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 : ESST-the new beginning. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve Reinhardt who wrote (2314)	1/27/1999 11:03:00 PM
From: stan s.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3493

Thanks for the info Steve. I used to trade ESST a bit in their glory days. I've kept a half closed eye on them...maybe it's time to take a real look. Best of luck. Stan

To: Steve Reinhardt who wrote (2314)	1/28/1999 12:28:00 PM
From: MulhollandDrive	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3493

Looks like WS wasn't overly impressed. Not the selloff to 5 that I thought might occur, will watch for a bit more. bp

To: Steve Reinhardt who wrote (2314)	1/29/1999 5:04:00 PM
From: Steve Reinhardt	Respond to of 3493

Zoran says that DVD unit shipments enjoy tremendous growth. DQ data shows CAGR of 85% for the next 4 years. And Toshiba shipped the 4th generation DVD player on Zoran's DVD chipset. It sees that SoftDVD player is the method of choice for PC systems. Judging by faster CPU speed, it is to SoftDVD's advantage. It just got WHQL. PC EOM who use WHQL approved SoftDVD will get a discount from M/S when purchasing Windows. Zoran also are very aggressive in digital audio. It leverages its position in Dolby AC-3; introduced HDCD with Pacific Micro, and has a MP3 player chip. Worked closely with Altec Lansing, Boston Acoustics, Cambridge Sounds on digital audio products developments caused by DVD and AC-3. This market is primarily consumer oriented. Zoran sees DVD ROM replacing CD ROM soon. Zoran offers bundled SOftDVD to DVD ROM vendors(?). Finally, Zoran believes that if DVD takes off faster than forecasted earlier in China, then its gross margin can be further improved since it has a better G.M. of DVD than SVCD chips. It won't disclose the breakdown between DVD/SVCD which is 22% for the year and 25% for 4Q, 1998. Audio actually decreased from 25% for the year to 13% for 4Q, '98. PC video jumped from 49% for the year to 56% for 4Q,'98. Others increased from 4% for the year to 6% for 4Q,'98. Gross margin decreased from 49% to 44%. EPS also decreased from ?? to 8 cents per share. Honestly, it was a very successful conference call. Zoran management was able to draw a upbeat picture better than the conservative picture drawn by the ESS management. However, some of the market/product overlapped between the two companies. In DVD and SVCD player chip. I would venture to suggest the imbalance between Zoran and ESS's perceived value got to converge instead of diverge..... Steve