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Technology Stocks : PC Sector Round Table -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Yogi - Paul who wrote (1728)	4/29/1999 9:29:00 PM
From: Gottfried	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2025

Yogi and all, it's e-machines again. I just love an underdog who makes good. From Barron's... The Price is the Brand "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Who said that? Was it really Mao Tse-tung? Whatever. But for direct-sales PC makers Dell Computer and Gateway, that enemy is Emachines. The new kid in town has been wildly successful hitting up middle America, forcing the two superstars to take note -- and, perhaps, cut prices -- based on some new demographic trends. In a clear contrast to Dell and Gateway's rehearsed, harmonized delivery here Wednesday, Stephen Dukker, CEO of the cocky newcomer (which is profitable and number four in retail computer sales in a mere four months, according to PC Data), calls his company the Wal-Mart of the PC world. He delightedly told investors at a panel discussion at the Hambrecht & Quist conference that 51% of his $399-$599 machines go to first-time buyers, who can't shop online, anyway. And 69% of those bare-bones machines end up in households that have annual incomes between $20,000 and $34,000, traditionally a tough market for PC makers to crack. And word-of-mouth referrals help establish loyalty. Clearly flustered, CFOs John Todd of Gateway and Tom Meredith of Dell made noises about brands, broadband, service and sustainable profits. It's interesting to note that these two began as the low-price upstarts taking on the industry giants. Are the tables about to turn on them? interactive.wsj.com G.

To: Yogi - Paul who wrote (1728)	5/6/1999 12:13:00 AM
From: Mark Oliver	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2025

Yogi and all, there has been some quality and thought provoking discussion on the VARI-L thread. This is an absolutely tiny company with niche products for DSP. Most interesting has been discussion of wireless broadband and PCS systems. Message 9316290 Enjoy. And what about the turn of events today with Microsoft buying 2-3% of T to assure their place in set top boxes. Any doubts that we are going to see major wars happening in the next 2 years as traditional markets are turned on their ear and totally reshaped?; phone communications, written word, buying anything, and services and servicing of services. It's also pretty amazing to see this Michael Armstrong in action. He is unstoppable. Not only does he get Media One, but he gets use of the Comcast network too. I heard him on TV today and there's no doubt that he's sure it's going to work. People question if the cable can handle the load. Well, it can and it will swoop fast once it gets started. The combination of services will be very compelling. T will convince people service issues of the past are over. Satellite TV will be have serious churn and AOL and other ISP's are going to have to act fast or get Gov. support. Microsoft will win the OS war with CE which will takeover the set top, and then by fact of people wanting familiarity and cross platform uniformity, Win CE will take major stake in wireless phone OS. Remember that they have strong partnership with Qualcomm, and CDMA is becoming standard. Big blow to Sun. AOL buys Netscape, but what does it really bring? Where do Lucent play into this? There's a WAP Forum of all major players trying to find a way to stop Microsoft, but how can they when MSFT buys it's place in T's future? Exciting day. I also picked up some Antec, ANTC, who I feel will make tons off T, who is also their biggest shareholder. They also have a position in telephony over cable systems, which is very interesting. Traded some T I bought last Friday. May be sorry, but can't help taking the occasional profit. Probably should load up on this and turn off my computer and go surfing for a year. Regards, Mark