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Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Trader who wrote (34620)	3/17/1998 12:03:00 AM
From: jbn3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

re Y2K problem. John, the Y2K problem is going to be a major market factor next year, I suspect. From reading the HBR Interview with Michael Dell, I understand that DELL works very closely with their customers, discussing with them what their problems, requirements, and wishes are. For many, if not all of them, I would suspect that Y2K problems are (or were) a major item. So, if DELL is not addressing this, I would be astonished. Further, if DELL is addressing this -- and they are, go to their web site and look at all the Y2K data available -- then they are getting results. Michael's Team gets results. They work hard, they get stressed sometimes, I'm sure, but above all, they produce. Assuming my premise is correct, and DELL customers will experience minimal Y2K impact, I would suggest we look at the problem, by dividing it into pre- and post- time frames. 1) customers who are all, or virtually all DELL will experience little Y2K problems or turmoil internally I anticipate little change in their purchasing patterns, either before or after. 2) businesses who are not DELL customers may well experience greater problems in preparing for Jan 1, and are more likely to redirect their hi-tech monies into fixing the problem. Some of them may choose to select DELL as one aspect of their solution. Some of them may choose to redirect resources from hardware to Y2k software companies. BOTH of these actions would impact DELL's competitors negatively. 3) The more problems a corporation does experience, the more envious they are going to be afterwards of their competitors who did not have problems, and the less tolerant of the companies which 'let them down'. That will be a big boost for DELL, I think. 4) the government is a case by itself.... I don't think they are likely to have a Y2K solution by the end of the NEXT century. <vvbg> I refuse to forecast there, except to say that whichever hardware/software providers are able to give them greater protection and less turmoil will almost certainly benefit in the long-term. All of the above is predicated upon my assumption of DELL being able to help its customers meliorate or escape the problem. I would very much like to hear from posters who work in a DELL-customer environment, as to their take on the situation. I think that this should be a major focus of attention at the upcoming shareholder's meeting as well. DELL's performance will either catapult it well to the front for the start of the century, or we will see Hank's 60! regards, 3.