The character of Mr. Alpert had some intense screen presence and seemed to have an immense amount of power such as bein' able to do the bus thing....and somethin' tells me that inevitably Juliet wouldn't have a choice in the matter of her going to "Portland" He is a major player in this Jacob or not.

I was thinking along those lines myself. It was just like we were supposed to notice him and think about him, like TPTB telling us that we need to pay attention to him because we will definitely be seeing him again. At least that's the impression that I got.

Nah, he's just a photograping playboy from suddenly susan.
I think he is important, but hardly Jakob.

But then again... u never know.

I agree that he has more to do with what happened to Juliette then she realizes. I kinda saw the hit by a bus thing coming, but what exactly did "Mr. Albert" have to do with it...?? And we know he has something to do with The Others and/or the Dharma Initiative seeing as how Ethan was hanging out with him. Now here's the other thing about Ethan and Mr. Albert.... Ethan must have been watching Juliette for a long time. He was seen in the hallway of her apartment building in Miami in the opening flashback..