellite A100, Satellite M50 and Satellite pro M70, Ohmori said. European customers can consult a list of affected computers on Toshiba's Web site "
So essentially, they are getting free publicity in the U.S. and European markets. (Not that this is a good or bad thing, just and interesting aspect of the situation) Ask someone in a week to name 5 laptop makers, and I'd wager Toshiba moves up the list in recognition. Longterm, (nearly) any press is good press.
Well, I'm willing to stand up to my failed predictions and admit wrong: HPQ ended UP 2% today. Rather a bummer IMO, but, alas, my abilities at stock picking are shown to be rather too idealistic. Of course it was a fairly strong day for Wallstreet as a whole, but I guess its safe to say HP won't be hurt one tiny bit over this. Nope, not a shred of a point. No negative impact whatsoever. None at all. There is no concievable way that my current outlook will jinx it so that it runs counter to my prediction and HP ends in the toilet. None. At. All.
A thought just occured to me:
This kind of uproar over phone fraud is just the sort of thing needed to force general opinion - and political opinion - towards a re-assertment and re-assesment of privacy rights in the United States.
Just watching my newsfeeds, as every 20 seconds a new opinion article berating the utter stupidity and thickheadedness of Dunn is circulated, gives me hope.
Whereas govt. wiretapping on its own has (obviously) brought out much emotion and little reason from (the higher levels of) both sides, this behavoir of HP (and you can bet they are not the only company that will get mud in the face over this practice - Line up, fortune 500's) is likely to bring out the *best of America, for the best of purposes:
Issue Hot Potato+BlameGame=positive steps for privacy.
For example: A red state senator now has a pretext for not being stupid about phone tapping (some of you will no doubt cynically refute this, but I say watch and see how political rhetoric shifts between now and November - the Repubs need language to grasp for the middle)
*most erratic-mob-reactionary-unthought out-groupthinking-headless-behemoth to ever form on this planet.
In this one particular case, we might actually see a bit of justice; as more and more bad ink (hahaha!) comes out on HP, the market will likely take note, at least short term... Already in the last two days, HPQ has lost a point, almost all losses coming from news circulating after-hours (ie, people like us on slashdot raising a fuss). Give it one more trading day with (I'd guess) a 2% stock price drop, then a weekend for the non tech-savvy investors to hear what a naughty child the company has been, and I bet by bell close monday, their stock will have dipped under $28, meaning their overcompensated board members will loose lots on their current net worth (YAY!) and lots of uninvolved investors and employees will take smaller, but more painful hits to their portfolios (boo.) Collateral damage aside, I hope HP gets thrown to the ropes; they haven't been a good tech company since sometime in the 90's.