>>Any thoughts on the IBM dropping Rambus story as an obstacle? More FUD or is IBM out to make life a bit difficult for Intel?<<
headline---"ibm to drop rambus from future pc plans"
i would like to look at this story in some detail.
first, as with any news you should consider the source. particularly important when the writer editorializes the article. (do i do that?)here is an excellent take on the source...
Message 9465891
Fourth is the priesthood. This group will save us for a fee. The In-Stat group is the prototype. They are the organizers of a series of forums / conferences promoting Rambus alternatives. In-Stat employees Bert McComas and Steve Cullen are frequently quoted in Electronic News with anti-Rambus opinion. Cahners owns both In-Stat and Electronic News. If you didn't understand the editorial position taken by Jonathan Cassell in “Tilting at Windmills” in the May 3 issue, you should now.
next, examine the headline(see above-"ibm to drop..."). reporters learn to write smashing headlines to capture your eyeballs. the first question i have from the headline is what are ibm's future pc plans? frankly, ibm has been a miserable failure in the pc business.
in their recent annual report, ibm admitted losing over $1 billion dollars last year "AGAIN" in the pc business. when questioned about that little detail, the ceo blew off the reporter and talked about how wonderful the e-commerce business was doing.
let's be honest ibm flunked pc 101. how did they manage that?
the first big move a coupla years ago was to develop and sell off a failing pc printer business which was originally supposed to bury hwp.
next, they developed and dumped an o/s which was supposed to bury windows.
how about ibm's smartsuite for pc's? intended to bury msft's office. how many of you use smartsuite and how many office?
ibm's most recent entry into the high end consumer pc market is the se-7. it has been out for months. anyone ever heard of it? just another ibm pc marketing flop.
ibm has tried to enter the low end market too. recently, radio shack threw ibm low end pc's off the shelf. radio shack?...hmmmm now that is an odd name for a computer store. how many of us bought computers at radio shack? i am saying those ibm pc marketing guys are desperate. the only store within 10 miles of my house to buy an ibm pc now is costco and, i live in s. florida, a pretty good shopping area. ya right! like i go to costco to buy my pc (along with my paper towels, tp, and dog food) i think ibm was hoping costco would sell them 3 to a package." maybe ibm should try them as part of a mcdonald's happy meal package next.
just 2 weeks ago the ibm ceo said in a public announcement that they are getting out of the memory business. now this sounds like a company that really knows memory? i wondered then if he really meant ibm is getting out of the pc business. ibm may be afraid to get out of pc's. at least they can use them to keep their name out there.
as big as ibm is, they are a small, failing, with ever shrinking market share, player in the pc business.
dell, cpq and gtwy own well over 60% of the market. read the pc magazine ads to see who owns the rest.
the real story here is more likely to be that ibm decides to cut their losses and finally drop the failed pc business to concentrate on internet services, e-commerce routing, main frames, consulting and some storage. that is where they make their money.
just to restate the obvious...ibm's latest move into the high-end pc market with the se-7 failed. they are now stuck with trying to sell low end pc's in discount stores. it would be nice to have ibm if they can sell product. so far they cannot. if they continue to strike out in the pc market, others will continue to take it.
ibm is not a threat to rambus in any way. jmho.
unclewest
gone fishing, offshore.
not ignoring my e-mail, will answer all later. |
