With the Compaq kiosks and Internet PCs some people are of the opinion that Mr. Jobs and Apple should have targeted Compaq (CPQ.N) rather than Dell. Well, "Ego" and "Pride" had a lot to do with the targeting of Dell as Mr. Dell gave the advice that Mr. Jobs should close Apple down and give the money back to the shareholders. But, they're right that the AppleStore and Apple's retail strategy, etc., should not have specifically targeted Dell, but Compaq, et al, too. Or, as we told those who belatedly agreed with us: "No joke Jackson. When did you arrive at this conclusion? Before or after RFI said so? Or after the CompUSA / Computer City deal?..."
Dell and Gateway see the laser dot from Compaq's sniper rifle on their foreheads with its hybrid retail / direct model. And don't think that they are not going to try and respond. Dell has "zero" retail presence (which is supposed to be "good" for costs, etc.) and Gateway has its "Salon Stores." Never mind that Compaq's overall strategy is giving it enough flexibility to do an end-run around both. Apple? Well, Apple apparently still doesn't have a clue regarding the threat posed by Compaq's strategy and how it might impact its intentions to transform itself into "A Really Cool Consumer Company;" by "going after Dell with AppleStore, the others with Resellers / VARs and CompUSA Salon Stores, etc." Never mind that not only will Compaq have a strategy that not only "meets" Apple's moves, but might just check them too. Something RFI mentioned previously in those related items.
Well, we'll see when and if Apple realizes the challenges posed to it and what responses it might devise and implement. Or, if Apple insists on "Targeting Dell" out of pride and ego; thereby opening itself to being blindsided by a threat that it totally ignored. As we said, we'll wait and see...
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