Depending on who is counting, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has 5% or 6% of the U.S. computer market. That number may have spiked in December. Now the PC companies are in a mad rush to build products that look like Macs.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Spurred in part by the success of Apple Inc.'s innovative products, as well as a consumer shift toward notebook computers, PC makers have begun a radical overhaul of their machines' appearance." That means thinner notebooks, more colorful housings, better keyboards, and improved processing power.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) have already launched upgraded machines and are likely to come out with more as the year passes.

But will being "Mac-like" be enough? Probably not. The Apple machine has a sort of aura from being associated with the iPod and iPhone company. Very few people consider Dell a sexy brand.

So, what do the PC companies do? Probably add lower prices to new features. Macs are expensive. A recession is probably coming. "Cool" may be nice, but not when a consumer can't afford it.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

To keep market share, PC makers aping Apple originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lots of bloggers are getting credentials at this year's Fashion Week in New York City, and it's all that the blogosphere can talk about. I was fascinated to see that one of the so-called "bloggers" was Constance White, eBay's Style Director.

I know, you're probably thinking (like I was): eBay has a style director? What, exactly, does she do? It's not like eBay selects inventory for its spring line. (Who are you wearing? Oh, it's eBay, Winter 1997. Vintage.)

Constance's "blog," such as it is, requires an endless supply of double quotes. First of all, I can't see that it's updated with any Fashion Week info; second, I can't see that there are traditional blog accoutrements, such as permalinks, dates, or comments on any of the "posts" (suspiciously formatted to look exactly like a newsletter). Third, it's dated Fall 2005. Oh so stylish! Maybe there's a blog hidden somewhere in eBay's blog archives.

Who is this woman, and how does she fit into eBay's strategy? I love that eBay cares about clothes, I've purchased many a fine garment on the site. But having a style director seems so retail and eBay is a technology company. Right? Or wrong?

I think this, as much news about eBay, is more of an indication of the company's identity crisis than anything. The Power of Too Many.

eBay blogging fashion week: 'Style Director'? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.