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

To: Gus who wrote (8555)	8/16/2000 11:54:09 AM
From: Sam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Gus, <<With SEG on the cusp of grabbing the high-volume density lead at 20GB per platter (and the pricing power that entails), it looks like only the base plate manufacturers will be making money in this industry for a while. >> Why do you think that Seagate has the lead at 20GB? Maxtor just today announced volume shipments of 20GB drives for this month. HDD is scheduled to begin their shipments of both 5400 and 7200 20GB disks next month. Is Seagate shipping 20GB now? Even if so, their "lead" wasn't a big one. I have been out of town for several weeks now. In catching up with old reading, I ran into a rumor on the Seagate Yahoo thread that Silver Lake partners et al are planning to sell off the various parts of Seagate not long after they take control. The DD part, according to this unsubstantiated rumor, is slated to go to Fujitsu, perhaps after a cooling off period. If true, I am fairly confident that they will pay a bit more than $2 billion for it. Has anyone else heard of this? Sounds a little like the then completely unsubstantiated rumor of late last year that Veritas would buy Seagate. One reason it makes some sense is that the people buying the drive unit aren't drive guys. Do they really want to run a company in this cutthroat sector for any length of time? Or, being financial guys, do they just want a quick profit of, say, 50% or 60% or so in a few months? Wish I could go to the conference. Having been out of town so much this summer, though, I don't think I can swing it. Look forward to reports of burgeoning demand and firm prices<vbg>. Sam

To: Gus who wrote (8555)	8/17/2000 12:46:03 AM
From: Tom Simpson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

<<What the hey? Big Blue is now projecting that areal density will keep on increasing at the 100-120% annual level for the next two years before tapering off. >> Ahhhh Gus, beating the dead horse, no? :o) It is possible they forecast correctly....but, consider the source. Are these the same folks that couldn't keep EMC happy with enterprise drives? Are these the same folk that were going to flood the market with MR heads, were going to grow big business in component supply? Is this the same player that was going to finally give SEG a run for their money? Isn't it just a bit interesting that while IBM HAS been holding the high-volume density lead (with SEG trailing) IBM has been losing and SEG gaining? If SEG now threatens to lead, why is this good news? CW is convinced leading edge density wins.....facts are SEG has done relatively best the last year or so trailing in density. Why this should be I don't know, but its a mystery I wish I understood. Best Regards......Tom