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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (6852)	7/21/1999 1:16:00 AM
From: Rarebird	Respond to of 9818

The Panic you speak of, and of which, is undoubtedly coming, results from IGNORANCE, the CONSCIOUS DECISION FROM MANY PEOPLE NOT TO KNOW . You are free to pray for those who have willed NOTHING! I learned from Plato a long time ago: KNOWLEDGE IS VIRTUE. Learning is My GOD and EDUCATION Is MY RELIGION. For those who choose not to learn, let them suffer the consequences.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (6852)	7/21/1999 1:27:00 AM
From: Jorj X Mckie	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9818

Ron, You have a nice balanced approach to the Y2K sitch. I think that my views are somewhat similar. I don't think that I qualify as a pollyanna because I am prepared for emergencies (earthquakes and riots can be a good influence afterall). However, I also believe that the Y2K fears are grossly overblown. This doesn't mean that I think that there will be no problems come January 1, 2000, just that our every day lives will not be significantly affected. So, why do I think this? I work in the tech industry and I visit a lot of organizations looking to buy equipment. I was amazed that many of the business and government organizations that I visited would state that they were looking at how they could re-allocate idle Y2K remediation budgets for new systems (specifically networks). The organizations where this was most prevalent was the big oil companies (both upstream and downstream operations) and federal government (military and civilian). The common theme was that they had completed their Y2K remediation ahead of schedule and wanted to take advantage of the money before it was lost from the budget. The oil industry has been singled out as an area that has some serious problems. My question would be; "if these problems still persist, why are they looking to re-allocate money for different uses?". Of course my sample set is small enough to not be statistically relevent, but it certainly got me to thinking that the situation might not be as dire as some say. Another thing that I looked at is that I was a product manager for a number of years in both small and large tech companies. Part of the release requirements for my products, as far back as 8 years ago was to be Y2K compliant. This included component suppliers as well. I am certain that I didn't pick the only three companies that had comprehensive Y2K programs as requirements for product release. Basically, my personal experience has indicated to me that the problem has been overstated. However, since I don't know 100% that I won't be significantly inconvenienced by Y2K problems, I have also prepared for hardship. Also, I believe that the uncertainty as well as Y2K lockdowns will cause real "situations" in the stock market that has caused me to take a very conservative position with my money. Again, I believe that it is the fear and lockdowns that will cause the market gyrations, not actual problems. I applaud your sane approach to the Y2K issue. JXM