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 : IDTI - an IC Play on Growth Markets -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BigBull who wrote (8370)	5/16/1998 10:01:00 PM
From: Dale Knipschield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11555

BigBull, IRSN (Irvine-Sensors) moved up sharply yesterday, probably in sympathy with XYBR. IRSN is working with Boeing to develop a military version of a wearable computer. Imagine the potential profit margin on that version! In a more related area, the Kurlak prediction for plummeting micro-processor prices (if it comes true), will probably create a banner Christmas sales season for the boxmakers, especially if it drives box prices to record lows. Buy stocks in August for the annual winter run-up.....Compaq, or HP, would probably be good choices, as both are heavily into the low-priced box market. Perhaps an easier way to make money than with IDTI. Also, if IDTI drops into the 9's again, I agree with everyone else.....buy,buy,buy! Regards, Knip

To: BigBull who wrote (8370)	5/17/1998 12:55:00 PM
From: Rob S.	Respond to of 11555

Again, great thoughts. I agree that IDTI needs to "think new thoughts" rather than just have their heads stuck up the ass of Intel or some other industry leader. However much headway you make in that direction, it never smells nearly quite as good as starting out on your own creative path. Clear Logic is an example of a fresh approach to a market and technological opportunity. The C6 family can become a dynamic product if IDTI figures out how to bring something different to the picture AND is able to produce enough parts to take advantage of a window of opportunity. The original C6 is a has been part except for a few niche areas. I think IDTI needs to take a systems approach to the market. They need to go beyond current day slot compatibility because that ground may become quicksand, sucking in R & D dollars and never generating enough cash to make it truly worthwhile. IDTI needs to think about what the end customer and market dynamics dictate is needed. Here are a couple of ideas: 1] A System On a Chip (SOC) X86 + graphics, I/O and sensor input chip for wearable or portable computers. 2] A consortium made up of IDTI, AMD, NSM, MS, or Netscape, Real Video, S3 or Xerox (for graphics compression and disk storage template acceleration and I think its Trillium(?) to deliver an industry standard accelerated internet proxy server system. uPs and systems architecture would be optimized to work with this scheme; the ISP located proxy server system would compress and optimize graphics content obtained off the web via high bandwidth connection. The S3 or other technology would be used to store standardized graphics layers on the hard disk, which reduces rendering. When used with the fast uPs and graphics systems now available, internet access to graphics intensive internet content can be speeded up 3x to 6x. Offer this technology free to ISPs for the cost of the hardware from one of the uPs suppliers OEMs. The technology is here now and just needs to be integrated into a package. Where Bingetel licenses a few national ISPs who charge $5 extra per month, the consortium could field superior technology that ISPs would be free to give away or charge whatever they thought was reasonable. "The Three Musketeers (AMD, IDTI, and NSM) stand up for the User while Bingetel picks your pockets". Of course, IDTI will target portables, upgrades and sub $1000 socket 7 applications. I just hope they are able to keep their heads above water in those markets.

To: BigBull who wrote (8370)	5/17/1998 1:21:00 PM
From: Rob S.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 11555

Sony is a large company and I think their plans are to go after the professional markets rather than the consumer markets. They have divisions that specializes in industrial, aerospace flight entertainment, flight recording systems and other areas. This product will fit into those types of groups first. In five years it is much more likely to become a big factor in personal computing, IMO. I personally got all jacked up about the opportunities in this field a couple of years ago and found that I was way off in the time frame for being practical for consumer markets. There are many niche applications that can utilize the approach including several medical training and aide areas, help for the learning impaired, sports training and sports medicine - whenever you think you've heard all the areas it could be of significant advantage more diverse applications crop up. Like any really new technology, it will take a while for it to be refined, gain momentum and for the cost to be wrung out before mass markets are likely.

To: BigBull who wrote (8370)	5/18/1998 12:28:00 PM
From: Rob S.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 11555

Kinda off Topic - The dream of quick profits for "wearable computers" seems to be quickly fading: XYBR, TELT, and IRSN are all down considerably - already giving up much of the move up they say last week. Another player in this arena is Telxon Corporation (TLXN). They make a variety of hand-held computer terminals and wireless systems for inventory control and tracking, utility industry meter reading, process control and plant maintenance, estimating and order entry. What's good about Telxon is that they have been the leader in the hand-held uP business for several years and have strong relationships developed with major retailers, manufacturers and utilities. I don't know what they are doing in voice control but they seem very creative and competitive. I'm not recommending the stock without further study as the price looks high. I think XYBR, TELT and IRSN will more likely trend down over the next several days. This is a product niche that deserves consideration by IDTI but does not have the immediate volume potential of several current mainstream applications. -------------- Yikes! What's going on with IDTI's stock price? Dropped bellow 10.