I’m sure the Dell CEO regrets his famous advice to Apple, offered before a crowd of several thousand IT executives at the ITxpo97 in Orlando: “What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders,” Michael Dell boomed with characteristic confidence.
Ah, what a difference a decade makes – Apple’s market cap at the market’s close last Friday [graphic above] was almost 6-times Dell’s – and Apple’s is totally debt-free.
With Apple announcing 1Q2010 Financials at 4:00 p.m. CST Monday – the wisdom of the Job’s led revival will be evident. Apple’s special event in San Francisco on Wednesday will deliver a second, crushing blow for many in the industry.
Dell’s genius was, at least for a while, pleasing Wall Street and selling stock.
Meanwhile Apple developed technology, software, hardware, retail stores, services, and legions of loyal consumers worldwide. Dell devolved into excuses, cost cutbacks, outsourcing, and plant closings.
Dell’s decline into oblivion is now, even to many market pundits – unavoidable. Apple’s success, while not assured – at least has a plan.
Et tu, Michael.