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Technology Stocks : Apple Inc.

AAPL 278.85

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Nov 28 9:30 AM EST

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To: soup who wrote (6812)	12/13/1997 2:09:00 PM
From: Eric Yang	Read Replies (2) of 213173

Some thoughts on PPC 750 & Apple's product strategy.. The performance offered by G3, PowerPC 750 is without a doubt groundbreaking. The improvement in performance was achieved mainly through optimization for MacOS and added support for backside cache rather than simply increasing the clock-speed (MHz). The clock speed of the chip used in Apple's current crop of G3 Macs is in my opinion very conservative. G3 chips running at 275MHz and 300MHz were found in cloner prototypes back in late Aug. Yet, it is now Dec and Apple currently only uses 3 versions of G3s running modestly at 233,250,and 266 MHz. Why? When IBM and MOT moved the PowerPC to .25 micron process they managed to significantly reduce the size of both the new 604e(Mach 5) and 750(G3). Their die size are 47mm^2 and 67mm^2 respectively. Compare this with earlier version of PPC chips that are 2 to 4 times as large. 604e(not Mach5): 147mm^2 604: 197mm^2 603e: 81-98mm^2 601: 120mm^2 With their smaller die size the G3 and Mach 5 requires less power, produce less heat, and has shorter signal path. All these makes these two chips capable of much higher clock speeds. However I think Apple made a very smart decision to only use the G3 chips running up to 266MHz while the supply chips capable of 275MHz and 300+MHz is being stockpiled. Most sources of rumors seem to indicate that even next March's top of the line PowerExpress (G3 Extreme) line will only use G3s running up to 300MHz. The new line will use the TriMedia chips and other improvements to give it the performance edge. I think this new product strategy is a positive move for Apple. Too often in the past Apple has trouble meeting demand for high-end models. By releasing high-end models before they can be produced in high capacity, it heighten consumer expectations and hurt the sale of other models that can be produced in quantity. This has been repeated several times in Apple history: 1)Apple introduces an entire line from high-end to low-end concurrently.2)People order top of the line Macs and wait 4-6 weeks for the machine to ship. All this time the sales of mid-range and low end suffers. 3)Apple lowers price on mid-range & low end models to stimulate demand. 4)People buys mid-range models at a discount. Consumer demand is temporarily satisfied. 5)Production of high-end models finally catches up and starts shipping in volume. 6)2 weeks later, Apple discounts its high-end models and cuts its fat margin for the high end systems to stimulate demand and make way for new models. How silly... Apple's current strategy of offering the mid-range G3s in volume and months ahead of the high-end models is a much wiser move.Of course this is is only possible with the cloners out of the way. PS It makes me sad to see Henry Norr leave MacWEEK. Eric primenet.com

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