Jay,
The gist I picked up from the INTC press releases was that INTC acquired more fab capacity than needed for Alpha demand. This was followed by the Texas pushout. Perhaps, I made a connection where there was none, in fact.
INTC,IMO, maintains its competitive advantage by running faster than the competition - i.e. speed at which it will migrate to 0.25æm and then 0.18æm for Merced. AMAT, OTOH, tends to favour litigation to slow down the opposition.
Zeev,
Might it be possible that Korean competitors in Taiwan will take advantage of their plight and kick them while they're down, so to speak? Just as Reagan, through his rapid escalation in defense (or should that be offense?) spending, destroyed the Soviet regime economically, is this opportunity for the Taiwanese, Japanese, Americans just too good to pass up. Investment in .25æm and .18æm and 300mm now will win the competitive war with the Koreans. Letting up, and waiting for the Koreans to get back on a strong economic footing doesn't sound like the most probable winning strategy.
They'll do it because it's possible and it'll give them an advantage.
JMHO,
Season's greetings to all,
Ian. |
