Carl, sorry to sound paranoid, but you were such a devoted correspondent on the Rambus story at the height of the conspiracy that it was a natual conclusion. For many, many months, you WERE the discussion posting dozens of times daily, delivering every scrap of "news" that was negative to Rambus. And much of this was while TeamDDR was conducting its paid "marketing" campaign.
For example, the DRAM's "industry consultant" was writing Rambus-bashing articles for Tom's Hardware:
www17.tomshardware.com [tomshardware.com]
DRAM Performance: Latency vs. Bandwidth Created:
July 10, 1998 By: Bert McComas
www17.tomshardware.com [tomshardware.com]
Performance Impact of Low Latency DRAM Created:
July 29, 1998 By: Bert McComas
www17.tomshardware.com [tomshardware.com]
Performance Impact of Rambus Created:
August 14, 1998 By: Bert McComas
www17.tomshardware.com [tomshardware.com]
Rambus on Alternate Platforms Created:
September 23, 1998 By: Bert McComas
...and touring the world demonstrating the Micron "Samurai" DDR chipset; a chipset that would never be built, and which was intended only to divert mindshare from Intel and RDRAM:
www17.tomshardware.com [tomshardware.com]
ebnonline.com 0054
[ebnonline.com]
techweb.com [techweb.com]
While at the same time he was colluding with the industry to limit RDRAM production, coordinate their lies, and provide some cover from antitrust prosecution [From the FTC-Rambus case docket at ftc.gov [ftc.gov]]:
1567. In April 1998, Bert McComas, an industry consultant, gave an "exclusive" seminar for DRAM manufacturers about Intel's selection of RDRAM (Rambus memory). (RX 1138 at 1; Tabrizi, Tr. 9061-62). Mr. McComas pre-cleared his seminar invitation and list of topics with Mr. Tabrizi. (Tabrizi, Tr. 9064).
1568. Mr. McComas's invitation asked its recipients not to forward the invitation to Rambus or Intel. (RX 1138 at 1). A few days later, Desi Rhoden (now Chairman of the Board of JEDEC) sent an email to Mr. Tabrizi about the attendance restrictions. (RX 1149; Tabrizi, Tr. 9064-65). Mr. Rhoden's e-mail stated that he knew McComas and that his "main focus appears to make sure that Rambus and Intel do not attend and therefore has been very restrictive on who can attend. If he says everyone except Rambus and Intel, then it is restraint of trade; while if he says only suppliers, then most of who he wants can attend without there being a charge of restraint of trade." (RX 1149 at 1).
1569. During his April 1998 seminar presentation to the DRAM manufacturers, Mr. McComas stated that a manufacturer that chose to build RDRAMs was making a "guaranteed bad bet for margin enhancement" (RX 1482 at 12), and he stated that RDRAM "deepens [the manufacturer's] financial dilemma." (RX 1482 at 26). As a "possible strateg[y]," Mr. McComas suggested that DRAM manufacturers "tape out but do not fully productize or cost reduce" the RDRAM device, in the hopes of "resist[ing] popular deployment" of RDRAM. (RX 1482 at 34-35).
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1571. Mr. McComas spoke at the June 25, 1998 SLDRAM Executive Summit about the problems faced by DRAM manufacturers. One of the "tactical" problems he identified was how to "Manage Price Competition, Profitability." (RX 1188 at 1). He also talked about how manufacturers could "Respond to the Strategic Threat of Intel/Rambus," and he asked the question, "Who will control the DRAM industry?" (RX 1188 at 1). McComas warned that "Intel/Rambus are using your money to take control of the DRAM industry" and that Intel would "[o]rchestrate early oversupply situation," and he emphasized that "[f]ragmented competition undermines all DRAM manufacturers." (RX 1188 at 26).
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1574. After the meeting, Mr. McComas sought Mr. Tabrizi's advice on how to implement the project of collecting RDRAM production information. (Tabrizi, Tr. 9076). In an August 1998 email to Mr. Tabrizi, Mr. McComas sent a draft message to DRAM manufacturers which stated that "[d]uring the critical production ramp-up phase of Direct Rambus, DRAM vendors will need a constant flow of information to help make wise decisions and to walk the fine line between a pleasant shortage and a disastrous oversupply." (RX 1232 at 1).
See, Carl, what's been interesting about the FTC disclosures and now the emerging DoJ investigation is how small a circle "TeamDDR" really was. I always figured you were either Bert McComas, Sherry Garber, or perhaps Paul Demone or Dean Kent who was tormented for so long by "John Corse" aka "TechFuture2000," but you would not be bold or stupid enough to still be posting here if you worked for any of the companies involved. I take as a given, from the depth of expertise you've displayed that you are an EE or EE consultant for the industry. You've claimed to have helped design PC components, and may even work for Intel, or do consulting or design work for Intel. Or maybe you are just very well connected. If I was wide of the mark, please accept my apology.
As I noted, the "TeamDDR" conspiracy was a fairly small circle. Lately it seems to have gotten even smaller-- check out the TeamDDR website lately?
teamddr.com |
