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Non-Tech : Iomega Thread without Iomega -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 11:33:00 AM
From: jwk	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 10072

Dave -- clicking out of lurk mode here to say that over the years I have read thousands upon thousands of posts here and your's was as good or better than anything to this point, imho....and that's saying alot because there's been some quality people here posting great stuff for a long time. Thanks.

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 11:58:00 AM
From: James Strauss	Respond to of 10072

David: Excellent background info on IOM... Jim

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 12:27:00 PM
From: Kunal Taravade	Respond to of 10072

Dave, thanks for taking the time to write a very informative post. Kunal

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 1:13:00 PM
From: Naggrachi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10072

Re: IOM's history Great post!! I think IOM's stock price just moved up a little based on the post alone. Ever thought of becoming a journalists? You could teach Herb Greenberg a thing or two. Although, class on the other hand, is something one acquires. Zead

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 3:19:00 PM
From: Jock Hutchinson	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10072

David: That was a tremendous post, which really gave some great perspective into the direction in which Iomega is going. Does Iomega still have the core group of engineering talent that it always has had?

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 3:36:00 PM
From: Sosmartinov	Respond to of 10072

Fell asleep? Hell, couldn't take my eyes off it...thanks.

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 4:06:00 PM
From: Troy Shaw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10072

David, Just a couple more comments on Iomega's history. The CEO that preceded Kim Edwards at Iomega was Fred Wenniger. His forte was excellence in manufacturing. He started the TQC (total quality control) initiative throughout Iomega's business. The idea of TQC was a methodology for making continual process improvements in whatever you are doing. As part of that initiative Iomega moved to JIT (just in time) manufacturing. Iomega reached its pinnacle during Fred's reign perhaps in 1992 when Iomega received the Shingo award for excellence in manufacturing. Which as I understand was a pretty prestigious international award. When Kim Edwards took over, he went completely the other way. He threw out nearly everything that Fred had done. I guess the pendulum is now swinging back toward Fred. Also, throwing a Bernoulli disk against the wall is nothing. My brother ran over one (intentionally) with his 1/2 ton GMC truck. The metal shutter on the disk was a little bent from his "pressure test." So, he had to pull the shutter off before putting it in the drive. I thought he was crazy to do it, but the disk still worked fine.

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 4:31:00 PM
From: Bob B.	Respond to of 10072

Dave, You post your little story, conclude that "we may be on the cusp of an extremely profitable future", and IOM jumps up 3/8. Now that's impact!

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 4:40:00 PM
From: Philip J. Davis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10072

David, Great Post! One of the best I've seen. Lipo

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/19/1999 7:32:00 PM
From: Linda Pearson	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10072

Dave, Are you ever a POPULAR guy today <G> I dare any bear to refute anything that you discussed in your volume. Thank you for taking the time to compile all of this information... For those who had expelled the detail from their mind over time, this was certainly a refresher course. I am humbled. Wish I'd said all that! Linda

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/20/1999 1:40:00 AM
From: GGL	Respond to of 10072

HI David, Thank you very much for that history of Iomega and the "Zip" drive --- I am impressed. I fully agreed with you that Iomega has finally grown up. Great writing!!! Gilbert --- IOM long

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/20/1999 11:55:00 AM
From: c darrell	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10072

Outstanding! Simply outstanding! Thank you for this splendid post. I have held a rather substantial amount of IOM stock since early March of 96 and have read thousands of posts on the MF board as well as here on the SI board. I think this is one of the best ever posted on either board. It is the hope that one might read a rare gem such as this that so often keeps one clicking on and on through senseless drivel. Thanks!

To: David Colvin who wrote (6112)	1/21/1999 4:14:00 AM
From: Reseller	Respond to of 10072

From the AOL board A little different perspective but interesting reading. Subject: War Story -- Cold War Date: 1/21/99 12:15 AM Pacific Standard Time From: Belflower Message-id: <19990121031512.27574.00000506@ng-ce1.aol.com> Friends: It has been three years since the first War Story about Iomega was written, on a quiet night before earnings. Then, began the saga of a band of Foolish marines who sailed into a battle and stormed the beaches of Iomega. Legends were written about the rejoicing that ensued for the great victories early in the war -- victories which brought much glory and prosperity within reach of the enthusiastic warriors of the Fools. The War Story continued, however, as the seasoned warriors of the Clan of the Bears beat back the young marines into weaker positions. The Foolish young marines agonized as they were pinned down on the beach and had to dig in for weeks and then months -- all the while the Foolish marines taking sickening losses from the mocking veteran army of the Bears. After initial setbacks, however, brief rejoicing occurred after the Foolish marines were rallied by their leaders, joined by new and powerful partners and allies, and stormed from their trenches to cross the killing fields and reclaimed Iomega from the Bears. In the rout of the Bears that followed, the Foolish squeezed the bears between their forces and advanced to positions far forward of all the Foolish had ever held previous. The Foolish warriors claimed stakes in the future of Iomega as their spoils of war, and looked forward to great comfort as Iomega prospered. Even as the Foolish marines celebrated their additional battle victories, however, this War Story was far from over. Supply lines were stretched and positions were tenuous with gaps that needed reinforcement. Many knew that the Clan of the Bears would be back, but too many other of the Foolish were confident of a new paradigm and boldly proclaimed that "this time was different" and the Bears would not return and had not the wisdom to defeat the multitudes loyal to Iomega. The Bears, however, had much experience and were wise to the ways of war. They waited for their moment. While the Bears waited, the Fools celebrated and the village of Iomega planned bold moves to bring in secondary supplies to rearm and reinforce the lines of Foolish warriors now trying to protect Iomega. The Foolish were heralded as a great new force for the good of the world. The village of Iomega extended it reach into the surrounding countryside. Everyone prospered and the future looked certain and assured. Then, the Clan of the Bears launched a bloody attack and the Foolish warriors took substantial and heartbreaking losses in a single day. The Foolish were shaken. Some of the Foolish soldiers, and even some of their best known leaders, had no stomach for battle and turned and fled. Morale suffered and then collapsed as rumors spread. Losses to the Foolish mounted to crushing levels as the relentless Bear attacks took back ground from the Foolish and forced them into a devastating retreat. Iomega gave much ground over to the Bears. Two years ago in this War Story found the Foolish armies reeling thus. Many of their respected leaders were fallen or gone. The young marines who were loyal wondered if they could survive by continuing to hold their positions in Iomega but they feared that they would be forced to retreat just to live to fight another day. The Foolish forces consolidated and desperately held on to a much smaller Iomega. Through sheer grit and determination, the Foolish army and the people of Iomega struggled out of the depths of despair to rebuild their strength. Slowly, agonizingly, the loyal were gathered and returned from the far reaches of the world. Foolish laborers began to rebuild Iomega and prosperity seemed to be returning. Iomega expanded and took back some of the positions it had captured at the height of its glory. Deals were made to bring more and more partners into the Iomega alliance. Those deals, however, were costly and resources were stretched. Each ally demanded great tribute and low expenses. All of that cost Iomega and yet still it seemed that the allies were unreliable and disloyal at times. Then, a year ago in this War Story, the leader of Iomega spent large portions of the treasury to send out word and attract more to believe in Iomega. Expensive games were financed to attract the attention of the world to Iomega. Soon the coin of the realm began to run out and confidence was lost in the treasury of Iomega. With funds low, depression fell suddenly upon Iomega and the forces of the Clan of the Bears swiftly moved closer. The Foolish marines protecting Iomega were again forced back into devastatingly small and weak positions. Iomega's leader fell and disappeared in the confusion of the battle. A year of cold war in the War Story then followed. That year has now passed slowly and painfully as the Foolish defenders of Iomega have faithfully waited for a rescue that they believe will come. The outside world has enjoyed a prosperity that year that had seldom been seen before. Still, the people of Iomega intend to participate in that prosperity and have been working hard to repair the damage of their past defeats and rebuild themselves into prosperity. The new leaders of Iomega have been laying strong foundations for improved defenses and weapons to at least balance their power with the Bears. The Foolish soldiers have prepared again for a battle, if one must be again fought. Gone, however, is the bold, and even foolish, cockiness of the Foolish marines. Now, those warriors are battle tested and painfully aware of the uncertainty of war. They better know how to consolidate their positions before advancing. These marines will meet the Bears, if they must, but this time they will not underestimate their adversary. Every War Story has its decisive and defining moments. Sometimes such moments are great battles fought fierce and bloody and sometimes the moment is merely the passing of a leader, the announcement of an ally, or the release of information. A cold war often ends with no more than a whisper of truth that turns the tide and makes the eventual outcome certain by demoralizing one army while emboldening their adversary. Even so, it has always been so that, on the night before a presumed battle, nervous young soldiers rarely talk of substance, or debate politics. A few will fill the void with meaningless quarrels or banter . . . mostly, however, they are quiet and contemplate their loved ones and their future. Tonight, there is much silence in the land of Iomega as the warriors and villagers all know that the next tale in this War Story will be told after the next day dawns . . . . . . . a Fool . . .