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Technology Stocks : Disk Drive Sector Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: La Traguhs who wrote (4749)	10/16/1998 7:20:00 PM
From: Stitch	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9256

LT, <<Samsung just announced their 4.3 GB per platter and Fujitsu and WD are next, but you're still futzing around trying to get your 3.2 GB per platter ramped. Vas Gibtz? Ah, maybe that explains your stock price drop after your CC. >> I always thought it was axiomatic that in the DD biz you lived and died by first-to-market. But axioms have a way of dying as new paradigms move in. I wonder out loud if it is at all possible that Seagate, whose bulk heads/media production is still only fruitful at the lower range, has determined that there is no need to be at the leading edge of areal density for the desktop? Has the leading edge become the bleeding edge? I am hearing horrendous storys of bad yields at the high end (on media and heads). I am also aware, as we all are, of the significant shift to lower price PC and subsequent pressure on DD prices. Once you reach a point where you can hit the sweet spot with one platter and two heads, do you need 4.2 GB per platter for the desktop arena? How many sub zero PCs must ship with a 4 GB drive? Earlier this year I asked the question of what that sweet spot would be and we kind of settled on 2.1 GB. Now, almost a year later, what app has come along that says we need 4? And if you can sell 3.2 GB for less then a 100 bucks and make some margin....hmmmmm All of the above is out loud thinking with only a half cup of coffee under my belt. I want to think about this. But...I am also happy for all of you to think it through also. Best, Stitch