Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Etec Systems moving up -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ian@SI who wrote (1242)	6/9/1999 10:09:00 PM
From: Demosthenes	Respond to of 1279

Ian, <<Hopefully someone who understands the Mask business better than I will cut in, and give us both the answer.>> Maybe Katherine will stop by and add some clarity to these issues you raise, if she can. D

To: Ian@SI who wrote (1242)	6/9/1999 10:13:00 PM
From: Carl R.	Respond to of 1279

You've probably hit on part of the reason. I'd guess that either Harris ran all the mask's they would need for awhile, or included some future production in the price. As for chip designs constantly changing, I think you'd be surprised. The parts we all think about do change regularly, but there are a huge amount of parts whose designs do not change. I recall listening to a PLAB conference call a few months ago and I think that well over half the masks were at above .35µ. There are a huge number of trailing edge parts out there if you think about it. Carl