Forum Archive Index - September 2000

[Brian Gale <brigale@i4free.co.nz>]

Is this the start of a levelling out of the tremendous run computer
manufacturers have had ? IMO consumers have been conned by the continuing
increase of  processor operating speeds to the extent that almost as
soon as a machine leaves the showroom it is obsolete, at least
speed-wise. In most instances a lift in processor speed can hardy be
noticed in the performance of much of the software available but it is
human nature to want the fastest and latest.

The other side of the equation is the software - in particular MS Windows
which has continued to be upgraded but the improvement from WIN95 to
Win98 mainly involved Internet improvements with no particular general
benefits and Internet speeds are governed by the modem not the processor
or the software. Unfortunately the software has not become more user
friendly as was supposed to be the original concept of Windows. 
There are  many features that the average domestic user would never
use.

The potential performance of  the Computers now being sold far
exceeds the requirements of the domestic user in fact the standard type
of  machine would be capable of acting as a file server for a string
of  much less sophisticated machines.

It has been a great run for 20 years providing tremendous profits for the
leaders and this has set the stage for the great upsurge in Companies
getting on to the bandwagon with hopes that they will be able to emulate
the performance of the leaders but IMO it just isn't going to happen,
apart from tidying up the Internet and improving access speeds I believe
we are reaching a plateau.  I wonder if this news from Intel is the
start of the writing on the wall ? 

BG

        

At 16:09 22-09-00 +1200, you wrote:
> Intel warning
>
> SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Reuters) - Citing weak European demand for its
> microchips, Intel Corp. (INTC.O) on Thursday said it expects third
> quarter revenues to fall below previous forecasts, and now sees a rise of
> only about 3 percent to 5 percent from second quarter sales of $8.3
> billion. 
>
> The late afternoon announcement by the world's largest maker of computer
> microchips follows recent speculation in the market that global demand
> for microchips may be slipping. 
>
> Earlier this month, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray analyst Ashok Kumar issued
> a report forecasting a slowdown in chip demand in all markets around the
> world, except Japan.
>
> David Reid