Thanks again, Forrest.
Incidentally, IBM is attempting to capitalize on its position
as the most experienced MR head manufacturer by starting a unit
to sell MR heads to the other disk drive makers, presumably at
above-average margins considering the low yields the other
disk-drive makers are having with their own MR programs. At the
same time, CNET reported last week that IBM was close to finalizing
a deal with ACER which would essentially allow IBM to contract to
ACER all its low-end laptops, desktops, and even servers. ACER
is a low cost manufacturer that, despite the success of the radical
design of its Aspire line, seems to have the reputation as a reliable
technology follower. A fair assumption to make then would be that
ACER would be using well-established mainstream products like the
inductive head disk drives, lower speed CD-ROM drives, etc.
Finally, it looks like IBM is placing its feet firmly in both camps
of the NC vs Network Computer battle. It recently opened a NC unit
at the same time that it announced that it was joining Intel,
Microsoft, Compaq and others in the Network Computer project, essentially an effort to simplify hardware and software in order to reduce the costs of ownership. At the sub-$1000 price points being
bandied about at Comdex, it looks like the Network computer is going
to be a Pentium with a-few-steps-behind-the-leading-edge components.
Gus |
