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.

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

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 5:02:00 PM
From: Gary Wisdom	Respond to of 58324

Edward, some advice on your letter: Re-read it. Take out all of the emotional stuff and the personal attacks on Savitz and Barron's. It makes you look unprofessional. Take out anything attributable to KE. Let him speak for himself. Also, you might want to invest in a spell checker. Edward, I encourage you to write them. But, don't stoop to their level.

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 5:36:00 PM
From: FuzzFace	Respond to of 58324

Edward. Some feedback on your letter to Barrons. <Sony's drive appears to be a repeat of their BataMax system.> Betamax is spelled with an 'e'. Sony's inability to make its superior technology the standard because of their poor marketing (especially their high pricing) is a bright ray of hope. Their refusal to lower the price of Hi-8/8mm, thereby preventing its widespread consumer acceptance, is even more recent than the Beta fiasco. By now either 8mm or Hi-8 should have crushed VHS. It would have if it belonged to anyone but Sony. E.g. if it was Fujitsu's, we'd have $100 Hi-8 machines with $1 tapes by now<g>. Hi-8/8mm proved that Sony didn't learn much from their Beta mistake. <HiFD has a slower transfer rate the Zip, Savitz lied.> Always assume the other fellow just got his facts mixed up. Saying someone lied when you aren't in a position to know whether he did or not, will reflect poorly on you. <In conclusion, I reiterate that the Savitz article published in Barron's was woefully incomplete, deliberately deceptive and criminally biased. Unfortunately, it is all too typical of the heapings of waste matter that you regularly spew upon your readers.> Remember, abusive language makes it all too easy to dismiss you. It helps to remember the Cameronism "Never blame on conspiracy that which can be adequately explained by stupidity" (or words to that effect) because there's far more of the latter than the former. Finally, a "full disclosure" statement about your long IOM position is proper in this kind of letter. They will assume it anyway, so it will tend to enhance your credibility. Have dad proofread it for spelling, punctuation and grammar. All in all, good job.

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 6:00:00 PM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 58324

Fine letter, young man! Send it. You've encouraged me to post a copy of my own unprofessional outburst sent earlier today... SUBJECT: Eric Savitz, "Plugged In," Dec. 1, 1997 Please take Mr. Eric Savitz out behind the copying machine and beat the crap out of him for calling himself a reporter and soiling the reputation of your newspaper. In asserting that the Sony/Fuji proposed HiFD storage device "looks like an Iomega killer," he touts a product that doesn't even exist! I wonder if he saw a working model demo...anything as advanced, say, as Iomega's Clik product that so annoyed him. While Savitz did try to cover himself slightly by sprinkling words like "potential," "eventually" and "if all goes according to plan," in his piece, he clearly sees HiFD as the new standard in removable storage. The market will decide, if and when HiFD makes it to market. Mr. Savitz is, of course, entitled to any degree of bias that his editors may allow. However, in this case, I believe he has gone beyond bias in a willful and malicious attempt to drive down the price of Iomega stock. You may want your attorneys to review your liability for injury to Iomega stockholders as a result of the Savitz article. They may want to begin by noting that HiFD is described not as a "Zip killer," but as an "Iomega killer." <eom>

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 6:15:00 PM
From: sheila rothstein	Respond to of 58324

Eddie, Excellent letter,just needs a bit of massaging; first drafts always do. I see a budding Attorney in you, perhaps a Patent Attorney. That's a great field, it combines technical and legal knowledge. Monday will present a buying opportunity to those of us who want to get in at a lower price. I'll see if I can dig up some $$. Should I buy stock or options, anyone? I'd like to know what a good option would be. SR

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 6:48:00 PM
From: Tom Gebing	Respond to of 58324

Edward, I agree with Gary. Tone down you attack and stay with facts only. The facts are simple, HiFD is just an announcement, not a reality. The LS120 was reality and where is it now. Its fine for them to write an article, but how can a it be a IOMEGA killer when its not out yet? The article should of been labeled a "potential threat to IOM". Its funny, I don't think they understand that the 1.44 drive is dead and that majority of all software being sold now at stores comes on a CD. Within two years there will be no need for it, much less a backward compatible type. It obvious, the so called writers are a little short in marketing and doing responsible research. But, we need to learn to live with idiots out there and editors who don't ask their writers questions. So send your letter and get ready to buy some more on the dip. I will be . Regards, Tom

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 7:31:00 PM
From: spinynorman1323	Respond to of 58324

Edward (re: Barron's letter), Good to see folks attempting to keep those unbiased -g- journalists on their best behavior. I honestly think they all KNOW the truth behind every story but obviously, simply fail to pass it along. In the article, examples of the standard hyberbolic buzz words abound, such as "at least one threat" in the title, inferring that mortal threats abound. Pricing the discs "a tad higher...but not much", I guess Mr Savitz is also a marketing expert. And Iomega being "far, far more expensive than others in the data-storage sector", is that quite a bit far-er or just way far?? And wait, he's right, there is after all only ONE data-storage sector. Got an apple for my orange?, even trade. Last comment and a basic trick. The last para on Iomega starts with "...to be fair" which is an attempt to both (disingenuously) cleanse his conscience and lower the guard of most of the reading public. Nice guy, he is being fair about all this, he just said so. Anyway, the examples abound and I am glad you are taking the time to express your outrage to Barron's. I am no IOM techie so those points are better left to you guys. One suggestion for the opening para that might, as Gary pointed out, lend you more credibility and also cause the editor to read on..... __________ After reading this article, comparing the information Mr. Savitz chose to reveal with widely known facts, and analyzing his use of hyberbolic words commonly seen in less respected journalistic circles, it is apparent that Mr. Savitz wrote that piece with the intent to deceive the investing public. I find it discomforting that a publication I hold in high regard would publish an article by a writer who fails to present a balanced accounting of facts. I am confident that after you analyze the points I make in my letter, as Editor of Barron's, you will agree that an amplification, clarification or a retraction of the portion of Mr. Savitz's article regarding Iomega is appropriate. __________ Good luck! Mark

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/29/1997 10:53:00 PM
From: Richard Smith	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 58324

Edward your response is just fine, fight fire with fire. just chek the speling. maybe you can get it published on the WSJ.

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/30/1997 2:30:00 AM
From: Mel Boreham	Respond to of 58324

Edward, nice draft, but will have to agree with our fellow posters that commented on it already that it would be best to sleep on it, re-read it several times and then remove the emotional wording and demands, make it concise and focus on just a few main points. Keep the tone professional and don't attack the paper in general, but indicate that you expect better from a publication such as Barrons. If you can keep it to one page or a page and a half all the better as editors only have so much time and I would imagine many long letters are just not read. Remember to always try to spell the names of persons mentioned in your letter correctly. Clear,concise, unemotional, and professional wins the day. I'm sure your dad will be glad to read over your letter and will provide some good editorial comments as well. All the best, Mel

To: Teddy who wrote (37804)	11/30/1997 4:27:00 AM
From: Tim McCormick	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 58324

The 200MB system uses Fuji's ATOMM (advanced super-thin layer and high output metal media) technology. Sony will manufacture the drive, which boasts data transfer rates of 3.6MB per second, 58 times faster than a 3.5-in floppy, 2.5 times faster than the fastest Iomega Zip drives and 5.7 times faster than the fastest Imation LS-120 superdisk drives, said Jeff Ash, director of marketing for Fuji. ATOMM employs a new super-thin coating and a dual discrete gap head for reading conventional or higher-capacity disks. Both Fuji and Sony intend to manufacture media for the Sony drives. "We have recognized the need for high capacity, backward-compatible, very-fast-transfer-rate storage drives," said Ash. "The primary target for us right now is PC manufacturers. The technology suits itself to all next-generation PCs in terms of power consumption and size. We see it as the next internal standard." The companies will offer the drives as both OEM and aftermarket products, said Dirk Peters, national marketing manager of Sony's value-added products division. However, the main advantage of the HiFD over Zip and LS-120 is it does not require the use of another device bay. You said, "HiFD has a slower transfer rate the Zip, Savitz lied." techweb.com Savitz only knows what he reads in the papers. Tim