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

To: Stitch who wrote (5202)	1/9/1999 10:12:00 AM
From: Frodo Baxter	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

As I recall, Mel Gibson's conspiracy theory came out true. Speaking of which, I kinda look like Mel Gibson, but more handsome... I still have a short position in KMAG and WDC, how about you? Re HTCH's debt: They just need to call in the converts. Since it's above the conversion price, everybody will take equity instead.

To: Stitch who wrote (5202)	1/9/1999 8:44:00 PM
From: Mark Oliver	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9256

Stitch, looks like you have started to take a serious interest in this subject. Have you talked to anyone at Magnecomp about CAPS? They said they would be starting a CAPS fab in China with Fujitsu's blessing. Have you got any cost comparisons for the different products? I have heard the subtractive process can yield finer line widths? Do you think this is true? So Fujitsu is using a coil process? Innovex was very positive on the value of the coil especially how it could be widened to accomodate tails. Does CAPS come with tails and do you see this as an advantage? I wasn't able to speak to anyone from Nitto Denko at Diskcon, but they did have a display showing their CIS wireless circuit and it was on a panel. Are you sure they use a coil process? How do patents fit into this process? Hutchinson is paying IBM for patents, but they've expanded on the TSA process and hold many patents themselves now. I had the impression NHK had also paid IBM for patent rights? Does Fujitsu have a clear path on CAPS without any patent issues? How do you figure Seagate can continue using flex circuits from Innovex if they are not good enough? Do you see this relationship between INVX and SEG at risk? It would be a very big blow to Innovex. Soon we will see a pre amp on the suspension. Do you see any special issues about that such as much higher ASP's, or greater problems with yields trying to make a more complicated product? Have you got any opinion on microactuated suspensions? I think Z made enough money on his own analysis to buy us all a case of brew, so I wouldn't regret not sending him any. Regards, Mark

To: Stitch who wrote (5202)	1/16/1999 6:06:00 AM
From: Z Analyzer	Respond to of 9256

<<Last estimates I saw on Fujitsu suggests they are doing 8-9 million a month fully automated coil to coil for their CAPS. Nitto is almost coil to coil, although they have a bit higher labor content but so what. How many millions in Asia want to work right now? (Nitto Denko is currently the supplier to NHK on wireless for MKE/Quantum). Nitto and Fujitsu both use the same polyimides and virtually the same processes, so the final product is almost identical. This offers a duel source if Fujitsu really goes ahead with a component strategy as they yield product that is virtually transparent at the drive level.>> Wish I understood this better. I assume when you say coil to coil, you are referring to some kind of a continuous process. Is this just for production of the basic suspension. My understanding from HTCH of the reason they believe CAPS is inherently more expensive is that Fujitsu uses a vapor deposition process in small batch vacuum chambers to lay down the circuitry. Any idea whehter this is correct? Can you shed any more light on the Fujitsu process? Is your work in Thailand to be temporary or permanent? Good luck either way! Thanks, Z