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

To: Jason Rooks who wrote (13357)	7/27/2000 1:09:48 PM
From: Jason W	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 60323

imbedded flash Questions If SNDK enters the embedded flash biz: is it smart to do so, since they can't meet demand in the businesses they are ALREADY in? Are they biting off more than they can chew? Also, does entering the embedded flash market mean they are competing in low density flash, directly like SSTI, or would they aim to create a new niche, or compete in the higher capacity embedded market? Also, probably a silly question, but...does SNDK collect any royalties from SSTI? and does it make sense to enter the embedded market where SNDK's standards are not "the standard"? Just wondering aloud, Jason W PS- anyone have a link to where it says SNDK is entering the embedded market?

To: Jason Rooks who wrote (13357)	7/27/2000 1:15:10 PM
From: Ausdauer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Jason, Thanks for sharing your understanding of SanDisk's positioning in the embedded market for mass flash storage. The SanDisk product line has always included embedded products, but they have been overshadowed by the flash card business. When Eli did the original Toshiba/SanDisk JV conference call he mentioned that their first "TSOP" product would result from the combination of technology. The expertise SanDisk has gained in the controller area as a result of advances in CompactFlash and MMC/SDMC functionality is directly applicable to a large capacity embedded storage product line. The joint venture with Toshiba, Toshiba's presence at Tower and the recently announced adoption of MicroFlash technology from Tower (to be used in microcontrollers) all indicate that SanDisk is prepared or is preparing to enter the embedded mass storage market when the opportunity arises. MicroFlash and SuperFlash appear to be directly competing technologies in the microcontroller arena. Right now the flash card business is starting to lift off and it would seem SanDisk has its hands full. Until the mass markets for embedded flash become better defined I suspect they will continue to focus on the digital camera, MP3 and cell phone markets which are presently consuming their production output. SanDisk has all the pieces of the puzzle sorted out: microcontrollers, security features, leading edge ultra-high density flash storage manufacture, a planned state-of-the-art fab, established OEM relationships, and package assembly and distribution. Thus, they are in a position to be the low cost producer of flash cards and embedded flash storage products. FlashVision will likely be a supplier to companies like FLSH and SSTI who will pursue competing products, yet have no in-house capabilty for producing the ultra-high density flash component. SanDisk also stands to benefit on any newly discovered products that utilize their extensive IP. Disk drive emulation, whether in the form of a removable card or an embedded flash application, is central to the acceptance of these products. Aus

To: Jason Rooks who wrote (13357)	7/27/2000 1:58:32 PM
From: Starlight	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 60323

I just listened to the interview with the CEO of SSTI on CNBC. Bill Griffith's intro remark that SSTI makes flash memory found in cell phones, digital cameras, etc. did not mention anything about how this FM differs from the removable flash memory used in these same devices. Anyone not familiar with the different types of FM would assume that SSTI makes the same type of FM that SNDK makes. CNBC stated that SSTI's biggest competitors were Atmel and Intel, however the CEO of SSTI said that 70% of their sales were to Asian companies, and they are going into higher density devices, so that competition is narrowing. He also said they are seeing NO slow-down in demand for FM. Here again -- no mention was made of the differences between removable and embedded flash memory. Betty