Zeev --
Japan is having a difficult time accepting a world without geographical borders. If the pain gets much worse, can it continue its stubborn course?
Actually, the latest computer/server statistics don't seem as bad as some would have us believe:
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Mid-Range Computer Shipments in Japan Rise in FY97 June 12, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Shipments of mid-range computers in Japan rose in both units and value in fiscal 1997 (April 1997 to March 1998), according to the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA). Shipments amounted to 140,617 in units, a 10 percent increase over last year, and the value was 712,549 million yen (US$5,050 million) , up 2 percent.
JEIDA also revealed that shipments of workstations in Japan in fiscal 1997 reached 132,191 units, down 7 percent since last year, with a value of 311,623 million yen (US$2,210 million), down 10 percent.
These statistics are from a survey regarding yearly shipments of mid -range computers and workstations defined and selected by JEIDA. Twenty domestic manufacturers of mid-range computers and 16 manufacturers of workstations offered data based on their self assessment. JEIDA said the statistics cover and reflect mainly data from major companies.
According to the definitions of JEIDA, a mid-range computer is a computer positioned between a mainframe and a workstation and used as a network server in a client/server system in multi-user, multi -tasking environments.
Mid-range computers are classified into UNIX servers, network operating system servers and proprietary operating system servers.
Workstation is defined as a computer that is equipped with a network interface and a high-resolution display and works for a single user in a multi-tasking environment.
There were 29,799 UNIX servers shipped in the period, up 8 percent over last year; 60,066 network operating system servers, up 76 percent; 25,446 proprietary operating system servers, a 9 percent decrease; and 25,306 computers other than servers, a 33 percent decrease.
In value, UNIX servers amounted to 318,441 million yen (US$2,260 million), up 6 percent over last year; network operating system servers were 110,970 million yen (US$790 million), up 42 percent; proprietary operating system servers were 253,236 million yen (US$1 ,800 million), a 7 percent decrease; and computers other than servers were 29,902 million yen (US$212 million), down 33 percent.
In comparison with the previous year, while UNIX servers showed almost no growth, network operating system servers grew remarkably, showing a 76 percent growth in volume. Consequently, the proportions of UNIX servers and network operating system servers to all servers were 22 percent and 27 percent, respectively, in fiscal 1996, but they turned to be 21 percent and 43 percent in fiscal 199 7.
Based on value, UNIX servers were 45 percent (43 percent last year), network operating system servers were 16 percent (11 percent) and proprietary operating system servers were 36 percent (33 percent).
As for sale prices, more than 90 percent of network operating system servers were priced less than 3 million yen (US$21,000) and no network operating system server was more than 40 million yen (US$28 4,000). Some 34.6 percent of UNIX servers were less than 3 million yen, 43.8 percent were higher than 3 million yen and less than 10 million yen (US$71,000), and 21.5 percent were more than 10 million yen. This result reflects the significant difference between network operating system servers and UNIX servers in price range and volume.
As for the servers priced under 3 million yen, 10,313 UNIX servers (up 2 percent over last year), and 55,774 network operating system servers (up 78 percent), were shipped. As for the servers from 3 million yen up to 10 million yen, 13,070 UNIX servers (up 20 percent), and 3,723 network operating system servers (up 64 percent ), were shipped. As for the ones from 10 million to 40 million yen, 5,738 UNIX servers (down 8 percent), and 599 network operating system servers (up 17 percent), were shipped. As for the ones over 40 million yen, 678 UNIX servers (up 58 percent), and no network operating system servers were shipped.
By contrast, shipments of workstations dropped below the previous year in number and in value. In the price range below one million yen, 14,783 workstations (a 5 percent decrease below last year), equivalent to 12,583 million yen (US$89 million), a 5 percent increase, were shipped. In the range from one million yen to three million yen, 66,564 workstations (down 15 percent), equivalent to 1 07,433 million yen (US$762 million), a 24 percent decrease, were shipped. In the range over three million yen, 50,844 workstations (up 6 percent), equivalent to 191,607 million yen (US$1,360 million) , a 0 percent increase, were shipped.
JEIDA predicts that shipments of mid-range computers will grow 4 percent in value and 11 percent in number during fiscal 1998 (April 1998 to March 1999), as open-system servers are expected to sell well.
According to JEIDA's perspective regarding shipments in fiscal 1998 (April 1998 to March 1999), UNIX servers will grow 8 percent in number and in value, network operating system servers will grow 40 percent in number and 35 percent in value, and proprietary operating system servers will decrease 10 percent in number and in value compared to the previous year.
JEIDA also projects that workstation will see a 3 percent decrease in value and 5 percent increase in units over last year. >>>> |
