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.

Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (706)	12/14/1997 11:45:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

'Microsoft proudly presents the VISUAL BASIC Date Remediation AddOn 1.0' (From the Intuit thread; removed stock specific parts). The lack of awareness will change the coming months for many reasons, some of them that comes to my mind right now are: - Possible mayor accidents during testing, that can not be kept out of the press (purely my conjectures). - SEC forces many banks into the open regarding Y2K. They will close down the first bank that will not be ready on 1/1/2000 within several months (IMHO). - It will be increasingly dangerous for a company raising funds (IPO's, secondary offerings etc) and not mentioning in detail their remediation status (see other posting Y2K-LEGAL from the EC site). So we will see lots of public announcements about y2K status (whether they are to the point is another question; the point is that this also will raise awareness). - Other regulators will do the same (e.g. Health and Safety). - On new year 1997/1998 many many CEO's etc will think of the new year in 2 years ('Hell, I have to get that CIO at my desk every week in the new year'). - Awareness is growing exponentially (see e.g. the 'mother of all Y2K sites with statistics; access rates doubles every 5 weeks; this is just one of the indicators). This is a 'snow-ball' effect. Above some tresshold in a particular community, people start to pay attention and start to worry. - Increasingly, CEO's of IT-vendors will change their minds: this is not a 2-years market; but a market of 3-4 years. Also, they will see that all services not directly or indirectly helping to solve the problem will simply disappear for several years. They will change their strategy, marketing etc accordingly Think of announcements such as (purely conjecture, but there you go): ('Microsoft proudly presents the VISUAL BASIC Date Remediation AddOn 1.0 - the Fastest Way to Make your Visual Basic Programs Y2K compliant'. It works for VB 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0). Just my 2 cents;-) Regards, John

To: John Mansfield who wrote (706)	12/14/1997 1:38:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Y2K-EMU - GB will head the EC starting 1/1/98 GB will head the EC starting 1/1/98. I wonder what kind of discussions will be started by the EC presidency? -------------- From: che.com Chemical process industries (CPI) site: ... 'To a large extent, interest in Y2K has been eclipsed by the European Monetary Union (EMU), which proposes converting European countries to the euro currency standard (banking in the euro is scheduled to start in 1999, and currency is slated to be in circulation by 2002). This places an entirely new load on IT managers' hands. In Ireland, computer consultant Patrick O'Beirne of Systems Modelling Ltd. (Wexford) notes "a certain sense of resignation" among IT employees faced with the double load of compliance for Y2K and EMU. Says Robin Guenier, director of London-based Taskforce 2000, "Many senior people in the IT industry tell me that the idea of introducing a single European currency at the same time as fixing the date-change problem is absurd and that the single most important contribution to getting the date change right would be to defer the euro." The mitigating factor in terms of the euro, at least, is that the EMU's future is uncertain and may not gain widespread acceptance in the near future. In addition, points out associate director Richard Wood at Cap Gemini (London), banks and insurance companies are the industries hardest hit by EMU. There's no question, however, whether the year 2000 will arrive on time. And when it does, those who've done their homework will be free of the millennium bug... or so we hope. '

To: John Mansfield who wrote (706)	12/19/1997 4:38:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 9818

EPRI Research Questionnaire: will there be electrical power? epri.com EPRI is the Electrical Research Institute. Their home page states: 'Electricity is increasingly recognized as a key to societal progress throughout the world, driving economic prosperity and improving the quality of life. The Electric Power Research Institute delivers the science and technology to make the generation, delivery, and use of electricity affordable, efficient, and environmentally sound. Created by U.S electric utilities in 1973, EPRI is one of America's oldest and largest research consortia, with some 700 members and an annual budget of about $500 million. Linked to a global network of technical specialists, EPRI scientists and engineers develop innovative solutions to the world's toughest energy problems while expanding opportunities for a dynamic industry. EPRI powers progress, bringing the benefits of electricity to our world.' Serious institute; so just read the questionnaire below. For me the sentence in the questionnaire was the most frightening sentence in a Y2K article I have ever read. John ------------------------------------------------------- EPRI Vendor Questionnaire Letter sent to Vendors Vendor, As you may be aware, EPRI is sponsoring a workshop on the issue of Year 2000 compliance in process control-based systems in Phoenix, September 9 and 10, 1997 (see attached EPRI Event Sheet). The workshop objectives are to explore the Year 2000 impact on process control, identify areas EPRI can assist the industry in addressing the issue, and ways EPRI can work with the process control industry and end-users to effect a smooth transition into the next century. To maximize information exchange during the workshop, we are asking vendors supporting the industry to respond to some basic questions for discussion at the workshop. Attached is a copy of the questions being sent to each vendor. ... Utility Year 2000 Exercise Given this scenario: At 00:00:03 on the morning of January 1, 2000, approximately 20-25% of the on line plants on the North American continent trip and go off line; approximately 20-30% of the protective switch gear fails to operate correctly; leading to the loss of another 20% of the on line generation.