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

To: Tim Bagwell who wrote (9154)	11/19/1997 3:59:00 AM
From: Kai-Uwe	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 97611

Tim: I am not saying that the WebTV/PCTV thing is a great innovative technological progress. On the contrary - it's limiting in scope (except the throughput improvement reached through harnessing cable communication for internet traffic), it's low-tech (PC graphics on TV resolution - whoopee!), and I fully agree that it will have to be mega-simple to succeed. Otherwise the masses won't buy it! However, what I cannot disagree with you more on is the hype issue. People will run to the stores once they are convinced that they can 'do internet' on their TV. They'll combine buying a new TV with the capability to get a free (but limited PC) with that purchase. Sounds good to the technologically illiterate, don't you agree. Of the 65% of the households currently without a PC, what do you think their readiness would be to combine the need for a PC TV if it is marketed right (right price & right feature-selling mainly)? Regarding your point with the programmable VCR: what if the Web is intuitive? You needn't boot, do nothing, just click on it like TV text. Dead simple. Their kids'll love it - and they'll learn as well! Regarding the simplified Java-based OS: this will be the way to harness more simply the net for simplified PC operations. It's like WinCE. Real simple. While I agree with you that this is not the next Apple IIe as best-selling PC, I think that there exists a certain mass-appeal for such goods. Coming back to the WinCE handheld PC: same thing - there is a certain customer segment that needs this, and will buy mroe than willingly (doctors & lawyers mainly for the CE, for example). I'm not kidding about the difference between CPQ & HWP, though, because you need to be a market-leader rather than a follower. That is why HWP's step into the Merced architecture is so shocking to me - it defies their catch-up business model in my eyes! No offense intended, but the sub zero presence of HWP, as well as their strategy to conquer WW PC market share is to me nothing but acatch-up game that will nto succeed to the extent that they wish it to. HWP is an engineering company in my eyes - they should use that as their core competency (and have done so with the Merced & INTEL). Just my opinion! K.