Randomly Noted

Hewlett-Packard reported earnings today and while the numbers for the quarter ended January 31 were generally good, investors focused on the tepid outlook. Initial analysis of the results zeroed in on soft PC sales for the recent quarter and the question raised by the company of whether consumers were really opening their wallets. The stock fell 12% in after-hours trading.

There’s another longer-term trend investors should consider when looking at companies that have a lot of exposure to the printer business – will the introduction of tablets like the iPad make printing documents less necessary? Combine that with the green movement and it could spell troubles for companies that make printers.

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Apple just reported its earnings and clearly a big contributor to the company’s top and bottom lines was its new iPad, which was unveiled this quarter and has sold 3.27 million units. Some other interesting unit numbers show up in the earnings report. iPhone sales were slightly lower and have remained around the same level for three quarters now (most recent quarter was 8.4 million units sold). iPod sales continue to trend lower, clearly a result of the iPhones. And bread and butter Mac computer sales inched higher to 3.47 million units from 2.94 million. That last stat is an interesting one because it says that even with the iPad (or tablets in general), which some people suggest may replace laptops, Apple grew its computer business. Some of this could be companies starting to make computer purchases after having not done so during the recession – but Apple is not big in corporate section of the market. In all liklihood, it’s the buzz effect. Some people who buy Apple products love them and that first purchase has them looking at other Apple products.

By the way, record revenues for Apple in the latest quarter – $15.7 billion.

Two technology giants are having a linear debate that boils down to this question: who’s a truck?

Steve Jobs shouldn’t have to worry about a marketing budget for Apple’s iPad.

That hyperbole is based on the unprovoked testimonials flowing from media-executives-turned-celebrity-iPad-endorsers who spoke Wednesday as they were interviewed at the All Things Digital technology conference here in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

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The line snakes around the inside of the Apple Store today on 5th Ave. What are they waiting in line for? To see if their iPads have arrived.

A colleague joined me for a field trip to the 5th Avenue Apple Store in Manhattan today. Both of us were looking to buy some accessories for our iPads. We walked down the circular steps in the middle of the store and before us, was a mass of people the envy of every retailer – in a line that almost circled the interior of the store. I walked over to a salesman to see if I had to wait in that line to make my purchase (no, if using a credit card. Yes, if cash). I asked who all of these people were. He told us that almost everyone in line was there to see if their iPad’s had arrived. He said there have been production problems in Taiwan, so stores are experiencing serious shortages.

But then he mentioned another interesting point – he said he sells maybe two a day to people who live here in New York. “From other countries,” he said in response to my question of where did all of these people come from. He said he’s heard stories of how people would buy a couple iPads and take them back to their home country to sell them for $2,400. He even talked about”resellers,” people who bought iPads in the store and then sold them outside the buildinging to people who didn’t want to wait days or weeks to get their iPad.  Entrepreneurs everywhere.

The international sales element is interesting as likely many of the buyers are getting them here to take them home to play with.  Earlier this month, Apple delayed launcing the iPad internationally until sometime in May. If the New York store experience is like what other large cities are experiencing, you wonder what impact this will have on international sales when the product actually launches.