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Non-Tech : Any info about Iomega (IOM)? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Roger Nelson who wrote (34812)	11/7/1997 2:41:00 PM
From: Linda Pearson	Respond to of 58324

Roger...foreign exchanges again.. quote.yahoo.com < I could have been dumb and happy> Not a chance for that!!! Linda

To: Roger Nelson who wrote (34812)	11/7/1997 4:11:00 PM
From: Neil Kalton	Respond to of 58324

RE: n.hand Much of the recent debate and speculation concerning the potential for n.hand has surrounded the device and digital cameras. For a variety of reasons I am not convinced that n.hand can ever establish more than a decent niche within this market. However, I do think that the thread has overlooked the exciting potential for n.hand in another emerging market: PDA's. IMO while n.hand was designed as a storage option for all handheld electronic devices, it was primarily targeted for the PDA market. The PDA market has suffered through years of stagnant growth. However, recent technological developments have created the potential for explosive growth in this industry. Dataquest projects that 2 million PDA's will be sold in 1997 increasing to 5 million by the year 2000. The new growth is spurred by recent technological developments by MSFT and SUNW (Javachip). techweb.com techweb.com Because of these new OS's PDA's are rapidly improving their functionality allowing the user to deploy a much wider variety of uses with the PDA. More uses = more stuff . As with the digital cameras the same flash memory makers are targeting the PDA market. However, n.hand is much more competitive in the PDA arena (especially if there is a Zip caddy). One of the biggest knocks for n.hand in association with digital cameras is that the drive could not withstand the typically rugged handling of cameras by their users. PDA's are not subjected to such rigorous treatment (I would assume). Also, I would imagine that a typical PDA purchaser is quite into technology and gadgetry making them much more likely to own a higher powered PC complete with a Zip drive. Having a device on their PDA compatible with their PC would be desirable. Currently, data is most commonly transferred from a PDA to a PC via infrared or via the flash cards (requring the PC user to purchase an add-on). If the PC owner already owns a Zip drive nothing else is needed except a caddy. Also, n.hand extremely undercuts the flash card competitors in price as this thread has continually noted. techweb.com I think n.hand drives could become the de facto storage device for the PDA market. While this market is still small (it should be noted, however, that projected PDA sales for 1997 = projected digital camera sales for 1997) it is growing rapidly and could be in the tens of millions in annual units sold in 10 years time. For me, any n.hand drives in cameras, cellular phones, gaming devices, and GPS's will be icing on the cake. I'm not anticipating n.hand to add much to the bottom line for at least 2-3 years. I don't mind this because the Zip should be experiencing exponential growth during this time creating significant shareholder value all by itself. What I'm hoping for is that by the time Zip sales are maturing (more in line with overall PC growth) n.hand will be experiencing the kind of growth in units sold that the Zip is currently experiencing. -nk