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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Martin Milani who wrote (16703)	5/28/1999 9:16:00 PM
From: QwikSand	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 64865

I think there are aspects of Intel that shouldn't be overlooked: their marketing machine, their longstanding relationships with software developers, and their hoard of cash. Anybody who has been around the computer business long enough knows that technical quality isn't even on the Top Ten list of the attributes of a winning product. Just ask Mr. Bill, or that blow-dry former CEO of DEC (Robert somebody). IA64 may look like the tortoise in this race, but we can be sure that Intel has an army of ants calling software and hardware developers every day to cajole and threaten. They'll probably have commercials with pictures of people in multicolored bunny suits engaged in carnal intercourse with a Merced processor core during the 2000 Super Bowl (slogan: "Find the zipper. Free yourself. Inside Intel.") They will get many design wins. Dramatic turns of events are possible: Compaq could put down their screwdriver, look up, and discover there are customers with needs in the enterprise. AMD could make the K7 into a PeniumIII killer. The Ultra SPARC-III could gain such a big lead that it never looks back. And of course Intel could indeed shoot themselves in the foot with IA-32 compatibility in Merced that's so crummy that customers won't accept it, as you say Martin. But, even though (lots of) my money is on Sun, it's dangerous to dismiss Intel even when they look weak. They're one of the best-managed hi-tech companies. Any game they're in ain't over until it's over. Regards, --QwikSand