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Technology Stocks : WDC/Sandisk Corporation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: limtex who wrote (6029)	6/16/1999 8:29:00 PM
From: Art Bechhoefer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

I could see using the Microdrive in a studio type digital camera, where weight (mainly from the larger batteries that will be needed) and overall size are relatively unimportant. Even a press camera, where dozens and dozens of shots at sporting events could be conveniently stored on one drive, rather than having a few extra flash memory units on hand, is a possible application. But most users, whether professional photojournalists, studio photographers, or casual amateurs, will prefer the advantages of the compact flash. IBM's latest investment in this Microdrive reminds me somewhat of what I believe will be Kodak's ill fated investment in the Advanced Photo System - essentially a new size conventional film format that cannot produce the detail of 35mm format, and at the same time draws capital and energy away from advances in digital photography. It is one last desperate attempt to succeed in doing things the same old way, rather than proceeding full steam into a new and better product. The bottom line is expected return on investment. I wonder how many years it will take for IBM to get an adequate return from the Microdrive. Probably a lot more years than it takes SNDK to profit from CF.