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Technology Stocks : Disk Drive Sector Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stitch who wrote (8249)	4/14/2000 11:07:00 PM
From: Z Analyzer	Respond to of 9256

<<So my guess is that Seagate has figured out how to extend the FSA technology.>> The fact that they have figured out how to use FSA on a 15,000 rpm drive also does not speak well for the imminent need for TSA. Kind of surprising that HTCH stock is holding up so well. Since none of us can find any positives, are we missing something? -Z

To: Stitch who wrote (8249)	4/14/2000 11:49:00 PM
From: Yogi - Paul	Respond to of 9256

Stitch, Thanks for the opinions-- highly valued, as always. MXTR and HDD seem to be excellent opportunities. As someone has recently reminded me, the financials for HDD look particularly strong. I'll be moving in substantially for the long term on both-- just waiting for conference calls and forward guidance throughout the tech sector before I make any big moves. <<and would love to hear your thoughts in other arenas.>> Flattering but I haven't jumped on any opportunities since oil hit $8+/ barrel a while back other than when Wal-Mart spent some time in the low $40s. Overall, I don't need to take on the same level of risk that I used to-- lucky but it can get boring. Mark had an interesting idea in Portal Software. Nice relationship with Cisco, worth a look. I don't own it. Appreciate your thoughtfullness, as always, Paul

To: Stitch who wrote (8249)	4/15/2000 12:29:00 AM
From: Tom Simpson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Stitch, Interesting info on HTCH, and not encouraging. You must be referring to the KRP operation, refinanced via Prudential as I recall. I would guess Seagate must have had a hand in making that happen. <<I also ask myself how long can SEG use the FSA until they are forced to go to a TSA type of suspension.>> That is the interesting question. I wish I knew enough technically to know if it matters. My conjecture is that the TSA relative advantage is a function of areal density, i.e. more necessary on a 10GB platter than a 5GB platter. Hype aside, Seagate's product has been consistently lagging competitors in areal density, which hasn't stopped them from being profitable. If Seagate can extend FSA further along in their measured density roadmap its pretty bad news medium term for HTCH; my guess would be it yields 50-100 million in excess HTCH TSA capacity. Nasty thought since they can't count on much unit growth elsewhere to eat that up. I was also interested in the HDD news. I knew someone else had slipped in a wireless product but didn't know if it was Magnecomp or someone else. Best Regards.....Tom

To: Stitch who wrote (8249)	4/15/2000 11:01:00 PM
From: Yogi - Paul	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Stitch, anyone, Matsushita-Kotobuki has production facilities for hdds in Singapore, Ireland, and Japan. Is that currently correct and would you happen to have any idea of the percentage of units produced for Quantum at each facility (or point me to a source where this might be gleaned)? I never spent any time investigating Matsushita-- good relationship with HDD? Good management? Any issues you might be aware of-- positive or negative? Who supplies DSSG's tape heads? Maxtor appears to have all of it's production in Singapore. True? Apologies for all the questions. Currently reading "Tales of The Borders and of Scotland"-- 1896 in 10 vo.-- wonderful Paul