The Barron's article may have been the culprit, but notice also that INTS showed serious weakness recently and particularly today, with significant volume - and INTS certainly was not mentioned in the Barron's article (see post #476). Also, the article didn't touch MSFT, also mentioned for example. In fact, because MSFT was mentioned, the any negative connotation from the article was diminished considerably.
The most recent issue of OEM Magazine just hit the streets with an article about the MSFT Elephant that might roll over onto the numerous, small RTOS vendors - along the lines that David Swart has been pushing over the last couple of months. The article claims embedded systems is a $6 billion business which will prove inviting to MSFT. Actually, the commercial software component of embedded systems, the part that might attract MSFT, is more like $500 million, still peanuts to MSFT.
On a positive note, Intel just announced the 2nd generation of the I2O chip, the i960 RD, which will cost $79 in quantity, vs. less than $50 for the i960 RP, and will be available immediately for sampling and for production in June 1997. The continued good news is that WIND's IxWorks is on this chip as well as the i960 RP. Moreover, the original I2O chip must be well received or else Intel wouldn't bother upgrading the chip so soon. This suggests that WIND should be starting to notice the ramp-up in I2O run-time license fees.
To prove I am not a trader, I will be out of the country and absolutely out of communication until just before WIND reports its earnings - strictly on autopilot. Hope none of my planes crashes.
Allen |
