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

To: Stitch who wrote (5372)	1/29/1999 5:17:00 PM
From: Toko	Respond to of 9256

Stitch, <<Qntm would keep an equity position and be the second manufacturing source for the drives.>> << I assume this puts MKE in the picture inasmuch as QNTM doesn't currently manufacture?>> I'm not sure whether Quantum's manufacturing strategy has been announced, but don't forget they have a pretty big manufacturing operation in Col.Springs where the DLT's are assembled. << Any suppositions about which version of the technology is superior or will win the race?>> OAW is aimed initially at fixed drives, TeraStor is aimed initally at removable drives. Different markets; I don't see direct competition yet, but both technologies will become valuable as current recording methods are stretched to their limits. -TOKO

To: Stitch who wrote (5372)	1/29/1999 7:02:00 PM
From: La Traguhs	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 9256

Stitch (and Sam) I have to put my two or three cents in here. Quantum not re-investing in TeraStor: Quantum has been very "upset" (to put it kindly) with TeraStor for over many, many months - a) they missed too many technical milestones b) continued to be overly optimistic about recovery c) were "burning" too darn much money and I think the worst part was they weren't up front with Quantum during this time (maybe McCoy's the blame here). That did change when Hossein Moghadam came on broad and made them "realists" but unfortunately, the damage had already been done with Quantum. As I understand it, Quantum is still interested in producing the 20 GB plus drives only, if TeraStor can make them work and TeraStor has until around August this year to poop or get off the pot. To TeraStor's credit they went after the tough removable design challenges but while still on the technical side, their approach is severely capacity expansion (vis-a-vis disk capacity not areal density)limited. Quinta, on the other hand, has the stamp of legitimacy from Seagate, and an impressive technology demonstration at Comdex. Seagate has OAW technology utilization in their storage roadmap as a stated corporate objective. And then, in my opinion, Quinta has the key optical storage technology "nugget" in their camp. That's the high speed optical switch technology (and patents) enabling one laser to work with multiple disks and surfaces. (TeraStor requires a laser per each disk surface). The optical switch is so "sweet" that it can enable some new technology in the fiber optic communications marketplace. I wouldn't be surprised to see that nugget re-packaged by Quinta for that market. Since I cast the first stone, does any one else have a rock garden? Regards, LT