<Remember I said this would be a benefit, updating all these old computers ...>
Cheeky,
Looks like some may have difficulty, in ensuing months, finding new computers to replace the old ...
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ASIA'S READINESS FOR YEAR 2000 IS A GLOBAL ISSUE
Wall Street Journal - Sept 24, 1999
The impact of possible Y2K complications in Asia on the global supply chain is now a concern, following this week's earthquake in Taiwan and consequent worldwide supply chain problems in the semiconductor industry. Asia, a major high-tech supplier to international companies, is one of the least prepared regions for the date change, according to recent reports.
Analysts say some parts of Asia, specifically China, have released very little information about Y2K preparations. International companies such as Dell Computer have been working to ensure that Asian suppliers are ready for Y2K. Dell has factories in China and Penang, Malaysia, and has established numerous contingency plans, according to Dell Y2K point man Dave Cunningham. Although some areas, including Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore, are considered prepared for Y2K, even these regions could be affected by the less-prepared areas.
[For educational purposes.]
SEPT. 24, 1999 (Electronic Buyers News - CMP via COMTEX) -- The massive earthquake that hit Taiwan last week sent tremors throughout the global electronics supply chain, raising fears that component prices will rise and many parts will go on allocation in an already tight market.
Taiwan, home to leading chip suppliers and foundries, dozens of chipset and motherboard makers, and many assemblers and passive-component companies, experienced widespread power losses throughout the island, and it could take another week to 10 days before volume production is back at many of these sites, according to companies and analysts ...
"It looks far worse than what companies are saying about the damage," said analyst Danny Lam, a principal at Fisher-Holstein Inc. "Worldwide allocation [of Taiwan-made products] is inevitable.'
The Taiwanese government estimates that chip makers could lose More than $63 million a day due to production shutdowns.
And it could take no less than two months before foundries reach their pre-earthquake production levels, said Jim Feldhan, president of Semico Research Corp., Phoenix ...
[It was really sad watching the spin doctors on the boob tube last night telling viewers that this dip in tech stocks presented an exceptional opportunity to get in at bargain prices.] Ron Starr
Message 11361035
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Electricity to Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park Fully Restored
Taipei, Sept. 25 (CNA) Electricity to Taiwan's semiconductor industry stronghold, the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park, was fully restored on Saturday, according to park administration officials. Most of the silicon wafer foundry plants had already resumed operating at full capacity, the officials added [...]
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NEXT DAY: ANOTHER 6.8 EARTHQUAKE
Massive Aftershock [Sept 26] Brings More Death and Destruction to Taiwan - By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ANTOU, Taiwan -- A further massive earthquake aftershock struck Taiwan early Sunday, bringing more death and destruction hours after a state of emergency was declared over more than 100,000 homeless refugees. The shockwave, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale ...
Taiwan's Seismology Centre said the tremor came from the same faultline as Tuesday's devastating quake -- one of the largest worldwide this century and the biggest ever on the tremor-plagued island.
They revised earlier warnings to say that large aftershocks could continue for up to two months. Tremors of more than 6.0 on the Richter scale could be expected until two weeks after Tuesday's strike.
By early Sunday, 7,270 aftershocks had struck Taiwan -- an average of one a minute since Tuesday's pre-dawn quake [...]
Message 11364027
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TURMOIL IN TAIWAN -- OEMs, chip makers scramble for answers
Much of the confusion stems from the complications that often follow natural disasters. Taiwan's infrastructure has been pounded, power outages are widespread, phone lines are jammed and service is limited, and government and business leaders are busy providing relief to victims. Many are predicting that it will take seven to 10 days to determine the extent of the damage and assess the long-term effects ...
Given the amount of silicon being shipped out of Taiwan, many in the industry are concerned about the impact the quake will have on fabless semiconductor suppliers. One area that is expected to be hit fairly hard is the graphic-chip industry, much of which relies on foundries in Taiwan, said Roger Kay, an analyst at IDC. Other semiconductor companies and foundries also will be affected
because of the amount of time it will take to recalibrate manufacturing lines and return to full utilization, Kay added.
Some chip makers, however, said there will be only a slight hiccup.
K.Y. Ho, president and chief executive of ATI Technologies Inc., Thornhill, Ontario, said he expects Taiwan's production to begin again in earnest in about two to three weeks. The company also maintains a two-to-three week buffer of inventory in case of such an emergency, but Ho acknowledged that, beyond that window, there may be potential problems.
"We supply all major PC manufacturers, and that means for the upside as well as the downside," he said. "We have a buffer inventory in case of any interruption, so for up to about two, three, or four weeks, there will be no major impact for ATI. But if it's any longer, everybody will face difficulties." [...]
Message 11361452
WHAT TAIWAN MEANS TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
1998 worldwide market share
- CD-ROMs: 34%
- Computer cases: 75%
- Desktop Pcs: 17%
- Graphics cards: 31%
- Keyboards: 65%
- Monitors: 58%
- Motherboards: 61%
- Mouse devices: 60%
- Notebooks: 40%
- Power supplies: 66%
- Scanners: 84%
Source: Information Interchange Inc.
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Toutfest alert!: Bank of America tout-fest -- "The granddaddy of all (toutfests)"! - John Graybill
Tech talk could keep sector buzzing
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Technology stocks could be buzzing next week as Banc of America Securities opens its 27th annual investment conference on Monday ...
The San Francisco meeting of technology, life-sciences, retail and other companies, formally known as the Montgomery Securities conference, is one of the biggest investment gatherings of the year. Two hundred and thirty companies are expected to attend, giving them the opportunity to talk to money managers about the quickly approaching earnings season ...
Semiconductor companies are also expected to generate some interest in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Taiwan, where many chip and chip-equipment makers have production plants [...]
cbs.marketwatch.com
Cheryl
95 Days until 2000 |
