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 : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Loring who wrote (26600)	4/9/1999 8:27:00 PM
From: DJBEINO	Respond to of 42771

Intel finds multiprocessor bug running under Windows 2000 A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc. Story posted 6:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m., PST, 4/9/99 By Mark Hachman Electronic Buyers' News SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Intel Corp. here has discovered a bug in multiprocessor systems running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 2000, the forthcoming operating system from the Redmond, Wash., software giant. The error is tied to the PIIX4E south bridge of Intel's 450NX core logic chip set. Microsoft has begun notifying OEMs that errors may result in low-power "sleep mode" commands for microprocessors in systems using the 450NX platform. At this time, Microsoft does not know whether a software workaround is possible, according to support documentation. However, OEMs must produce a solution by the time Microsoft begins Windows Logo certification on July 1. Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system is still in beta form, with a final release expected in the second half of 1999. Using 450NX-based platforms from Intel, the operating system first asks the microprocessor to enter sleep mode, the processor acknowledges the command, and then the operating system orders the chip into a low-power mode. The bug has not been discovered in single-processor systems. In a multiprocessor system, however, Microsoft fears that the operating system may order the chip into a low-power mode before the chip acknowledges the command. When asked to power up again, the microprocessor may produce errors, the documents say. OEMs are being asked, therefore, not to put the microprocessor into a sleep state using the "SLP#" command. Microsoft's documentation and a spokeswoman for Intel emphasized that the low-power mode is a processor-specific sleep state, and not the "sleep mode" used by the Advanced Configuration and Power Management (ACPI) low-power specification.

To: Loring who wrote (26600)	4/12/1999 9:51:00 AM
From: PJ Strifas	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 42771

I don't recall any "whispers" regarding CPQ & NOVL in ERP software department. The only ERP stuff I say was from OBLIX (which by the way has a great piece of software that integrates PeopleSoft and NDS). CPQ had this product display of server-ware (specially configured Novell Servers that handled alot of work), the Internet Caching Appliance and some annouced work to develop more appliances as they come along (proxy servers, DNS servers, VPN stuff) as well a cluster management, server farming and storage area networks. Hey, let's face it, we all knew last year that '99 was going to be a "slow down" year in PC purchasing as companies began to focus wholesale on their Y2K problems. These earnings warnings are just the beginning for the computer industry -- right now it's hitting the hardware makers, next come some of the software players and lastly will be some of the service companies (that don't have a Y2K battleplan to sell to it's customers). Companies will continue to cut purchases of products until their Y2K issues are met. I think last year we saw a slight increase in PC & equipment purchases to replace some legacy systems that would cost more to make Y2K compliant than to replace. This phenomenon caused an upswing (slight?) in hardware sales. Now we are seeing the drop off of that added purchasing coupled with the new restricted purchasing policies of some major corporations. This caused a larger dip than if the added purchasing just faded away. What I'm expecting to see is a hurt this coming quarter with an adjustment in expenses + inventory which will make the next quarter a little easier to bear. That still won't help CPQ, IBM, HP and Dell much until later this year (Q4) when I suspect the usual surge in Holiday consumer sales will help to offset the losses in corporate purchases. Peter J Strifas ps- some software companies will do very well this year with people switching to newer products. Most companies have customers who will be upgrading current products with patches which translates into no (or very little) income. Depending on the installed base of their products, the companies who make good with their "free" patches will create stronger customer loyalty which will create more sales in Y2000 as the companies who did not make the upgrade (but only patched) get religon and want the products they did look into as alternatives. In other words, some companies did not budget for new software purchases this year but will be swayed by what they did see in demos, sales pitches etc that they will make the migration either next year or in the next 18 months.