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To: Patrick Slevin who wrote (10151)	12/5/1997 4:09:00 PM
From: Andrew Vance	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 17305

AV--I spent the day on the phone with a bunch of fellow engineers from at least 6 different IC companies and 10 facilities in all, to do a Vance High Tech Survey, specifically as it relates to AMAT. The survey was simple: 1. Do you have capital dollars approved for 1998? 2. Do you have anything on order with AMAT for delivery in first half of 1998? 3. Are you going to be ordering more equipment (place POs) for more AMAT equipment between now and the end of the year? 4. Between 1/98 and 6/98?? 5. What is the estimated value of the POs you will be placing that have yet to be placed??? 6. Are you replacing and upgrading existing AMAT equipment??? 7. Will you be implementing new technologies requiring new AMAT equipment that we have read about recently??? 8. What are the lead times being quoted to you by AMAT???? 9. Are there plans for expansion within your existing facility that would entail additional AMAT purchases??? 10. Are there plans for new facilities that will be started in 1998, taken out of mothballs, or ramped up in 1998??? 11. How soon before your next generation of device technology goes into production?? (Boy did I get squirming on this one) 12. How much money do you think your company will be spending on AMAT equipment this coming year across all facilities?? A dirty dozen questions as phase One of the Semiconductor Sector Myth of '97/'98 from the ENGINEERING perspective. Key word was capitalized since management has the perogative to change their minds even after they have committed to the business plans for 1998. Well, my mini survey seems to indicate a view which is not reflected in AMAT's stock price. I will rework the numbers over the weekend but it appears that 1998 will be a banner, record breaking, cash producing, profitable, more money than Bill Gates type of year for AMAT<GGG>. There seems to be a major disconnect between my reality and market perception. Methinks I am going to follow my survey and wait it out. I think I am the first person on the train and that I am going to be extremely lonely for a few months waiting for the rest of the passengers. I am content to wait so I do not miss any of the scenery when the train leaves the station. Andrew 10.