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 : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Michael L. Voorhees who wrote (31979)	5/16/2000 5:50:00 PM
From: Charles Tutt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

My guess is that even when operating in Internet time, these big server decisions don't get made overnight, and the folks doing the deciding know all about benchmark leapfrogging. What's important is the deliverables that will be available when the facilities are ready, and I suspect Sun can be pretty convincing behind the shield of an NDA when they tell their roadmap of what will happen when. Of course, that's JMHO!

To: Michael L. Voorhees who wrote (31979)	5/17/2000 11:25:00 PM
From: THE WATSONYOUTH	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

Re: "It will take IBM major market cycles to even have any real recognition whatsoever after the apparent abandonment (might I add at an extremely inopportune time) of the RS6000 systems." I absolutely agree. It is truly amazing how IBM dropped the ball on the R6000 line. At the most critical time in the internet build out, IBM somehow managed to skip a technology upgrade on the R6000 line. So, until the S80s appeared last Sept, the R6000 line was competing not with the preceding silicon technology but with one two iterations removed from the current process. And the current process is all ready 24 months old. If IBM had been serious at the time, the entire R6000 line could have been updated with the current technology by probably Oct 98 - nearly a year before the first S80s appeared. Had this been done, Sun would in no way have taken such a high percentage of the Unix market. So, in addition to near flawless execution by Sun, they had a lot of help from IBM. They have Palmisano in charge of the server division now (the fellow responsible for the fiasco was canned). He is supposed to be sharp and on top of things. I guess we'll see. If IBM sticks to an aggressive update schedule (they risk a similar fiasco if they don't), they could do very well. Although, I believe the USIII systems should regain the performance lead, I don't think Sun will maintain it for long. The technology updates should come on time and with some aggressive pricing, IBM will have an attractive price/performance point. Regarding the MHZ testing of the waters, I think everyone does it. In my opinion, IBM should run the current technology flat out to the limit right NOW and not play any MHz games. That should allow them to keep pace with USIII (when it finally appears) until new Power4 systems appear some time next year. If the Power4 (big if) design delivers and IBM can get it out by say May 2001 at .18um and to .13um by Oct 2001, Sun might be in for a world of hurt. Interesting times ahead. THE WATSONYOUTH