Description: MIT graduate Carl Dietrich co-founded Terrafugia, which is now taking preorders for the science fiction fan’s ultimate dream: a $194,000 flying car. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/15/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_30/b4188043262844.htm Questions for discussion: Who is the customer for this product? Do you think the high selling price would pose a problem for the firm trying… Read more »
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Busted iPhone? Call the ‘doctor’
Description: A New Yorker runs a lucrative business fixing broken iPhones for about half of what Apple charges. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 07/08/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/07/07/n_broken_iphone_fixer.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why do you think these iPhone customers risk using the services of the ‘doctor’ rather than traditional Apple repair services? What does this story tell… Read more »
Buy an electric car, rent the battery
Description: Better Place CEO Shai Agassi’s bet on electric cars involves swappable batteries but questions remain whether he can pull it off. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 07/08/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/07/08/f_bg_better_place_agassi.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Do you think this pricing model will work? Who do you think would be the target customer most interested in… Read more »
The real test for stocks
Description: The stock market’s best week in a year has restored some confidence to battered investors, but the real test begins Monday when companies start reporting second quarter profits and losses. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 07/10/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/10/markets/sunday_lookahead/index.htm  Questions for discussion: Why are profits so important at this point in time to investors? Examine the… Read more »
Online, We Pay With Our Time Spent Searching
Description: THE Internet is a Soviet bread line. Remember those lines? Back when commissars commanded the Soviet Union’s economy like Knute commanding the tides, people would wait for hours in long queues for free bread. Although the bread was free, people paid for it with their time. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 07/09/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/business/11every.html?ref=business Questions… Read more »
Why Andy Grove Is Wrong About Job Growth
Description: Reigniting job creation in the U.S. won’t happen by becoming more like China and India. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 07/09/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2010/tc2010079_953836.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the main arguments presented in this article. Do you agree with the points made about entrepreneurialism and economic growth? What, if anything, should governments do to encourage entrepreneurial… Read more »
A Wide-Open Market for Tesla
Description: Fresh off its successful IPO, electric car maker Tesla is finding a receptive market in Europe for its green technology. MarketWatch’s Shawn Langlois gets behind the wheel of the Tesla Roadster to see if it lives up to the hype. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 07/02/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/europe-a-wide-open-market-for-tesla/7A810918-DDB8-426E-944A-B961E5ECE057 Questions for discussion: Who is… Read more »
D8 Video: Steve Case in Full Session
Description: Steve Case and Kara Swisher meet again onstage at the D8 Conference. What has the Revolution CEO been up to on the 25h Anniversary of American Online? Source: Marketwatch.com – video report  Date: 07/02/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/d8-video-steve-case-in-full-session/2B7724EE-756E-4975-893A-BBA244AFD4B3  Questions for discussion: Summarize the history of AOL and the development of the Internet. What surprises you… Read more »
Dell faces fresh threat from old PC failures
Description: A six-year-old hardware meltdown that plagued millions of computers is coming back to haunt Dell. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 07/01/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/01/technology/dell_lawsuit/index.htm  Questions for discussion: What did this problem “cost†Dell in terms of money, sales, customer loyalty, and brand image? What would you have recommended Dell do to handle the problem better in… Read more »
BP Wants Partners to Help Shoulder Spill Cost
Description: BP has said repeatedly that it will pay for the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But its actions show that it does not intend to go it alone. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 07/04/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/us/05liability.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Who do you believe should be held financially responsible for the oil spill?… Read more »
