Maven: Great Dells of Fire

The Financial Times quotes an analyst who says that Dell will still be more damaged because the recall compounded existing problems. Apple, the analyst says, has fewer. Forbes sees Dell as "vindicated," and others are less sanguine than the FT about Apple, linking the exploding battery to the company's stock backdating troubles. (Editor's note: To access some of these stories, registration or a subscription may be required. Please check the individual links for the site's policy.)

But Dell gets it the worst from the issue of Business Week that hits the stands today. It refers to the exploding battery in the lead of a story that essentially says the company is out of ideas and its make-it-cheap-and-deliver-it-with-a-minimum-of-fuss business model may be over, as in done, stick a fork in it.

Meanwhile, Business Week also reports that Michael Dell has now purchased 2.9 million shares on the open market this year. That's $70 million worth. For all Dell's billions, that's not tons, but at least it's not chicken feed.

It has also earned The Business Press Maven's seldom given "Benefit of the Doubt" award. I would not be a buyer of Dell here, though I believe at this point, the media is just playing a game of pile-on with this battery story that may be suppressing the stock price slightly. The focus should turn to Sony.

And given Dell's great history and its namesake's confidence -- well, I'm watching what good and strategic change might come of this mess. Michael, don't get nervous but you are officially under the overly judgmental gaze of The Business Press Maven.

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