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  (Source: greenrightnow.com)
Dell's profit fell 47 percent to 39 cents per share while revenue dropped 11 percent to $13.7 billion

Dell's financial report for the third quarter seems to have missed the targets predicted by Wall Street on many levels due to sluggish PC sales.

For Q3 2012, Dell's profit fell 47 percent to 39 cents per share while revenue dropped 11 percent to $13.7 billion from a year previous (Wall Street expected $13.9 billion). Its net income fell from $893 million (49 cents per share) in Q3 2011 to $475 million (27 cents per share) in Q3 2012.

A large reason for Dell's financial tumble is the lack of demand for PC upgrades. Dell's PC shipments fell 8.3 percent in Q3 2012 from a year earlier.

“In a difficult global IT spending environment we saw solid proof points that demonstrate progress in our strategy,” said Brian Gladden, Dell CFO. “A highlight has been the strong progress of our newly introduced servers, with our server and networking business up 11 percent. We’re also encouraged by early interest in our new Windows 8 touch portfolio and the opportunities it creates for our commercial and consumer businesses.”

Looking forward, Dell predicts a fourth quarter revenue of $14 billion to $14.4 billion, which is a bit less than the $14.5 billion analysts were shooting for. In Q4 2011, revenue was $16 billion.

In response to all of this disappointing news, Dell stock dropped to $8.81 this morning, which is the lowest its been since March 12, 2009.

While Dell is looking to Windows 8 for some kind of revival, the new operating system hasn't provided any immediate boost for PC makers. In fact, Gladden said Windows 8 wouldn't affect Dell's financial results for the next two quarters.

"The client business continues to be challenging," said Gladden. "Commercial customers tend to be lagging adopters of a new operating system. They're going to wait."

To make matters worse, Microsoft doesn't solely depend on PC makers for hardware anymore. Last month, it released its first tablet hardware, Surface RT, which features the RT version of the Windows 8 mobile OS. Next year, Microsoft plans to release the Surface Pro, which will run Windows 8 Pro.

Source: Dell


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RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 12:24:54 AM , Rating: 3
Surpassed in what way? iOS is still running on the fastest hardware with some of the best battery life (double the LTE and wifi browsing time of the S3) and the best app selection.

The gap has closed, certainly. Android was undeniable trash even a year ago and ICS and JB have gone a long way to address old problems, but "surpassed" is stretching credibility unless you want a 5" screen, a keyboard, or an SD card slot.

And if we're talking growth, it really can't be ignored that the bulk of Android growth hasn't been in the high end, it has been in cheap and not very capable devices sold to the poor (no-contract devices sold by Boost Mobile/Virgin) and in third world countries. Sales figures aside, there's still the fact that the bulk of mobile internet traffic and app usage is in iOS, despite lower overall marketshare.

So again, "surpass" is a bit of an odd thing to brag about unless one is proud of how many low end devices your mobile OS runs on.


RE: Some advice.........
By vXv on 11/18/2012 6:01:46 AM , Rating: 2
I still have an 3 year old iPhone 3GS (I don't buy a new phone every few months) .. but now is time to replace it and looking at the available options I see no reason why I should go with a newer iPhone. I will probably go with the Nexus 4 it offers a way better price / performance ratio then any other phone on the market ... Google / LG just has to have some in stock ...


RE: Some advice.........
By nikon133 on 11/18/2012 4:30:28 PM , Rating: 2
Same here.

My 3Gs is running iOS5 (have skipped on iOS6 because maps are really quite useless here in New Zealand). If I get iPhone 5, I'll get faster, slimmer device with bigger/higher res screen... but I will be using it exactly the same way I've been using my 3Gs since mid 2009. No significant changes, no improvements, no new ideas. For my usage scenario, notifications were probably the only "innovation" that happened since iOS3. Folders, maybe. Yay for folders.

I'm still undecided between high end WP8 and high end Android, but as it is, iPhone it is not going to be.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 4:47:25 PM , Rating: 2
I don't understand how going to a Nexus 4, a device that is second-tier even by Android device standards, is an improvement. It is cheap, sure, and hopefully the OS is kept up to date unlike most Android hardware out there, but that's pretty much it.

If you can spend the extra coin then there are certainly better devices out there, the iPhone 5 being the fastest with the best software. If you want to mess around with something different then I understand, even if its a step back.


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/18/2012 7:50:28 PM , Rating: 2
Clearly you don't understand... see Nikon's post for some insight. IOS is stagnant.


RE: Some advice.........
By martyrant on 11/18/2012 9:08:13 PM , Rating: 2
You should stop feeding the troll, he is obviously an iDiot in denIal.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 9:15:32 PM , Rating: 2
I understand perfectly.

Speed and functionality via apps mean more to me than fiddling with home screens. Android isn't even the best in that regard, WP is with its Live Tiles.

If you want a change of pace or want to fiddle, then I guess Android is cool. I like actually using my mobile devices, so I'll stick with iOS until something better comes along.


RE: Some advice.........
By vXv on 11/20/2012 7:30:16 AM , Rating: 2
Well lets see what I use my iPhone for:

1) Phone calls
2) Texting
3) Reading mails
4) Navigation
5) Web browsing
6) Alarm
7) Kill time playing causal games
8) Sometimes IM / Skype

The Nexus 4 should do all of them just fine and the larger screen is better for 4, 5 and probably 7, while cost the half of the other options iPhone5 or Samsung S3.

It does not have LTE but LTE does not really exist in this country.

And pretty much any option is not a step back from a 3GS (and actually Android 4+ does not look like a step back to me) ;)


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/18/2012 8:09:05 AM , Rating: 2
"Surpassed in what way?"

You really want to see the list again? In pretty much every way. Faster OS, even on slower hardware. Better UI, better features, more than 5x4 icons, faster voice search, better mapping software, NFC, Multi user support (for tablets), photospere, flexibility, Micro SD card better looking, Plug and play as a flash drive to copy files, all while supporting multiple chipsets and screen resolutions. While we are there, you can get larger screens, way higher res screens, micro USB, removable batteries etc etc... See vXv's reply for more info =)

In what way indeed. LOL


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 4:42:14 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Faster OS, even on slower hardware.


You're joking, right?

Multi-user support is the big thing iOS is missing on tablets, it is ridiculous that it isn't there yet. Everything else you've mentioned either doesn't outweigh the benefits of iOS (for me at least) or are just flat out false.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 4:44:09 PM , Rating: 2
And as for vXv's reply, the Nexus 4 he is considering is far slower, doesn't have LTE, and doesn't have SD card expansion (something you keep hammering on about).

How does him going for a phone that only has the benefit of being cheap help your points in any way?


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/18/2012 8:08:51 PM , Rating: 2
That is the glory of Android. You get what you need. He doesn't need 4g or SD card or rem. batt. so he can get a cheaper phone. I want those things with a big screen and there are options for me as well. You want that on iPhone? Nope. No options.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 9:30:30 PM , Rating: 2
Low end options don't really concern me. Yeah, its cool, but the low end isn't my thing. My PC is a powerhouse, that doesn't mean that I brag about the Windows marketshare based on the fact that its mainly on $400 econoboxes.

Bragging about Android's marketshare based on how many low end devices it is on is weird to me. It is like bragging about how popular McDonald's is. Who cares? When Android has the majority of the smartphone market but is still a lower portion than iOS of web traffic, app downloads, and mobile ad revenue, all it tells me is that Android is mainly on devices that are barely better than a flip phone. And it is, its mostly on the trash no-contract phones you get on Boost Mobile or poor countries.

So if Android is on the bulk of low end devices, um, good for you I guess? I'll take the best of the high end myself, thanks.

As for options, if being on the iPhone "limits" me to the fastest hardware with the best battery in its size class and the best apps, well darn it, guess those are limitations I'll have to live with.


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/18/2012 11:27:20 PM , Rating: 2
Whatever floats your best man. You buy the best phone for you and let others do the same. I totally disagree with the root of your logic but we will have to agree to disagree. With that said we should easily agree that I am right and you are wrong. LOL


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/19/2012 1:46:36 AM , Rating: 2
I have always said that if someone wants bigger screens, keyboards, SD cards, tinkering/rooting their OS, sideloading apps, or cheaper low end devices, that those options are out there with Android and that people should buy them. Hell, I've advocated Windows Phone long before it was "ok" to do so. I think it has many of its own benefits, namely UI and huge potential with apps due to its SDK and programming languages. If you value the best hardware with the highest quality apps and the best centralized OS/vendor support, then iOS devices are generally the way to go.

Its all about pros and cons and tradeoffs.

I've always spoken in tradeoffs, a far cry from the one-dimensional "hurr durr Android rules Apple drools" circlejerk that goes around here.

PS - LOL :)


RE: Some advice.........
By JPForums on 11/19/2012 9:43:02 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
When Android has the majority of the smartphone market but is still a lower portion than iOS of web traffic, app downloads, and mobile ad revenue, all it tells me is that Android is mainly on devices that are barely better than a flip phone.

An alternate scenario for your consideration:
Android is indeed on highend phones, perhaps breaking roughly even with Apple on the high end. People who buy into highend Android are (in general) power users that may download fewer apps from the marketplace because they can get them elsewhere ... without the ads. Frankly, I wouldn't brag about iOS having more ad revenue. It just means you are getting bombarded by more adds. Until you tell me the source of iOS vs android web traffic numbers I can only speculate that they can't necessarily properly identify the preponderance of unique web browsers Android has. (Particularly if they default to the non-mobile versions of the webpage with their monstrous sized phones.) In conclusion, Apple has done a wonderful job of monetizing your purchase by making sure that any apps you buy come from them and you have no (sanctioned) way to subvert a potentially increasing number of advertisements coming directly to your phone.

Or you could be absolutely correct and nobody buys high end android. Given the number of high-end android phones available, I tend to think the answer lies somewhere in between.

Apple does hands down the best job with power efficiency. It seems to be true across multiple product lines. I'm sure there is a trade off, but thus far they've done a fine job keeping it hidden. The screen res goes back and forth, but Apple currently has a fair lead. Further, Apple has always made sure that the screen is at least good, even if they weren't the best at times. The A-series SoCs are impressive SoCs, easily among the best. However, despite being the "uncontested" leader in the GPU space, there are games on the market with effects that can only be used on the (relatively) weak nVidia SoCs. I have to wonder if the GPU power is focused in the wrong area going forward. A certain industry leading PC graphics card company no longer in existence kept blindly pushing things like fill rates while ignoring texture and lighting (or vertex/pixel shaders). Still at the moment the A-series processors are pretty dominant.

Android is far more customizable than iOS. It also legitimately scales the spectrum from small devices to large ones and from low end devices to high end. Though its biggest strength (for those that want it) is probably the fact that Apple/Google doesn't get to dictate to Android users what Apps they have access to or what program is required to get data/media on and off the device.

As far as apps go, I've seen the spectrum from golden calf to steaming pile on all platforms. Even first party apps are occasionally lemons. The only real distinguishing feature between Android and iOS apps is perhaps that, with android, you have to make sure you trust the author of applications that you get outside of the market place. I consider this as a responsibility that comes with the freedom.

Interestingly, the mantra of just works apparently goes to Windows Phone. They don't have the same number of apps, though they apparently have a fair amount. They can't match the hardware (err, haven't checked out the latest). They try to strike a proper balance between Apples total lock down and Androids free for all, but come off as less than convincing as they lean pretty heavily in Apples direction. However, despite the low end hardware, the experience is smooth. More importantly, I have yet to crash a Windows Phone. A feat I've accomplished within a weeks normal use on an iPhone 3G and an iPhone 4 and within a few hours use of an HTC Evo 4G and a Samsung Galaxy S3. That said, if you learn the quirks, it is largely a non issue.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 5:00:53 PM , Rating: 3
I'm amazed that you mentioned faster performance on slower hardware, btw. I thought I could count on you being at least a little more balanced than the standard Fandroid, but bringing up superior performance on slower hardware speaks of either surprising ignorance or delusion that would make a Mactard jealous.

Even when WP7 was briefly on decent hardware it was far smoother and snappier on slower clocked hardware than Android, and the same has always been the case with iOS. iOS has consistently run circles around Android hardware running at 30%-50% faster clock speeds. Part of it is Android (even JB) being a comparatively inefficient OS, and another part of it is the difference between Java and Objective-C/C/C++ performance in applications that do use Java. Android simply needs more horsepower, which translates to the need for larger batteries, which drives larger chassis/screens, and so on.

Again, its fine if you bring up things like bigger screens, SD card slots, keyboards, whatever, those are legitimate reasons to go with something else, but keep it in the realm of reality.


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/18/2012 7:59:59 PM , Rating: 2
My point by that is the OS is just better. It flows better even on the old OMAP in the G nexus. Dang dood, you seem to be in serious denial about the OS. Even Tony doesn't debate that point anymore... and Testerguy is buying a Nexus 4. LOL. Your minority is shrinking more each week that goes by with each powerhouse Android phone announced and feature update released. Android 4.2 brings more improvements , while IOS 6 may as well be called IOS 3.3

I know your dinosaur works for you but most people prefer to get more and pay less


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 9:23:04 PM , Rating: 2
No it isn't, the old OMAP on the Galaxy Nexus is noticeably choppier than iOS on the older iPhone 4! What world are you living in? This has been the case for years, and the gap continues still.

There is no denial here, the difference in performance is something that even Google is well aware of and has been trying to address with each release of Android.

In the end the best Android devices are still slower than the iPhone 5, with half the LTE browsing time, and with an inferior app market.

Powerhouse Android phones? Point me to them, please. Right now your position is based on being proud of the sheer volume of low end devices out there, not the quality of the high end.


RE: Some advice.........
By TakinYourPoints on 11/18/2012 9:43:27 PM , Rating: 3
I'm still surprised that you guys here are in denial to this degree.

Even the biggest Android fan has at least copped to choppier UI performance than iOS and WP, now I'm hearing revisionism from you guys that Android was always smoother to begin with, something that it finally (and barely) caught up with in JB. Actually, it still isn't as smooth as iOS6 on the iPhone 5.

Then you talk about performance being better on Android devices when it objectively isn't (even on the international Galaxy S3), and you talk about superior battery life when the S3 has literally half the LTE browse time of an iPhone 5. The difference in app quality continues, but it either "doesn't exist" or "doesn't matter". Whatever.

And the basis of Android's popularity is on the massive volume of low end devices out there, something you either sweep under the rug or that you're proud of.

They say that the RDF is restricted to Apple fans but clearly it isn't, amazing! What fantasy are you going to cook up next?


RE: Some advice.........
By Tony Swash on 11/19/2012 9:12:38 AM , Rating: 2
I have to say that this whole thread reminds me of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J3SdBAhhFA


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/19/2012 9:36:48 AM , Rating: 2
LOL... OK it is kind of ridiculous, we can all admit that, assuming that you are lumping yourself in with the rest of us. Defending a company on the internet is pretty much your claim to fame here at AT/DT. ;)


RE: Some advice.........
By Tony Swash on 11/19/2012 10:46:34 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
assuming that you are lumping yourself in with the rest of us


Totally. None of this makes any sense nor does it have any true significance and at the same time one can feel very passionate about it. My definition of a hobby :)

BTW this cartoon has become a running joke between me and my wife :)

http://www.mattcutts.com/images/duty_calls.png


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/19/2012 3:08:26 PM , Rating: 2
LOL... True.

What a bunch of dorks.


RE: Some advice.........
By retrospooty on 11/20/2012 11:55:18 AM , Rating: 2
"is has been the case for years,"

BTW, WTH are you going on about here? For years? The Galaxy Nexus hasnt even been out 1 year.

"I'm hearing revisionism from you guys that Android was always smoother"

Again, who said that? I am talking about Jelly Bean, it came out a few months ago. Older chips like the OMAP on the Galaxy Nexus running Jelly runs fast.

I know you like to massively up-play Apple's advantages, but your whole argument is just mistaken. OK, we arent buying Gingerbread phones in late 2012. It's JellyBean now, consider any conversation to be about today, not last year. As far as the fastest chip, yes, Apple gets that, but its a bit like me saying my Ivy bridge i7 is faster than your Nehalem i7. Both are crazy fast and the difference is tiny in 99.9% of all situations. Honestly, this gross exaggeration of any Apple advantage is tiring. You do it with speed, apps, LCD. Its kind of silly at this point.


"We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk." -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs

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