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Technology Stocks : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hpeace who wrote (8562)	11/4/1997 10:34:00 PM
From: Night Writer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

steve Found in my mail box. Maybe you are familar with HuiCong Group, but they are news to me. Bet Wall Street doesn't know about them either. Night Writer Advanced Forecasting-HuiCong Sees Sales of PCs in China to Surpass Three Million Date: 97-11-04 08:37:13 EST CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1997--"Do not lump China with other countries in the region, with regards to high technology expectations." This is the main message from Advanced Forecasting-HuiCong, following the recent economic faltering in Asia. China is a key manufacturing center for many Silicon Valley companies. The midyear report on Desktop PCs, published Advanced Forecasting-HuiCong, predicts sales of PCs in Mainland China will surpass three million units throughout 1997. "This is only the beginning of exponential growth in the local consumption of PCs in China." According to the company's analysts in Beijing: "China's share of the worldwide market will grow from 2.8% in 1996 to 3.9% in 1997. This share will increase at a faster pace in the next three years." The analysts name cheap labor costs in China as one of several reasons for the current and future exploding growth in local demand for PCs. They also explain why China will be able to maintain a labor advantage while other countries in the region falter. The report analyzes and forecasts the sales figures of desktop, notebook and server PCs, the microprocessors used and street prices and advertising budgets of the top vendors. One of the highlights is a ranking of the top PC vendors in China. IBM and Compaq no longer occupy first place as they did in 1994 and 1995. Legend has captured more than 10% of the local market. The Company and Services Advanced-Forecasting-HuiCong (AFHC), a joint venture of Advanced Forecasting, Inc. and the The HuiCong Group, is aimed at providing the most accurate and comprehensive information and analysis services of China's electronics markets and industries. The joint venture is an answer to growing demand for enhancement of clients' strategic decision-making and market development in the largest of Asian nations, for which accurate information has been scarce. AFHC will assist clients in building and maintaining their competitive advantage through ongoing awareness of products, price, distribution, promotion, competition and customer needs in the unique Chinese market. AFHC combines the quantitative forecasting techniques of Advanced Forecasting (Cupertino, California), with statistically representative data-collection and analysis capabilities of Beijing-based HuiCong, which is the leading source of information for high tech and automotive market research in China. The joint venture offers an unparalleled database on sales of various high tech and other products in China, a product quotation system, and a program that monitors and surveys end-user perception of major brands and products by interviews and feedback via toll free hotlines. The HuiCong Group, established in 1992, currently owns more than 40 subsidiaries with more than 1,800 employees throughout China. They conduct 500,000 plus end-user surveys annually, of users who attend seminars and computer shows, organized by HC in 20 cities. Nearly 50,000 callers contact HC yearly for reseller contact, brand and pricing information. The aforementioned services are exclusive to HuiCong. The Company also specializes in consulting services in long term investment opportunities in China: -- identifying growth markets -- evaluating competition -- penetrating the Chinese market, including identification and introduction to local distributors -- selection of the most effective and popular trade journals and newspapers -- analysis to optimize advertising return on budget, copy and script -- first-hand knowledge of governmental policy, including tax and labor issues -- creating local partnerships and global alliances -- banking, service and insurance industry assistance -- expertise on manufacturing in China In terms of market research services, AFHC offers monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reports on desktop and notebook PCs, servers, printers, monitors, scanners, UPS power supplies, network cards, line concentrators, routers, software, copy machines, modem cards, fax machines and internet/intranet development, as well as customized high tech research. Contact Advanced Forecasting for sample reports and pricing. AFI Advanced Forecasting, Inc., an 11 year old Silicon Valley semiconductor forecasting firm, provides more than 150 semiconductor, semiconductor equipment and materials manufacturers, components vendors and investors with quantitative forecasts and exclusive Advanced IC Bookings Turning Point Alerts, so that executives are forewarned of downturns and can facilitate fast and appropriate action. Detailed information is available at Advanced Forecasting's web site: adv-forecast.com, or call AFI at 408/725-2964. Since 1987, AFI has provided accurate and quantitative forecasting and data analysis services for the semiconductor and related industries. Results of AFI's forecasting models have proved to be the most accurate monthly forecasts in the industry. AFI does not change its forecasts retroactively. --30--JSJ/sf* cmf/sf CONTACT: Advanced Forecasting Moshe Handelsman, 408/725-2964

To: hpeace who wrote (8562)	11/5/1997 8:03:00 PM
From: Douglas Perkins	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 97611

steve, Here is what I was refering to: AMD hints at partnership with Digital By Brooke Crothers and Michael Kanellos October 14, 1997, 10:00 p.m. PT update Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) unveiled new K6 chips today and also hinted that it will cooperate with Digital Equipment (DEC) in technologies used in AMD's future K7 chip. AMD revealed plans for enhanced versions of its currently-shipping K6, dubbed the AMD-K6-3D and the AMD-K6+3D. The chips improve the 3D graphics capability of the K6, how the processor talks to the rest of the computer system, and the high-speed cache memory. Separately, CEO Jerry Sanders showed in a slide presented as part of his keynote speech at the Microprocessor Forum conference that the K7 processor will use a cartridge design similar to Intel's Pentium II processor and run at clock speeds in excess of 500 MHz. But probably of even more significance, AMD will tap into Digital Equipment's Alpha processor architecture to enhance the K7's design. Specifically, AMD will use Alpha's "EV6 bus protocol" in its K7 processor, AMD said. Alpha is Digital's high-speed, 64-bit chip. Greg Favor, a senior fellow at AMD, said that conceivably this might mean that the K7 and Alpha processors would achieve a certain level of compatibility, essentially allowing both chips to be used interchangeably on computer circuit boards, referred to as "motherboards." Analysts agree. "They [the K7 and Alpha processors] could use the same chip set," said Michael Slater, editorial director of the Microprocessor Report, referring to the accompanying chips that allow the processor to talk with other components in the computer. This would mean that the Digital Alpha chip and the AMD K7 processor, and possibly AMD's next-generation K8, could together present more of a challenge to Intel's domination of the market. Digital and AMD have enjoyed a good relationship. Digital was one of the first PC makers to adopt AMD's K6, and Digital has manufactured chips for AMD. "Hey, there's no doubt that the two companies have a good relationship," said AMD's Favor. Digital has sued Intel over alleged infringement of processor patent technology, while AMD and Intel are ferocious competitors in the processor market. Meanwhile, the K6-3D chip is due in the first half of 1998 and the K6+3D is slated for shipment in the second half of 1998. The K6's new 3D technology adds 24 new instructions for 3D graphics and other techniques for enhancing the K6's ability to handle graphics. AMD will also add a "Level 2" cache to the chips. Typically, the level-2 cache is separate from the processor. By integrating this very-high-speed memory with the processor, performance can be boosted dramatically. The chip will have a whopping 21.3 million transistors. Currently, Intel integrates a Level 2 cache into its Pentium Pro, in a separate "cavity" next to the main processor, and as a separate chip inside the Pentium II processor cartridge. AMD will also enhance the K6 by increasing the speed at which it talks to the rest of the computer, via the "system bus." At the moment, this bus operates at 66 MHz; the improved K6 bus will process at 100 MHz. The system bus is the conduit for data which flows from the processor to the rest of the computer. AMD is referring to this technology as Super7. Further, the raw "clock" speed of the K6 is expected to go up to 350 MHz and beyond. AMD is currently sampling a 266-MHz version of the K6 processor. In other developments, AMD is also expected to begin commercial shipments later this year of its first true mobile version of the K6, according to industry sources familiar with the development. The chip will be based on 0.25 micron technology, the most advanced production process now being used for Intel-based processors. This shrinks the size of the chip, allowing it to run faster using less power. Intel is making its mobile Pentium processors on a similar process. AMD will price its mobile chips about 25 percent below Intel prices, according to a source familiar with the chip's rollout. "Customers will be on board for the launch commensurate with the release," said the source. AMD is currently shipping samples of the chip to customers. However, AMD will have to demonstrate that it can produce chips in large numbers, that it will not be hampered by low manufacturing yields. Low yields caused K6 production to fall below expectations, resulting in an overall quarterly loss of $31.7 million, or 22 cents a share. "It's a great chip, but if you can't produce them, what's the use of all these announcements. The yield problem continues to haunt them," said Carl Johnson, president of Infrastructure, a consulting firm, in an earlier interview. On the other hand, "Intel is going to be able to produce all they can sell."