Recent articles in Maximum PC News

• Symantec Stock Surges on Microsoft Takeover Rumors. We don't know what it is with the sudden interest in acquiring security firms, but perhaps the AV industry is destined to follow the same consolidation and takeover path that the boutique PC business underwent not that long ago. Let's recap. Intel in August purchased McAfee for $7.68 billion, a deal that stockholders from both sides were stoked about. And just a short while ago we reported that Trend Micro is at least listening to buyout offers, even if no one can afford the company. Now there's rumors that Symantec may be on the takeover table as well. It all started when Jeffries & Co. analyst Katherine Egbert wrote in a report that Symantec could be worth $19-$20 a share to a buyer, though she added that a deal for the company isn't likely to happen. From there things start to get a little fuzzy, and now the rumor mill is somehow swirling with speculation that Microsoft might be interested in buying out Symantec. Several stock rumor sites are discussing the possibility, and that in turn has caused Symantec's stock to surge 6 percent. Like Egbert, we view this as unlikely, though Microsoft certainly has the capital to pull something like this off. It's also worth pointing out the major shift into the mobile market thanks to the smartphone boom and emerging tablet craze, two areas that might benefit from specialized AV software.
• AMD Keeps ATI Brand Alive for New FirePro V9800 Graphics Card. We did a double take when we saw the ATI label on AMD's newest professional graphics card, the FirePro V9800. Wait, haven't you heard? It was our understanding that everyone had heard. Heard what? A-well a bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word. But we digress. The real reason for our double take is that AMD plans on phasing out its ATI brand by the end of the year, but evidently the world's second largest chip maker is no hurry to do so. Hence the ATI label on its newest videocard. Branding aside, the V9800 comes with 4GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, 1600 stream processors, Shader Model 5.0 support, DirectX 11 and Open GL 4.0 features, 3D stereoscopic support, and a whole bunch of mini DisplayPorts (six in all). Not for the faint of wallet, the V9800 carries and MSRP of $2,500 $3,500. Image Credit: AMD
• Trend Micro Entertains Buyout Offers, Prefers to Roll Solo. Intel last month snatched up security firm McAfee for a cool $7.68 billion in a deal that was unanimously approved by both boards. As it turns out, McAfee isn't the only one being suited. Trend Micro CEO Eva Chen admitted that several first-tier companies have shown interest in acquiring the security outfit. For the time being, Chen contends that Trend Micro would rather remain an independent entity, but since it's a publicly listed company, it's conceivable that an offer too good to refuse could come along and have shareholders clamoring to sell. So how much would it take to buy a company like Trend Micro? Quite a bit. Though Intel paid McAfee a 60 percent premium over the company's market value, Chen says that Trend Micro would command even more, much more. The company has already ponied up $300 million to build a cloud computing infrastructure, and in 2009 Trend Micro set an internal goal of raising annual revenues from $1 billion to $2 billion within the next three years. In other words, yes Trend Micro is open to offers, but only companies with money to burn need apply. Image Credit: Trend Micro
• Best Buy to Carry Amazon Kindle Readers. We received word today that Best Buy is expanding its in-store eReader selection to include Amazon's Kindle. This will make Best Buy the only brick and mortar retailer to sell all three major eBook readers, which also includes B&N's Nook and Sony's Reader family. "There's no question that eReaders have found their rightful place in today's digital lifestyle," said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment for Best Buy. "Our goal is to help people choose the device that's right for them by providing the broadest selection of popular eReaders of any retailer, in one convenient place that enables people to easily see, touch, try, and buy." The Kindles will show up in stores sometime this fall with pricing the same as through Amazon: the new Kindle with built-in Wi-Fi will sell for $140 and the Kindle 3G will go for $190. Later in the season, the Kindle DX will join the fray.
• Acer: Apple Products are "Mutant Viruses," Let's Find a Cure. If Acer's PR department provided company creator Stan Shih with a canned statement, he didn't read it. Instead, Shih told reporters late last night that Apple products are "mutant viruses" in need of a cure. Describing the difference in design philosophy between Apple and the PC industry, Shih says Steve Jobs is always looking for a revolutionary product, one which is bound to enjoy short-term success and growth, but eventually will be trumped by the competition. In this way, PC vendors become "immune" to the Apple effect, Shih explains. To drive the point home, Shih pointed to the competition between Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Mac OS. According to Shih, Windows' "open" platform has allowed Microsoft to attract the majority of PC vendors, while Apple's PC market has turned out to be limited. This, he says, is similar to how the open VHS standard ultimately won out against Sony's Betamax format. Looking ahead, Shih sees Android playing a big role in PC brands being able to isolate Apple. He also reiterated a previous gloom-and-doom prediction that U.S. based PC vendors will eventually ditch the PC market as profits from PC products fall lower and lower.