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Rolls Off The Tongue (1/27/00)
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Are there certain words in your vocabulary that you just don't get to use very much anymore? Well, if you're a tech journalist, you're probably accumulating a nice thick layer of dust on "beleaguered" these days. Even the most fervent Apple critic would have to be strung out on PCP to call the company "beleaguered" after nine consecutive profitable quarters, a hit product line-up, a soaring stock price, and a hefty pile of cash in the bank. Oh, sure, occasionally you can take the word off the shelf, dust it off, and stick it in front of "Compaq," but it's just not the same. "Beleaguered" sort of belongs to Apple, even though it no longer fits. It's kind of like retiring an athlete's number.
But here's our proposal: let's use it for Dell instead. It's no secret to anybody that Mike Dell has a dangerously unhealthy fixation on becoming Steve Jobs; just look at the way he runs his company. There's the available-in-five-colors, "easy Internet" WebPC, trying to be the iMac. There's the available-in-two-colors, consumer-targeted Inspiron 3700 laptop trying to be the iBook. Heck, now Dell's even pushing an 11 Mb/sec wireless home networking system-- AirPort, anyone?
So given that Dell's trying so hard to be Apple, the "beleaguered" tag should fit just right. Especially given Dell's second earnings warning in a row; faithful viewer Russell Maggio steered us towards a Reuters article describing Dell's latest woes. Apparently "parts shortages" and "Year 2000 computer bug fears" led to a sales shortfall. But after Dell went public with the news, its stock dropped only slightly in extremely heavy trading-- and some analysts even upgraded the stock. Hmmm... okay, so maybe it'll be a little while before Dell is actually "beleaguered." But it's good to know that there's hope for that word yet...
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SceneLink (2060)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 1/27/00 episode: January 27, 2000: Wanna know the real reason Diego's leaving Apple Europe? Think "Amazon.com" and "more cash than in Bill Gates' couch." Meanwhile, Dell issues another earnings warning in a bid to win the "beleaguered" tag, and while Apple's not advertising during the Super Bowl this year, at least QuickTime will get a boost thanks to a half-time analysis webcast...
Other scenes from that episode: 2059: "I'm Not Made Of Stone!" (1/27/00) Well, as far as "personal reasons" go, we suppose a dumptruck of money is as good a motive as any. If you tuned in yesterday, you know that Apple Europe's general manager, Diego Piacentini, is resigning his post at the end of the quarter... 2061: LSD and Morningstars (1/27/00) Ready for the Super Bowl? Personally, we're not big football fans 'round here at the AtAT studios; when they give the players medieval melee weapons and force them to ingest hallucinogenic drugs as a matter of course, maybe we'll start tuning in...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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