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

To: Frodo Baxter who wrote (5189)	1/8/1999 6:21:00 AM
From: Mark Oliver	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Here's an additional plot you may not have thought of. The first TSA traces have been short, going just to the suspension end. Traditional wires went on to the block, an additional 3 inches or so. The missing piece of TSA was replaced with a bridge flex to make the missing connection, costing about 35 cents and whatever for labor, etc. So, the customer was paying more for TSA than it appears and having to hassle with an additional step. If you can imagine a sheet much the size of a notebook, this is the panel that holds all the TSA as they are processed. Adding the tail makes the number of TSA available from this panel significantly less. So, Hutchinson just didn't make TSA with tails. They wanted to win every program they could and the numbers could support the loss. Now, processes are improving and customers probably want tails. It makes perfect sense that some specifications calling for tails would have a higher ASP. No slight of hand, just a different product also called TSA. So, is it possible that these TSA with tails will see a big price drop within a quarter? Maybe. It would surely be a sign that they are doing very well getting their manufacturing house in order. I think in reality, they should have been charging more for TSA all along, but they wanted to gain acceptance and kill other competitive projects before they get any ground. It's just a thought. You may still be right. Regards, Mark