NSCP - through a third party I was told that NPR this morning had a short story concerning a new internet access strategy. Apparently the main server is connected to the internet (ala Netscape or Explorer) and instead of the PCs running netscape through this server, the PCs access the internet through a RF radio wave interface (like the old WANs) to this server. It still sounds strange to me but I guess the intent was to eliminate the need for internet access through the individual PCs within an organization/company but through centralized servers. I haven't checked the stock today since I decided not to play. After posting I will see if I made a mistake or not.
IOM - I took this for 3 good rides up and 1 nasty ride down. I am worried about the market acceptance of the JAZ drive for numerous reasons. How are they going to counter the DVD-R or R/W optical storage devices along with RAID devices for PCs. These alternative storage capabilites are coming down in price and represent advanced technologies. The IOM ZIP and JAZ are old technology that has been repackaged a different and more efficient way but none the less, it is based on old technology. I beleive IOM is a stop gap flash in the pan prior to the next standardized storage solution. Also look at price of media. Zip disk is $ 9-15 Jaz disk is ~$100 and CD-R is $ 9-20.
With ther advent of DVD i can see read/writeable down the road real fast. Besiders, the HP CD-R systems have come down dramtically in price. Finally, even the IOM tape back up solution may be passe' given the advances in hard drive storage (I saw a 3.8 gig drive offered std in a PC).
NETC - I like these guys because they have over 600,000 subscribers and growing. They have a great access deal and are adding new features, some of which are at added cost. With the telecommunications guys and cable guys trying to get a giant foothold into the internet, NETCOM poses unique barriers to entry and certain opportunities. I do not want to go takeover crazy but it makes more sense to acquire 600,000 subscribers than to go head to head and try to switch these people over to your service. Besides, the NETC infrastructure is great. Where I live, I experience a very low threshold of pain relative to access or server issues. NETC was up 1/2 today.
The list of picks were a list of stocks that I like. I need a couple of hours to give you a 1 month choice and a year choice. However, if you are pressed for an answer now, AMAT would ahve to be my YEAR pick. For my reasons, please see General Lithography thread under JUICY RUMOR. The monthly one is tough. Most of these stocks took a significant move like PLAB (25.5 to 31.5) and UTEK (23.125 to 28) since New Year's.
However, both MTSN and ONTK have not yet participated in this minor rally. A report was published a few days back concerning the 12" wafer programs that will be undertaken in the next year or two and what the costs involved in doing this were going to be for equipment companies and end users. Based on this published semi-hype, I see a slight herd mentality in the equipment sector. To this end ONTK provides the backside cleaning station for CMP processing. CMP is going to be the industry buzz word for this year. It is a new technology for planarizing wafer surfaces. It is a necessary technology trhat will have to be implemented for advanced processes and for the 12" program.
For these reasons, ONTK could be a momentum play as the institutions looking for enabling equipment, come across this.
MTSN - if indeed there is a herd gathering out there read to stampede, an impending order from MOT for MTSN system could get this puppy moving. MTSN is pathetically low and undervalued. Tey also may have a minor play in GaAS.
If I change my mind later, I will repost.
regards.
PS - I will never use or recommend UTEK to anyone due to my large holdings in this company. So if UTEK is ever my best bet, you will wind up getting the #2 pick. In all good conscience, I cannot do otherwise. |
