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

To: CPAMarty who wrote (6507)	6/5/1999 9:03:00 PM
From: Yogi - Paul	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9256

Marty, << "I firmly believe next-generation set-top boxes will have a hard drive in there as a primary storage device," said John Monroe, an analyst at Dataquest, in San Jose, Calif.>> Well, I've heard of Dataquest and I've read Monroe's stuff before but... let's see what Microsoft delivers without a hard drive. microsoft.com Let's look at some interesting search words and phrases: ---"In addition, the company announced that it will deliver a network service upgrade providing a new set of features that allow subscribers to shop online with more confidence, build a personal Web page and find topics of interest on the Internet organized with a new, easy-to-use redesign of the WebTV® Web Home page." Hmmm, on-line shopping, personal web page and internet connection. Isn't that the main consumer demand driver for computers? --- "the next-generation WebTV Classic and WebTV Plus Internet Receivers provide more power, speed and internal memory for an overall performance boost at the same suggested retail price as their predecessors." ... power? Speed? Without a hard drive? Say it ain't so. --- " It's slightly larger than a portable CD player and packaged in an innovative design" ... small, faster, cheaper, and better looking, not to mention silent. --- "offering consumers easy, low-cost, entry-level access to the Internet with more power and speed in a new, slimmed-down chassis that is only half the size of its predecessor. " ... smaller, faster, cheaper, better looking, did I mention quiet? Price point? $99.00 for Classic and $21.95/month. I'd call that a serious threat. Seems they can get along without a hard drive and deliver a better product. Connect Sony's soon to be introduced PlayStation II to the thing and you have one kick ass communication and entertainment device. Won't run Office 2000 but Mr and Mrs John Q. Public don't want to. As for the DISH Network product, initially they will have hard drives but they had better run silent or they'll be gone. They also start with a $60.00 or $70.00 cost handicap with the hard drive. Hell, maybe Monroe and Dataquest will be right in the long term. I just don't think so. Paul