I think Microsoft has a lot more employees but Apple is valued quite a bit higher than Microsoft is now (423B vs 246B). What's insane is that Microsoft makes most of it's profits from software which is very high margin. Apple makes most of it's profits from hardware and yet the profit margins are pretty close. When you compare to other hardware companies the difference is pretty striking. Companies like Dell & HP have around a 5% profit margin while Apple is around 23%.
I did not realize that Apple was that big. I watched a video conference a few months ago with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and they said that Microsoft was much bigger in comparison. Maybe the article is not comparing the same thing that Jobs and Gates where talking about?
Apple is not a software company, it is a hardware. Apple couldn't care less what it makes on the software, because once you need a program they make that will suck the blood out of you until you die.
1. Slash the price of phones and tablets by nearly half, so it can dominate the surge of mobile devices purchases and solidify it's position in the market against samsung / android devices. They'll make more money on App sales within a year.
2. Needs to purchase a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Akamai or EdgeCast, that can help position it for direct to consumer media and take advantage of its Apple TV digital distribution (competing with major broadcasters).
3. Licence Siri as a web service for any device (non ios devices), making it a verbal search engine of sorts.
andysasylumJan 31, 2012Buried
That's INSANE.
antialiasJan 31, 2012Buried
I think Microsoft has a lot more employees but Apple is valued quite a bit higher than Microsoft is now (423B vs 246B). What's insane is that Microsoft makes most of it's profits from software which is very high margin. Apple makes most of it's profits from hardware and yet the profit margins are pretty close. When you compare to other hardware companies the difference is pretty striking. Companies like Dell & HP have around a 5% profit margin while Apple is around 23%.
mtownJan 31, 2012Buried
2/3 of Apple's wealth is held offshore? Not the biggest thing to be proud of...
terryallisonJan 31, 2012Buried
I did not realize that Apple was that big. I watched a video conference a few months ago with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and they said that Microsoft was much bigger in comparison. Maybe the article is not comparing the same thing that Jobs and Gates where talking about?
jwensley2Jan 31, 2012Buried
Apple's software seems to be a lot cheaper than comparable Microsoft software eg. iWork vs Office or Xcode vs Visual Studio.
Apple's hardware is definitely expensive though, I could have built a pretty good PC for what I paid for my iMac.
I also wonder what Dell and HP make off all the s**t they load onto their PC's.
southsideirishJan 31, 2012Buried
Apple is not a software company, it is a hardware. Apple couldn't care less what it makes on the software, because once you need a program they make that will suck the blood out of you until you die.
Microsoft will never have that luxury
mikewindekJan 31, 2012Buried
Do you think they will buy back shares or issue a dividend any time soon?
raineydoreenJan 31, 2012Buried
It is the result of their hard work and dedication to improved the lives of people through technology.
mikewindekJan 31, 2012Buried
I just realized that with the $100 billion in cash Apple is sitting on, they could completely buy out facebook if they wanted to :o
http://ratracefreedom.net/
user2837Feb 1, 2012Buried
This was an interesting way to present how successful this company is.
poogy21Jan 31, 2012Buried
With all that cash, Apple needs to;
1. Slash the price of phones and tablets by nearly half, so it can dominate the surge of mobile devices purchases and solidify it's position in the market against samsung / android devices. They'll make more money on App sales within a year.
2. Needs to purchase a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Akamai or EdgeCast, that can help position it for direct to consumer media and take advantage of its Apple TV digital distribution (competing with major broadcasters).
3. Licence Siri as a web service for any device (non ios devices), making it a verbal search engine of sorts.
4. Give me some of that ca$h!!
;)