How’s this for a gripping corporate story line: Youthful founder gets booted from his company in the 1980s, returns in the 1990s, and in the following decade survives two brushes with death, one securities-law scandal, an also-ran product lineup, and his own often unpleasant demeanor to become the dominant personality in four distinct industries, a billionaire many times over, and CEO of the most valuable company in Silicon Valley.
Sound too far-fetched to be true? Perhaps. Yet it happens to be the real-life story of Steve Jobs and his outsize impact on everything he touches.
The rumors are circulating that Dell will launch a smartphone, perhaps as soon as February. Strategically, could there be a worse time? This would put them directly in the path of Apple, RIM and Android. Possibly the Pre from Palm may also be a direct competitor. Dell will fail miserably if they do. What OS is it going to run? What about apps? Has Dell ever been successful with a product other than computers, where they crank out industry standard boxes and spend virtually nothing on research? Is Dell recognized for creating good design or buzz, which is essential in a consumer product (e.g., TVs, mp3 players, retail stores)? Nuff said.