GLG News by Semiconductor Experts in GLG Member Programs (US)

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

Rumor Mill Indicates SSDs Closely Watched

April 11, 2008

Analysis of:Dell denies report of solid-state drive failures | www.computerworld.com

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) may be ahead of their time, but they are certainly generating a lot of press!  Companies who don't want to get left in the dust need both to understand this technology, and to understand why their customers would or would not like to purchase it.

Donald RheaultFounderOurSalesRep

National cannot gain significant market share with its current sales approach.

April 11, 2008

Analysis of:Earnings Preview: National Semiconductor | seekingalpha.com

There are several sales team approaches by the companies in the analog IC business-some are more succesful than others.    You have to balance cost of sales with a successful sales effort. National has too few "feet on the street" to compete for new designs with Analog Devices, On, Intersil, TI, ST Micro and others.

John BergChief Technology Officer AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

Intel and NAND FLASH: Santyana was correct; Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it

March 14, 2008

Analysis of:Analysis - Intel NAND woes and cardinal sins | www.electronicsweekly.com

Intel is a terrific company. Since 1985, it has focused mostly on MPU's, as the expense of everything else, and consequently, it has dominated the market. Prior to 1985, it was also a memory company - competing against the Japanese. Intel used GCA steppers - an utterly inferior product - while the Japanese uesed 1x projection systems - which made larger die with fewer defects. Who won? The Japanese, of course. Today it is not just the Japanese, but the Koreans as well - Samsung and Hynix.

John BergChief Technology Officer AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

Is Micron spinning out its Image Sensor Division?

March 10, 2008

Analysis of:Bloodied Micron tries extreme (re)makeover | www.eetimes.com

Micron announced last week that its newly named sensor business, Aptina, will run as an independent division within Micron. The divsion will have independent sales, marketing and profit-and-loss functions in order to be more "responsive to the market." Aptina employs about 700 people and represented 12 percent of Micron's total net sales. Aptina will continue to use Micron's fabs but will be allowed to pursue manufacturing alliances with Asian foundries. This move is signaling that Micron is putting its sensor business for sale. Micron already breaks out the revenue and operating profit (loss) of its imaging business in in its annual and quarterly reports. The latest quarter saw the imaging business dip into the red. Selling this asset would be apropos for Micron, as sensors have little in common, either in manufacturing or in sales channels, with Micron's main business: DRAM and FLASH memories.

James "Jim" CantorePresident & Chief AnalystJLC Associates LLC

How Can AMD Save Itself and Stay Independent? Is Nvidia AMD's Savior?

March 4, 2008

Analysis of:Nvidia-AMD: Deal or no deal? | www.eetimes.com

1. AMD got itself in a precarious position by failing to execute. 2. Nvidia acquiring AMD is not the solution. Nvidia does not need an AMD headache. Neither aspirin nor anything stronger will help Nvidia. 3. AMD needs financial and engineering resources.

James "Jim" CantorePresident & Chief AnalystJLC Associates LLC

What's Up With Yet Another Numonyx Delay?

March 3, 2008

Analysis of:Could it be another Numonyx delay? | www.eetimes.com

1. The NOR market is a money loser, no matter who the players are. 2. If Numonyx, (Intel + STMicroelectronics), was such a great money making proposition it would have been funded months ago. 3. The financial world is well aware that the last big NOR Flash venture between AMD and Fujitsu, Spansion, resulted in a public company that to date has never ever made a profit.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

SanDisk/Toshiba Manufacturing Agreement Improves Manufacturing Flexibility

February 28, 2008

Analysis of:SanDisk, Toshiba sign MOU for new fab | www.bizjournals.com

SanDisk has done very well with its captive chip supply to work a business model that is, for the most part, vertically integrated.  As the company has grown, they are now looking at improvements on this model that will further enhance both their cost structure and their flexibility.  The new model should help SanDisk keep their advantageous cost structure while providing more flexibility than prior agreements have done.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

The Semiconductor Cycle - A Factor Beyond Any Company's Control

February 25, 2008

Analysis of:Rumor: Micron-Nanya JV in the works | www.eetasia.com

The semiconductor cycle is here to stay.  It is driven by factors beyond the control of any single semiconductor maker.  Industry consolidation will occur, but it will be driven by the spiralling cost of manufacturing plants.  Industry cycles will not abate by the consilidation of the market unless only one supplier remains.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

New PRAM a Boon for Intel's & ST's "Numonyx" Spin-Off

February 8, 2008

Analysis of:A Memory Breakthrough (MIT Technology Review) | www.technologyreview.com

An obscure new semiconductor memory technology called PRAM (or PCM) promises to eventually change the nature of the flash memory market.  Companies who are on top of PRAM, mainly Intel, STMicroelectronics (and their Numponyx spin-off) and Samsung are well positioned to capture this technology's success when it develops.  Energy Conversion Devices, the owner of the phase-change technology, will also benefit from royalties over the long term.  Spansion's not talking, so we don't know how this will play out for them, but BAE, Elpida, Hynix, and Qimonda are licensees, so they are likely to move in a similar direction.

James "Jim" CantorePresident & Chief AnalystJLC Associates LLC

AMD Looks Uphill: Bluster Dims Lost Luster

February 4, 2008

Analysis of:AMD: Is The Worst Over? | seekingalpha.com

Does AMD keep close enough tabs on the details? Risk underestimation cripples bold initiatives. Crisp execution and coordination of all the risks is something AMD needs to do better. AMD overpaid for ATI, ran short of cash and had to go overseas for capital.AMD will give up precious market share to Intel.AMD profitability remains just out of reach.At current market valuation AMD may be a takeover target.  

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