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

To: La Traguhs who wrote (5952)	3/27/1999 6:16:00 PM
From: Henry W Singor	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Any Idea how quickly this will happen? The shift to GMR has caused capacities per platter to take a step up. In the fall of 97 I purchased a QNTM Fireball ST with 1.6GB/platter. In November of that year IBM introduced their 3.2GB/platter GMR drive which shipped in volume in the spring of 98. That has caused all the carnage in the drive industry in my estimation. Since everyone else had to scramble to catch up. I believe I paid close to $300 for my 4 platter Fireball ST drive. Now I might be tempted to buy a 13GB drive but it would only cost me $190. So assuming this is fairly typical average selling prices have gone down. Which judging from the reported revenues of these companies over the past 12 months, is accurate. I don't see that kind of step happening again but how quickly are these GMR drives going to evolve? IBM announced 5.1GB/platter in November of last year one year after their 3.2GB/platter announcement. QNTM has recently announced 6.8GB/platter. Are we likely to see 8.XGB/platter drives before the end of the year? What is the time frame for 10GB/platter drives? The way I see it, as long as capacity per platter increases faster than peoples appetites or needs for storage. Average selling prices will drop and revenues will be under pressure. Any thoughts? Henry

To: La Traguhs who wrote (5952)	3/28/1999 5:18:00 AM
From: Z Analyzer	Respond to of 9256

<<Yes, microactuators (Also called dual or two stage actuators) are quickly becoming the hot topic of conversation. As the TPI (tracks per inch) goes up, as it is doing with GMR, I'm told it will make the use of microactuators necessary - not just cute.>> Any idea how soon we will see this? I understand several conpanies have been able to close the loop but that this is still over a year away. Also, HTCH has suspension microactuation patented, but some are trying to do it wihtin the head itself which seems more difficult. Any thoughts on this? This business must already look very unatrractive to competitors looking at buying $.60 or $.80 TSA flexures. Add microactuation to that and it would seem they might as well throw in the towel. From what I hear KRP is on the verge. -Z