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Apple vs. Dell an Analysis of Two Leading Information Technology Providers

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Apple vs. Dell an Analysis of Two Leading Information Technology Providers
Executive Summary

This paper provides the historical background and financial data of two of the leading information technology (IT) corporations in the United States. Going beyond their humble beginnings to the present, an analysis is made of their current financial performance. This serves to compare and contrast the differing business strategies of the two financial juggernauts. The two companies are direct competitors in the IT market place. Developing cutting edge software that is futuristic and enticing is what Apple does best. Apple has the ability to offer a diverse product line that caters to a wide variety of consumers, especially tech savvy earlier adapters. Dell’s marketing approach is to create a product line that is affordable and easily used by the general computing public. Audit reports, ratios, cash flows and income statements are analyzed to gain a clearer picture of which marketing strategy is proving to be the more successful.

Corporate Histories and Strategies:

In 1976, high school friends Steven Jobs and Stephen Wozniak shared a common love and interest in electronics. In their early stages, Apple I & II were designed as a hobby. Apple I was actually created in Steven’s bedroom. “They would showcase the computers at the Homebrew Computer Club (of which they were members) as a demonstration (Apple Museum, 2011)”. The highlights were the video screens, and the fact that it used few chips to operate (during this time keyboards and video screens were not well established). The blue prints/schematics were passed around freely for all to see. Stephen would go to the homes of friends and help them build their own. Their computer displays would take place at club meetings, showcasing new features and additions.

Dell, Inc. began in 1984, when then freshman pre-med student Michael Dell used $1000 dollars to fund PC’s Limited. Working in an off-campus dorm room at the



References: Dan Frakes.  (2005, April). Apples and Oranges Macworld, 22(4), 14-15.  Retrieved July 12, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 810726521). Dell 's accounting practices: no cause for concern. (2006). Seeking Alpha, Retrieved from http://seekingalpha.com/article/21714-dell-s-accounting-practices-no-cause-for-concern Jason Snell, Adam C Engst, Steven Levy, Guy Kawasaki, & et al. (2004, February) YEARS OF THE MAC. Macworld, 21(2), 62-72.  Retrieved July 12, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 42659375). Jim Carlton.  (2006, September 21). Greenpeace Grades PC Makers; Dell, H-P Step Up Recycling Efforts; Apple Is Pressed to Do More. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition),  p. B.5.  Retrieved July 12, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global Richey, J. (2008, February 13). Financial analysis of apple, inc. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/jonathanrichey/My_Portfolio/Masters_Education_files/apple%20analysis.pdf Robert McMillan, Robert Mullins, & Ben Ames. (2007, January) Sinks on Earnings. InfoWorld, 29(4), 6.  Retrieved July 12, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1227357411). Stephan Somogyi, Jason Snell, & Scholle Sawyer. (1999, August). The millennium Mac. Macworld, 16(8), 64-71.  Retrieved July 12, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global Yahoo finance (apple). (2011). Retrieved from http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=AAPL Yahoo finance (dell)

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