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 : Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: dreydoc who wrote (19813)	12/13/1998 10:01:00 PM
From: Research Week	Respond to of 77400

RE: Our Recommendation At the close of the financial markets on December 11, 1998, we have removed Cisco Systems Inc. from our Recommended List.

To: dreydoc who wrote (19813)	12/13/1998 10:24:00 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 77400

Great post, Dreydoc. If I may, I'd like to add my two packets. As time goes by it will be the mark of any great comms company to simplify its wares to the point where extreme skills are not a requirement in every facet of the everyday running of an enterprise network. Today, that is not the case, as there are still requirements for people to do some rather arcane and tedious things, demanding of extensive training, in fact, in order to ensure that a packet gets sent to its proper destination, unmolested, and with permissions in hand. We're beginning to see some simplification happening already in some feature areas, in contrast to the configuration requirments of the past five to ten years. Automated tools, borrowing from A.I. and inference capabilities, will replace, at some point, many of the key craft position functions (aka, some of the specialized field engineering tasks) that have been the mainstay of router work up until now (and probably into the next year or two). It's simply the way of automation to behave this way. Plug and Play, or Drag and Drop, will replace a growing number of skilled situations, is what I'm saying. Automated configuration tools and network health applications are beginning to offload a great deal of tedium in this respect already. The differences which are already coming into clear focus are exemplified by the ease with which browser-like interfaces now allow for near-immediate configurations and administrative changes, relatively speaking, as opposed to long and laborious tasks and more skills- demanding command line screens of the past (which, by the way, all added handsomely to the total justification for compensation structures). Again, these all required extensive skills training and certification, before one could even qualify to touch a keyboard. It will be an absolute responsibility of any great comms company to be able to make these simplified, user-friendly features available to its customers as quickly as possible, if for no other reason, but to stay ahead of the pack. For this is exactly the goal of their competitors, as well. A career in this field may well yield the staying power and longevity you've cited, but I think that except for the most extensively-trained and perhaps those who may have the good fortune to step into some favored situations in the next cycle, this career path may well become one which is more of commoditization than we would otherwise tend to think of it today. Which does not make it a bad thing by any means, only different from what it is today. Just expressing my opinion on this matter, after having seen similar trends and outcomes in the past. Best Regards, Frank Coluccio

To: dreydoc who wrote (19813)	12/14/1998 12:44:00 AM
From: Jake0302	Respond to of 77400

I don't quite follow you... are you saying that you will or won't pay $40k salaries for the Cisco Kids because of the factors you mention? On another note... its gonna be an ugly day tomorrow www.cme.com/market/gflash.html any thoughts on where we go for the rest of the week?

To: dreydoc who wrote (19813)	12/14/1998 2:28:00 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 77400

Just MHO of course. Comments Hey Drydoc, good post! As a old headhunter for 14 years, I think the 40K figure is high, but Cisco is sure on the right track. Now that the military is not really an option for HS grads, in any number, a start in this field would be a great way to work your way, or save money for, College. The smart kids who do this will find it is great "basic training" for their future, and the dumb ones would sure be better off doing this than flipping hamburgers at McDees.