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

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/23/2000 12:43:26 AM
From: Starlight	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

From the trading floor -- Flash market erratic: embeddedtechnology.com{9812846E-90A6-11D4-8C63-009027DE0829}&Bucket=Guest+Columnists

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/23/2000 7:50:47 AM
From: Steve Lee	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Thanks for your explanantion and comparison of SNDK & SSTI along with NAND and NOR. It was very useful to me, being an investor in both companies. Does SSTI's concentration on low density NOR for code storage leave them open to the risk of being obsoleted by embedded RAM on the processor die itself? I was interested in your comment that SSTI makes flash for the i820 board. Is this the only Intel board they make flash for? Do non Intel boards using i820 chipsets use SSTI flash by default or are the board manufacturers free to mix and match? Does the fact that the i820 was meant to be Intel's mainstream Pentium 3 chipset, but is now not (due to the necessity to introduce the i815) leave SSTI open to the possibility of performing below some previous expectations? Any clues to the above would be appreciated. Thanks.

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/23/2000 9:28:28 AM
From: Ausdauer	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 60323

Doc Paul, At the risk of beating a dead horse... "There are two different primary types of flash memory that are in volume production now. NOR flash stores information in small chunks and is best suited for code applications." SanDisk's expertise is NOR flash. This was not mentioned in your post. Also, the cost advantage of SuperFlash may be challenged by advanced MLC technology. "Ausdauer makes some convincing, yet faulty arguments as to why SNDK is a better investment, let me quote some of them for you.." My arguments may be "faulty" and I am prepared to eat crow when the time comes. I still feel SanDisk is the better long-term investment for many reasons that I have already tried to define exhaustively. In any case, only time will tell who is at fault here. "And if pricing continues to increase, designers may go looking for alternatives such as EEPROM (mentioned in a recent article). Also, MRAM/FRAM will look to compete first with the low density code storage segment. I frequent other boards, and this argument is the one used most often by short hypsters... I recently found one link that actually supports my statements on EEPROM... Message 14426142 Also, for clarity, "short hypsters" have this annoying tendency to blanket message boards with unsubstantiated or poorly substantiated FUD. I have posted almost exclusively on the SNDK board in response to challenges posed by others. Also, I have freely admitted that I have no expertise or special insight as it relates to MRAM and FRAM, but it remains a fact that low density flash will be impacted first. Truly executable code is possible with these forms of non-volatile memory. "If we were to speculate about flash cards (and SNDK for that matter), we could also make the argument that this same internet/interconnectivity revolution will make flash cards obsolete. This is the whole concept of bluetooth and wireless communication.. why would we need a flash card, if the photo or the song could be zapped from over the air? I have yet to hear a compelling argument for Internet connectivity making flash memory obsolete. Any discussion first needs to begin with an assessment of feasibility. That has been totally lacking by those who have posted such arguments here previously. I personally feel Internet connectivity will significantly increase the demand for removable flash. I still don't understand how Bluetooth will factor into the demand for data storage given the limited range of this technique. It is my general impression that 3G connectivity and Bluetooth are frequently referred to by "short hypsters" who wish to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of SNDK investors. Aus

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/23/2000 9:34:58 AM
From: hueyone	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Thank you Docpaul, That was an excellent discussion and delineation of the very different markets that SNDK and SSTI target. I am happily and confidently invested in both Sandisk and SSTI, and I see no real conflict of interest in taking this position. With respect to their growth rates, both these flash companies have patents and widely adopted open proprietary architecture targeting hypergrowth markets that will likely assure continuing revenue and earnings hypergrowth for both companies well in to year 2001 and beyond. Best, Huey

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/23/2000 9:37:37 AM
From: kensusman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 60323

I also thank you for your explanation of the differences in flash memory types. I am a professional photographer who is still committed to film. For my purposes (almost exclusively flyfishing photography) transparencies are still a necessity. However, I just bought a Fujix 4700 digital camera from Adorama for my girlfriend's birthday. At the end of the phone conversation with the salesman, he asked "how many cards would you like?" I used to be asked the same question about film and batteries when ordering film camera equipment. For me, the digital revolution has resulted in a glut of non digital camera equipment for sale at very good prices! But I'm a SNDK investor and may put a little money in SSTI also. ks

To: docpaul who wrote (14945)	9/25/2000 3:09:04 PM
From: Steve 667	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 60323

docpaul, Thanks for your excellent posts re: SSTI. This one in particular is one of the best I have read on SI period! Your points are very well taken, and I appreciate your taking the time. Please don't be put off by some who may have acute tunnel vision. They mean well. Many others on this thread actually own more than one stock. (I can hear the slapping of foreheads and shouting of expletives as this is being read.) g I just want you to know that your effort is not lost on most of us here. Thanks. Do you have any thoughts as to an entry point for SSTI at this time? Steve 667