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Technology Stocks : F5 Networks, Inc. (FFIV) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: dtong who wrote (677)	3/17/2000 11:22:00 PM
From: Rarebird	Respond to of 1801

Here is a nice analysis of the review from the Motley Fool Message Board on FFIV: "1) Note that the relative prices of the BIG/ip vs. Alteon 180e (and its cohorts) are actually quite competitive. As per the article: Its price is the highest in this review but includes two load-balancer appliances in a redundant configuration, while all other product prices here are for one box. F5 seems to have the advantage in terms of price, although it does not appear so as clearly in the ZDNET overview ratings. 2) It appears that the BIG/ip and the Alteon 180e should not be so precisely compared. One minor difference is in actuality not so minor. Again, per the article: With its advanced scripting, solid reporting, and flawless fail-over, the BIG/ip HA+ fits the bill for large e-commerce sites Vs. The [Alteon] 180e is a great choice for larger Web and e-commerce sites that are looking to have plenty of room for growth An apples to apples comparison is not appropriate here. Large ecommerce sites seem to have one clear choice, and that's the more reliable, double-barreled BIG/ip. Smaller ecommerce sites can scrimp and save, choosing the Alteon, but higher margins and return business would seem to give F5 the advantage again. Or, if one wants to scrimp and save, how about the following: For less demanding situations, F5 offers a range of single BIG/ips, starting at $9,990. Call me myopic, but I cannot see how this review is a victory for Alteon, although they get ZDNET's highest mark. If you read between the lines, that victor isn't Alteon. It's too bad, of course, that one has to read between the lines. I suspect, though, that the technicians who advise web sites -- especially ecommerce web sites -- won't have to do that, and I would hope that they'd know who was the clear leader. Time will tell, I guess, but I'm rather pleased with this review." boards.fool.com