“Netpliance Inc. rose 25 percent after its shares began trading
Friday on Nasdaq, becoming one of the first companies to go public
in the growing consumer Internet appliance sector.”
“The Austin, Texas-based company makes an Internet device,
known as the i-opener, that consumers can plug in for direct
Internet access without using a personal computer.”
“Netpliance stock rose to 21-1/2, up 3-1/2 from its initial
offering price. The company saw a more tepid gain than many
other technology-related initial public offerings of
late.”
“‘It’s a question of how consumers will respond to the product
so there might be some hesitation with Netpliance stock,’ said
Kenan Pollack, a money editor at Hoover’s Online. ‘You have a
watered-down computer, it’s great for getting onto the Web but not
for doing much else.'”