Post date: Jul 19, 2012 11:18:2 PM
Google's Nexus 7 tablet is selling out making the company a potential threat to Apple in the hardware business. And it's not the only one looking to cut into Apple's dominance.
USA-HARDWARE WARS - No matter how many hi-tech honchos walk across stage showing off their latest gadget, they all still seem to come across as Apple wannabe's...almost desperately trying to make a mark in the hardware market.
Morningstar's Rick Summer explains:RICK SUMMER, SENIOR EQUITY ANALYST, MORNINGSTAR SAYING:
"It worked for Apple. And that's not always the best strategy is to do what's working for somebody else. But by and large that is what folks are doing."
Apple pretty much owns the candy store. Its products are literally irresistible eye candy.
But Amazon with its Kindle Fire offered a tantalizing choice for consumers looking for a less indulgent alternative, though sales have slowed.
Microsoft is still tweaking its menu. Its phones haven't gained real traction and its Surface tablets aren't even on the market.
But now it's Google that seems to have hit a sweet spot. Some retailers are already selling out of its Nexus 7 tablet.
A sign Google may know what its doing.
RICK SUMMER, SENIOR EQUITY ANALYST, MORNINGSTAR SAYING:
"Here we have today in the summer of 2012, we are looking at a very overpowered seven-inch device and, in fact, the rumors are that Apple needs to and plans to respond with its own smaller tablet form factor device. "
REPORTER BRIDGE: BOBBI REBELL, REUTERS REPORTER SAYING:
"And Google has the Android advantage. The app developers are already on board. But they also follow the money."
And that's where things could get interesting.
RICK SUMMER, SENIOR EQUITY ANALYST, MORNINGSTAR SAYING:
"We certainly have seen Google be able to support the Android environment by doing that very thing. The Third player coming along being Microsoft. We certainly are seeing that development environment. Paying people to develop applications for it ."
But right now Apple is still king of the hill, and its an uphill battle for everyone else.
Bobbi Rebell, Reuters.