I think you win because you have me now going on the defense.
As for anyone else reading this, I hope to God they have better things to do right now. Go hug your sig other. Play with your kids. Enjoy the sunset. Trap a firefly. Anything but keep up with this endless tripe.
I will follow your lead and skip with the quotes. My comments will roughly follow the flow of yours so it should be easy to follow along for anyone who is crazy enough to keep up.
I never said "market share is the main influence in a stock price's upward movement". Why do you keep saying that I said that? It is a factor. An important factor. Not the only factor. Never said otherwise.
Once again, number of units sold by margin per unit. Period. You can tweak that equation on either side, volume or margin, or both, but both sides (volume and margin) will determine profitability. You can't ignore either factor. Well...I guess you could...but as a Company you would be stupid to ignore either volume or margin.
I never said "linked at the hip".
I never implied, again, that it is just market share (and market share alone) causing stock price to go up. In fact, I went out of my way to mention margin per unit plus perception. Please don't oversimplify my comments.
I never said "set-in-stone" rule
I never said that increasing stock price means the company must be gaining market share
Also never implied that gaining market share means stock price will magically go up. And never used the word "magically".
I never said "magnificent sales" were needed to drive down debt.
I never said exponential growth is required either.
And what the heck is up with this line: "Answering, "How did Apple become debt-free?" with, "They sold more computers," is looking only at the tip of the iceberg."
That was never my argument OR my statement. I never brought debt into this. Although I'm not afraid to talk debt, this line is a classic example on how my admittedly simplified points are exaggerated, out of proportion, in an attempt to aid your arguments. I never argued about debt originally and never said volume was the sole road to financial Nirvana. You can sell all you want, but if your cost per unit outstrips your income per unit, you are screwed.
And actually, the scenario you lay out...basically, same volume sales, but with drastically increased margins (via increased efficiencies) is precisely how they paid down their 80's and 90's debt. Why are we arguing what we both believe to be true??
What do people need that is already not satisfied? A bigger iPhone or smaller laptop is the overly simple answer.
Can you improve either sufficiently? Well, you don't want the iPhone bigger (for a "real" keyboard and larger screen) and if you make the laptop smaller.....well damn, you are doing exactly what I want and expect.
Nice try but neither existing product fills the in-between step--unless you shrink the size of the MacBook. And while you are at it, shrink the overall processing power and energy consumption for longer battery life. Bonus points if it will fit in my wife's purse or in my zippered portfolio. Extra bonus points if it will run more or less a full day on a single charge. You know, so we don't have to carry around an extra computer bag or oversize "back pack" in our business attire. Something with full "Office" like capability and full mail and internet but able to toss into whatever hand held "article" we are carrying (purse, briefcase, portfolio) or wearing? Cargo pocket anyone?
How did they "revolutionize" the all in one concept? They had one, actually several, well before the iMac. So did Compac and I'm sure others. How did they revolutionize it other than make it "cute" and add colored plastic?
No. I'm serious. Answer the question. How was it revolutionary?
Don't get me wrong. It was a brilliant, bold concept. But not a revolution. Unless you consider orange a revolution.
Here we are again, you talking "first to market". Nothing first about a netbook. Every other player has them. I don't use that as justification why Apple should be in the fray, just to remind you they wouldn't be first.
You don't see the market? I sure hope Apple does.
The market is right. Now more than ever.