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To: molemania who wrote (7299)	11/10/1998 2:40:00 AM
From: Follies	Respond to of 10921

To answer your question, I think there is (or should be) a correlary to Moores law which states that "Even though the number of transistors per chip will double 18 months, the total number of chips required for all applications will also double ever 24 months" I don't know if 24 is the number, anyone have real data on the growth of chips?

To: molemania who wrote (7299)	11/10/1998 6:34:00 AM
From: Stitch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10921

Dave, <<Excuse me if this is a lame question, but I am posting it here because there is an overcapacity of intellect on this thread and I figure I can get a good answer. Will the impending introduction of cable TV set-top devices using chips such as the one BRCM introduced today dampen consumer demand for computers in the long run and therefore depress the entire chain from box makers down to semi equipment companies and electronics suppliers a few years out?>> If it is a "lame" question then a lot of minds have been grinding for naught. The whole question of "PC-Centric" versus "appliance-centric" has consumed a lot of thought and printers ink over the last several years actually. The accelerated advent of the sub-zero segment of the PC market has only added fuel to the fire. The bottom line is that we may be somewhat stalled out at 40% penetration in the U.S. with new apps, or an outright fade to appliance type computing designed to further the penetration. IMO there is still a huge market for the PC for years to come. And if the tradiotiona PC platform fades away I think we will get to see a lot more of the trend line before we have to worry about the WINTEL crash. Best, Stitch

To: molemania who wrote (7299)	11/10/1998 9:55:00 AM
From: Katherine Derbyshire	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10921

>>Will the impending introduction of cable TV set-top devices using chips such as the one BRCM introduced today dampen consumer demand for computers in the long run and therefore depress the entire chain from box makers down to semi equipment companies and electronics suppliers a few years out?<< Yes, set-top devices may keep conventional PCs from expanding beyond their current 40% market penetration. (Although I'm skeptical about that--TV and the Internet are fundamentally different media.) However, a diminished market for PCs does not necessarily translate to a reduced market for chips and equipment. Set-top boxes use lots of chips, too. Katherine