Mike, if word processing was the only application used on a CPU you probably wouldn't really need a Y2K bios, but even then you could still have some problems. For example all of your files would be time stamped with dates like 1900. That would probably confuse users, and would also mess up such things as incremental backups. But do these computers HAVE to be replaced? No. Will they be replaced? My assumption is that almost all of them will be, at least the ones used in business.
The FDIC is requiring banks to prove that they are Y2K compliant. Furthermore, they are making the banks contact their customers to make sure that they are compliant. That combined with the increasing press about the Y2K problem should stimulate steady increases in demand for computers up to the end of 1999. Home users of older computers may well be oblivious until strange stuff happens on Jan. 1, 2000, at which point I expect a final flurry of buying. But after that, there won't be any old computers left to replace or upgrade. The rubber band will stretch and stretch, but then snap back with a vengeance. Computer sales will suck by mid 2000.
Thus I expect to be long computers, DRAM, CPU's etc for the next 9-12 months or so, and perhaps short thereafter.
Carl
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