--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
***E&S
Buys Silicon Reality
(July 6)
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. announced that it has acquired
the assets of Silicon Reality Inc. (SRI), a privately held
company located in Federal Way, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.
The asset purchase was concluded June 26, 1998. Financial terms
were not disclosed. SRI was founded in 1994 to design and
produce 3D graphics hardware and software products for the PC
marketplace. Silicon Reality designs graphics accelerators for
customers in the PC-based graphics market. The company's
products, based on its TAZ 3D graphics architecture, enable PC
system manufacturers to deliver significantly improved
multimedia graphics performance while decreasing system cost and
complexity.
We are in the center of another major shift in the 3D market.
The brutality of the marketplace leaves no bodies. Consider the
following.The lack of mainstream 3D business applications is hurting
the whole industry. Without a business need for 3D there is a
huge vacuum in the demand side. We call this the 3D canyon - on
one side are games using 3D and on the other professional
applications running on workstations. In between is a canyon
which represents a major market void. Totally lacking in the
market is elasticity in demand, price, performance and solutions
for buyers. The industry cannot live on games alone.Software companies in the 3D tool space are struggling.
Newfire is gone, Cosmo will apparently be dissolved and not sold
to Sony and others are not making money. The food chain of
making money is broken. That is, without the demand side being
driven by end users wanting 3D solutions companies are left
holding the bag with too few buyers, high costs of development
and disappointing results. It can be said that the animation
market has a food chain but this is a tiny market and one not
focused on real time 3D. It is also a market which has no
corporate or business buyers and few consumer buyers.3D chip pricing continues to fall. Where last year the
performance price point was $30, when a new cutting edge chip
was announced, it has now slid to $24 and below. The <$1,000 PC
has spawned new buyers at the retail level but at the same time
placed enormous pressure on component suppliers to drive prices
further down. 3D chip companies are under pressure to move parts
at razor thin, and in some cases negative margins. This is not a
healthy situation.It is not clear that the 3D industry is responding well to
the downward price pressures for 3D chips. The catch word is
"integration" and certainly Intel is pushing the pack with
Whitney that integrates core logic with 3D. We find it
interesting that one of the major concerns about Intel's actions
in the far east was apparent bundling of I-740 chips with
microprocessors, which they deny, yet, bundling will be taking
place between core logic and 3D with Whitney. Next year the end
result may be the same except the bundling moves to silicon.
However, in spite of this, given the current state of 3D
technology and its rapid pace of change we have strong doubts
that 3D integration with a stable part on the PC is a wise move.
Another response is the use of embedded DRAM and here again it
is not clear that this is a winning solution in the near term.
Embedded DRAM is an expensive means of including DRAM in a 3D
solution. It is not evident that this solution matches the
pricing pressures on cost constrained 3D chips and bargain
priced memory. Big bets are being placed on 1999 parts and it
remains to be seen if these bets are well placed.There is a glut of 3D parts. Too many suppliers are seeking
to sell to too few buyers. As a result the only differentiator
is price and this spells disaster in the long run. Cash flow
does not mean profitability under these circumstances.Intel's actions in Asia are being felt throughout the
industry. However, this is, in essence, the action of a new
player seeking to build market share. NVIDIA has the same
objective but approaches it differently. Yet, the actions of
those seeking to be leaders engenders sharp responses from
competitors. 3D is a worldwide brutal market.There are too many companies in the 3D chip business. They
are falling like flies and 1998 will see even more dead flies.The workstation demand for 3D is bust. The channel is
saturated with parts and cards while the underlying demand is
weak. Companies seeking to bring new high end technology to
market are going to face the reality that the rest of the
industry is already well aware of - achieving ROI on chip
development at the high end of the 3D market is not possible.Differentiation in the market between high end and low end
has been marked by DirectX vs. OpenGL support. Virtually all the
new 3D accelerators support both APIs. Thus, what was different
is now the same. What was two markets is collapsing into one.
This will make it all the more difficult for companies having a
high end solution to come up with enough unique features and
levels of performance. We are aware of many new chips and
architectures which will surface in 1999, yet, in a price driven
market and no boundaries in API support it will be very
difficult to achieve sufficient market to support the cost of
blazing new performance and feature trails.There is a continuing sharp contrast in the market where
OEMs reflect the desire of magazine reviewers for higher and
higher performance levels, as measured in benchmarks, while the
increasing chip die sizes put tremendous pressure on gross
margins to deliver these escalating performance levels at
competitive prices. In many respects the turmoil in the
microprocessor market is very similar. Specifically without a
demand for more MIPS the market moves to lower priced systems
which buyers consider as adequate. This lack of MIPS demand from
applications is putting enormous pressure on Intel's gross
margins - the 3D industry can only respond - been there doing
that. The 3D chip industry is at microprocessor die sizes and at
chip pricing that Intel finds as inconsistent with its past
business model.We come away confounded by the with the lack of vision and
new solutions in 3D software. While chip performance continues
to rise at rapid rates software progress is measured by the
adoption of DirectX features. This may be good for the industry
as a whole but it is hardly a measure of progress. At the WAVE
Report we are on the constant vigil for new innovative software.
Our recent highlighting of Portola Dimensional Systems and
NDimension Systems are two examples of something different that
could spur 3D demand. Yet, we continue to be struck by the
contrast with the pace of chip developments and the nearly total
void in cutting edge progress on the software side. Without
parallel progress in both software and 3D acceleration the
hardware side of the market will continue to be driven by only
one variable - the lowest possible price.The underlying economics of the industry are weak and
without a light at the end of the tunnel. That is, it is unclear
when profitable conditions will be achieved. Through our
involvement in many parts of the 3D industry we are fortunate to
see how well or how poorly many companies are doing. It is not a
good picture. Profits are the rarity and this does not bode well
for the industry. Investors look for the prospect of future
earnings and with the hardware and software linkage broken a
positive forward look is not present.3D continues to have considerable promise and companies will
continue to chase the promise. Yet, the unstable condition the
industry is in today will force continuing major changes. One
would like to think that any good crystal ball is the foundation
platform for forecasting the future. Only fools have crystal
balls in the 3D business.
***Parametric
Technology Corp. Offers LightWorks Photo-Realistic
Rendering to Its DesignWave Software Customers
(June 4)
Parametric Technology Corporation has announced the availability
of DesignWave Version 3, which includes a brand new application
for photo-realistic rendering. Based on the advanced LightWorks
3D rendering technology from LightWork Design, DesignWave's new,
optional Photo Album.Photo Album enables users to produce photographic-quality images
within the DesignWave environment. It is designed so that any
DesignWave user can become productive immediately and
effortlessly, by selecting from a range of studio photography-
like elements, such as backgrounds, camera lenses and lighting.
Rendered images then can be stored in a photo album for easy
viewing.DesignWave became part of the PTC product portfolio through the
company's acquisition of Computervision Corporation.LightWork Design is the leading supplier of rendering engines
for 3D design applications. The LightWorks rendering engine is
used in more than 70 software applications worldwide, including
Parametric Technology's Pro/REFLEX object-oriented building
modeling package.
***Intergraph
Announces TDZ 2000 GL2 ViZual Workstation
(May 4)
Intergraph Computer Systems announced the new TDZ 2000 GL2
ViZual Workstation.
TDZ 2000 GL2 incorporates Intel's latest 400 MHz Pentium II
processors using the 440BX supporting chipset
The TDZ 2000 GL2 offers flexible options for graphics, from
high-performance 2D to mid-range 3D to high-performance 3D with
Intergraph's new AGP-based RealiZm II VX113A 3D Graphics. This
allows professionals to configure their systems with a choice
of
graphics subsystems:
- Intergraph RealiZm II 3D Graphics
- Intergraph Intense 3D Pro 2200S
- AccelSTAR II AGP: Based on 3Dlabs' PERMEDIA 2 controller
- Matrox Millennium II AGP
TDZ 2000 GL2 is available starting at $3,230 for a TDZ 2000
GL2
with a single 400 MHz Pentium II processor, 32 MB RAM, 4.3 GB
EIDE disk, Millennium II AGP (4MB), and Windows 95 operating
system. A TDZ 2000 GL2 configured with a single 400 MHz Pentium
II processor, 64 MB SDRAM, AccelSTAR II (8MB), 4.3 GB EIDE disk
and Windows NT starts at a price of $3,495.
http://www.intergraph.com/ics/
***ZDTV
Goes Live From its San Francisco Studios
(May 11)
ZDTV will make television history by being the first cable
channel and integrated Web site to deliver 24-hour entertaining
programming about computers and the Internet. Launched from its
studios in San Francisco, ZDTV along with its online complement,
ZDTV.com will offer a unique blend of original interactive cable
television programming that will appeal to a broad national
audience.
Today computing and the Internet are permeating the daily lives
of millions of people, both at work and at home. Due to this
phenomenon, there is a growing audience for computer and
Internet programming that is virtually untapped. According to
a
study conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc., two out of
three adults in households with cable or satellite TV have
expressed interest in receiving a channel like ZDTV. Through
original programming that allows real-time, online audience
participation, ZDTV will serve this growing market.
Building upon Ziff-Davis' integrated marketing platform, ZDTV
and ZDTV.com will also benefit advertisers by efficiently
delivering a highly desirable, upscale demographic audience.
Over 19 big-name advertisers representing both the technology
industry and the broader consumer market already support ZDTV.
These advertisers include: Barnes & Noble, Canon, Charles
Schwab, Computer Discount Warehouse, Corel, Dell, Earthlink,
Gateway, IBM, Intel, Micron, Microsoft, NEC, Packard Bell,
Siebel Systems, Sprint, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, and Web
Street Securities.
http://www.zdtv.com
***Microsoft,
Itochu and AT&T Ventures Invest in Tut Systems
(June 4)
Tut Systems, Inc., announced that it has received $15 million
in
investments from strategic partners intent on speeding the
company's innovative HomeRun technology to market. Tut received
key investments from Microsoft Corporation, Itochu International
Inc. and AT&T Ventures.
Tut has already signed a cooperative marketing agreement with
lead investor Microsoft centered around the company's HomeRun
technology. HomeRun is targeted at two extremely fast-growing
markets: networking in homes with multiple PCs, and high-speed
Internet access. With HomeRun, multiple PCs can interconnect to
each other, to shared peripherals and/or to the Internet on a
1
Mbps Ethernet-compatible LAN. All this is accomplished by simply
using the telephone wires that are already in place in the home.
No new wires or connections are required, and HomeRun operates
concurrently with existing telephone service.
HomeRun will also enhance the new Universal ADSL technology,
known as G.Lite, being championed by Tut investor Microsoft, as
well as Compaq and Intel. Specifically, HomeRun will be able to
instantly distribute Universal ADSL service (or any other high-
speed service) to every phone jack within a home.
Microsoft and Tut are working together to stimulate development
of HomeRun-based consumer hardware products as part of
Microsoft's efforts to create new standards for the home
networking market. The companies share the objective of creating
a low cost, plug and play platform for connectivity among
Windows PCs, network-attached peripherals, and the Internet.
http://www.tutsys.com
***Cirrus Logic Adds Eight Operating
Systems to Support Growing
Family of ARM-Based Chip Solutions
(May 6)
Cirrus Logic Inc. announced a licensing agreement with Advanced
RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd. that adds eight operating systems to
its portfolio of ARM-based chip solutions.
This agreement ensures a wide range of key software tools for
OEMs demanding ARM's small form factor and low-power advantages.
With its more than 3 million ARM-based chips sold worldwide.
The eight new operating systems that will be ported include:
Tornado & VxWorks from Wind River Systems, Inc.; pSOS+ from
Integrated Systems Inc.; XRAY Debugger & VRTXmc RTOS from
Mentor
Graphics' Microtec Division; RTXC from Embedded Systems
Products, Inc; C-Executive from JMI Software Systems, Inc; and
ChorusOS from Sun Microsystems.
These operating systems join available ports including Helios
from Perihelion; RISC O/S from Acorn; EPOC32 from Psion
Software; OS/9 from Microware; Nucleus from Accelerated
Technology; and Teknema O/S from Teknema increasing Cirrus
Logic's repertoire of OS support for its ARM-based solutions to
a total of 14.
http://www.cirrus.com
839.8 Digital Content Creation
***Hammer Storage Solutions Announces
SledgeHammer Pro Fibre
Channel Disk Storage Subsystem
(April 6)
Hammer Storage Solutions announced the SledgeHammer Pro FC.
The
SledgeHammer Pro FC ships with Hammer's RAIDWARE Disk Array
Management Software and Graphical User Interface, and Hammer's
new PCI Fibre Channel JackHammer.
SledgeHammer Pro FC disk arrays are designed as a complete
solution to deliver the ultimate in performance, flexibility,
expandability, and reliability. The SledgeHammer Pro FC is the
new digital video standard in Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-
AL) storage solutions, based on the JackHammer FC host bus
adapter that provides full duplex bandwidth up to 200MB/sec.
Key Features of the SledgeHammer Pro FC include:
- RAIDWARE Disk Array Software for data striping and mirroring
- JackHammer FC-Fibre channel PCI host bus adapter
- Up to 216 GB per 12 bay enclosure, supports daisy chaining up
to 8 enclosures per loop
- Full redundancy through Dual arbitrated loop support
- Supports new 10,000-rpm Fibre Channel drive modules; 4, 9, 18
GB
http://www.hammerstorage.com
***Alias|Wavefront Delivers Maya
for Windows NT
(April 6)
Alias|Wavefront, a subsidiary of Silicon Graphics, Inc.,
announced Maya, 3D software for Intel Architecture-based
hardware running the Microsoft Windows NT operating system.
Along with Maya, the advanced modules, Maya F/X and Maya Artisan
will also be available on Windows NT.
Maya provides complete interoperability to ensure that Maya
files and MEL (Maya Embedded Language) scripts can be seamlessly
transferred between IRIX and Windows NT systems.
The Windows NT version of Maya features the following industry-
leading capabilities:
- Bringing Characters To Life -- The Windows NT version features
Maya's breakthrough approach to bringing digital characters to
life that surpasses all other animation software. The unique
character animation capabilities in Maya free the animator to
concentrate on the creative process while providing technical
directors (TDs) with more powerful access to the technology than
ever before. Maya allows TDs to build characters with embedded
behaviors and higher level controls so that animators can
quickly and intuitively interact with them as digital puppets.
- Explosive Visual Effects -- As with the IRIX version, the
Windows NT version of Maya builds on Alias|Wavefront's
reputation for powerful visual effects technology by delivering
the broadest arsenal of tools with a tightly integrated workflow
for the world's best visual effects system. Maya combines an
extensible and fully-integrated particle system with rigid and
soft body dynamics technology for creating realistic simulations
that accurately reflect physical forces on objects as they
collide, bounce, roll, slide and deform without the time
consuming process of key framing. The mood of a scene can be
easily set with extensive lighting controls that let animators
quickly experiment with position, color, fall off and light
intensity. Maya integrates a range of sophisticated rendering
features including shader networks to enable artists to quickly
create rich, complex shots that blend the digital world
seamlessly with reality.
- System Speed -- At the heart of Maya is a comprehensive
scripting and command language called MEL. With MEL, users can
extend the system to meet specific production needs using
scripts ranging from simple macros to complex programs.
Additionally, the OpenMaya(TM) C++ API lets programmers extend
the native power of Maya through a rich, high bandwidth
programming interface.
- User Interface -- The Windows NT version of Maya features the
same workflow innovations as the IRIX verison which are designed
to significantly enhance user productivity by speeding both the
learning process of the novice and the throughput of expert
users.
Maya Advanced Modules
- Maya F/X -- high-performance, fully-integrated soft body
dynamics, particle dynamics and particle rendering for advanced
visual effects and realistic character animation;
- Maya Artisan -- a new modeling and animation tool with a
revolutionary interface that gives users the creative control
and intuitiveness of traditional artists' brushes and sculpting
tools.
Maya for Windows NT will start shipping in June 1998 and will
be
available starting at $10,000 for the base package, $10,000 for
Maya F/X and $7,500 for the Maya Artisan advanced module.
Pricing for the Windows NT version of Maya is the same as for
the IRIX version that shipped in February of this year.
http://www.sgi.com/
***Diamond Multimedia Ships New
Stealth II G460 Graphics
Accelerator Featuring The Intel740 Processor And 8MB Memory for
Under $100
(May 5)
Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. announced Stealth II G460,
an
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) 2X graphics accelerator.
Stealth II G460 features 8MB SDRAM and the Intel740 AGP
processor. Diamond's Stealth II G460 also features a combination
of the latest 3D business software and games in the U.S. retail
configuration, including:
- Fremont SE, a 3D visual data analysis and
communication tool by Portola Dimensional Systems
- WorldView Professional, a 3D animation package for PowerPoint
by Intervista
- Incoming, a powerful 3D game by Rage Software (a full 3D AGP
version)
- MGI's PhotoSuite SE
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- BackWeb Software
- Internet Explorer.
Stealth II G460 is now available at an estimated retail price
of
$129.95 and a special introductory, limited time $30 mail-in
rebate for an effective price of $99.95.
http://www.diamondmm.com
***VLSI Expands Scope of ViSTA
'98 Digital Set-Top Box Silicon
Product Line
(May 20)
VLSI Technology, Inc. adds four new products expanding the
company's ViSTA(VLSI Integrated Set-Top
Architecture) to cover all major digital TV market opportunities
VES1848 Return Channel Modem Chip
- Adds an option for two-way interactive communications to
digital cable set-top boxes. Interactive communications are a
cornerstone for advanced electronic commerce services such as
video-on-demand, Internet access, home shopping and financial
services.
VES1900 MCNS Digital Cable Front End Interface Chip
- Enables reception of US-standard MCNS digital cable signals
in
cable set-top boxes. The VES1900 joins the VLSI VES1820 (DVB-C
standard) chip in the ViSTA product line to cover both US and
European digital cable standards.
VES9600 DVB-T Digital Terrestrial Front End Interface Chip
- Adds digital terrestrial (over-the-air) reception capability
to the ViSTA '98 architecture. Digital terrestrial broadcasting
will start soon in Europe, with the US scheduled to transition
to all-digital broadcasting by the year 2006.
CAS2043 PC-based Satellite Data Plug-in Board
- Developed by VLSI's wholly-owned Comatlas subsidiary, the
board enables reception of satellite-borne data and video
signals in computers running Microsoft Windows. Initially
targeting business and professional products, the board marks
significant progress in bringing advanced video data services
to
PCs and other non-set-top box delivery systems.
The ViSTA '98 platform also offers the Horizon application
prototyping-development board and application software
development tools compatible with popular programming languages
and real-time operating systems.
http://www.vlsi.com
***Micron Technology, Inc., Rendition,
Inc., and Micron
Electronics, Inc., Announce Development of New Graphics
Architecture
(May 19)
Micron Technology, Inc., Rendition, Inc., and Micron
Electronics, Inc., announce the development of Socket X
technology, an open industry architecture which defines the
interface between single chip graphics accelerators and PC
system boards.
Micron Technology, Rendition, and Micron Electronics are also
working to develop single chip graphics accelerators which
utilize embedded DRAM technology. A high-performance graphics
core, combined with embedded memory, can dramatically improve
the price/performance of image acceleration by utilizing far
greater on-chip bandwidth than its discrete counterpart would
allow and by optimizing the amount of DRAM necessary for the
accelerator core to run specific applications.
A fundamental prerequisite for the Socket X architecture is
the
widespread availability of cost-effective embedded DRAM
processes. With the advent of .25 micron and finer process
geometries, the semiconductor industry is fully capable of
embedding 4 to 8 MB of DRAM with high-performance graphics
accelerators. This graphics architecture is further enabled by
the reliable, low-cost Z-LOK BGA socket developed by WELLS-CTI,
a subsidiary of PCD, Inc.
The Socket X standard will be introduced in an industry-wide
open forum in which PC manufacturers, graphics developers, and
motherboard manufacturers can provide valuable input toward
finalizing the Socket X specification. This cooperative effort
will aim to provide an industry standard footprint for graphics
products. Once completed, the Socket X specification will comply
with existing PC graphics standards including AGP, PCI, PC 99,
VIP and PanelLink.
http://www.micronpc.com
http://www.micron.com
http://www.rendition.com
***Synopsys Ships Language-Neutral
Verilog and VHDL Model
Sharing Capability
(June 1)
Synopsys Inc. announced that its simulation model compilation
and exchange capability, called IPx, will be included as a
standard feature in its Verilog and VHDL simulators.
IPx enables current users of Synopsys' Chronologic VCS -- and,
in the future, VHDL System Simulator (VSS), and Cyclone VHDL
simulators -- to create and co-execute language-neutral,
portable Verilog and VHDL models that can be shared with other
VCS, VSS or Cyclone VHDL users. In addition, IPx offers complete
protection of the proprietary model, fast simulation
performance, language-neutral portability and accuracy. IPx is
based on the proven model protection technology of Synopsys
Verilog Model Compiler (VMC).
Beginning July 4, 1998, IPx will be available to all VCS
customers on current maintenance contracts at no additional
charge. IPx support for VHDL models within VCS, VSS and Cyclone
VHDL is slated to be available in the fourth quarter of 1998.
http://www.synopsys.com
***IDT Previews Roadmap for IDT
WinChip Microprocessor Family
(May 19)
IDT previewed its new products including WinChip 2, WinChip
2
3D, WinChip 2+, WinChip 2+NB and WinChip 3.
IDT also announced that it has begun sampling its new IDT
WinChip 2 and WinChip 2 3D processors for the value desktop and
notebook computer market. The IDT WinChip 2 3D incorporates AMD
3DNow! technology which accelerates games and applications
written to Microsoft's Direct3D applications programming
interface (API). Based on Winstone 98 Benchmarks, the IDT
WinChip 2 and WinChip 2 3D will offer best-in-class performance
vs. other Socket 7 processors running at the same MHz. Samples
will initially be available at speeds running as high as 266
MHz, moving to 300 MHz later this year.
Performance gains in the IDT WinChip 2 family have been achieved
through core CPU improvements combined with new 0.25-micron
process technology, superscalar MMX capability, a fully
pipelined floating point unit and 100-MHz bus support. The IDT
WinChip 2 family will support Super 7 motherboards, providing
all the same benefits as the Pentium II architecture for uni-
processor systems, but at a much lower cost. The release of
multiple core logic chip sets with features such as 100-MHz bus
and AGP support ensures that users can continue to leverage the
cost-effective and established Socket 7 motherboard
infrastructure.
Future generations of the IDT WinChip family will provide
improved performance with a faster core, larger caches, and
speeds of up to 600 MHz and increasing integration. The IDT
WinChip 2+ will combine the IDT WinChip 2 core with a larger
primary level (L1) cache to improve performance while retaining
a very small die size. The IDT WinChip 2+NB with integrated
Northbridge will allow the end customer to select from a variety
of Southbridge and graphics performance options. This
integration will help lower the overall cost of the PC platform
through cost-effective packaging and reduction in motherboard
manufacturing costs. The IDT WinChip 3 will introduce a new core
and superpipelining techniques to double speeds to between 400
and 600 MHz while maintaining small die size and low cost.
http://www.idt.com
http://www.winchip.com
***Trident Microsystems Reports
Financial Results for Third
Quarter of Fiscal Year 1998, and stock repurchase plan
(April 22)
Trident Microsystems, Inc. reported that the company had
experienced its second consecutive quarter of loss during the
third fiscal quarter of 1998. Sales for the third quarter of
fiscal 1998 were $28,249,000, an increase of 5% from $26,939,000
for the prior quarter and a decrease of 39% from $46,511,000 for
the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. The loss for the
third quarter of fiscal 1998 was $923,000 or $0.07 per share,
compared to a loss of $1,949,000 or $0.15 per share for the
prior quarter, and net income of $4,532,000 or $0.32 per share
for the third quarter of the prior fiscal year.
Sales for the first nine months of fiscal year 1998 were
$93,727,000, a decrease of 35% from $143,214,000 for the same
period of the prior fiscal year. Net income was $201,000 for
the first nine months of fiscal year 1998, or $0.01 per share
compared to net income of $13,422,000 or $0.95 per share for the
same period of the prior fiscal year.
Trident Microsystems also announced that their Board of
Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan. The plan
provides that, from time to time, at management's discretion,
the company may repurchase up to $20 million worth of its stock
over the next twelve (12) months.
http://www.tridentmicro.com
***Oak Technology Announces Third
Fiscal Quarter 1998 Earnings
(April 22)
Oak Technology, Inc reported results for the third fiscal
quarter of 1998 ending March 31, 1998.
The Company reported net sales of $35.6 million, a decrease
of
29.6% over third fiscal quarter 1997 net sales of $50.6 million.
Net loss of $3.0 million compares to net income of $9.5 million
for the comparable period a year ago. Diluted net loss per
share of $0.07 compares with net income of $0.22 per diluted
share in the third quarter of fiscal 1997. Net loss for the
quarter includes an inventory charge of $3.5 million included
in
cost of sales and a restructuring charge of $1.8 million
relating to the close of the Company's PC graphics and audio
businesses.
Performance for the quarter was primarily impacted by continued
pressure from competitors in the CD-ROM controller market,
pressure from the sub-$1000 PC segment for lower-cost
components, and uncertain demand for personal computers. These
factors, along with some delays in new product releases, will
continue to affect the June quarter and therefore, the Company
expects to incur a small loss from operations in the quarter.
http://www.oaktech.com
--------------------------------------
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