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

To: NY Stew who wrote (8108)	11/13/1999 8:58:00 PM
From: gdichaz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

NY Stew: Perhaps there is little discussion on the "multi-level cell" because you haven't been here enough. Welcome. Great to see one of the most respected posters on several threads here. Eli's having a telescope sounds great to me, but I don't really understand (yet) the multi-level cell technology you are describing or the strength of the IPR's related to it. Could you spell it out a bit for those like me who are willing to learn please. Chaz

To: NY Stew who wrote (8108)	11/14/1999 1:46:00 AM
From: Binx Bolling	Respond to of 60323

NY Stew, you write, "My sense is that Eli has a telescope on his desk as well as microscope." But he has no polished crystal ball! I ask this thread, which is the greatest sin for the leader, the entrepreneur, the calculating engineer: To over-estimate demand or under-estimate demand for one's product? Dr. Eli is closer to knowing the need for his product than any of us, yet he owns such a small percentage of his/our company. Tis Tis And why doesn't he broadcast his conference calls on the internet?

To: NY Stew who wrote (8108)	11/14/1999 7:27:00 PM
From: Artslaw	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 60323

Why is there so little discussion on this thread concerning the multi-level cell and Sandisk's superior IP in this area? I think there has been plenty of talk with regard to Sandisk's superior IP in general. For multi-level cell technology specifically, Intel has been doing it for a couple years (StrataFlash), so I don't think Sandisk has any stranglehold there. Just to be contrary, let me say that the multi-level cell is no big deal (besides being technically "cool"). What people may not realize is that it takes a whole lot of additional circuitry (better sense amps for reads, better write-verification circuitry, etc.) to support multi-level cells. It also makes the reliability inherently more problematic (since you have less voltage range to call a "1"). All in all, it doesn't reduce the cost/bit by as much as you would hope and always runs the risk of reducing your working-product yield (which can then make the cost/bit increase!). It can also increase your write-time, requiring additional clever tricks (at the cost of silicon space) to hide the fact. Thus, what you thought was a doubling in capacity for the same silicon space turns out to be considerably less than 2X (I don't have any numbers--talk to Eli!). I'd say the double density is a good idea, but don't think it is that great for the bottom line--just keeping the forward progress. Steve