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DRAM Chip Shortage Looms, Software Agents Emerges, and Database Upgrades Gain Momentum

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Industry analysts are warning of a significant shortage of 16MB DRAM chips, with demand outpacing supply by as much as 20% in the first quarter of 1995. This shortage is fueled by a 15% growth in worldwide PC unit shipments for 1994, with the average memory per desktop PC expected to rise from 5.5MB in 1993 to nearly 8MB in 1995. In related news, Microsoft is taking action to reverse a jury verdict that found it infringed on Stac Electronics's patents in its DoubleSpace data compression utility, with the company planning for a possible worldwide recall of all MS-DOS software that contains DoubleSpace.

Key Takeaways:

  • A 20% shortage of 16MB DRAM chips is predicted for the first quarter of 1995 due to demand exceeding supply.
  • The average memory per desktop PC will rise from 5.5MB in 1993 to nearly 8MB in 1995, driven by a 15% growth in worldwide PC unit shipments.
  • Microsoft is planning for a possible worldwide recall of all MS-DOS software that contains DoubleSpace.
  • Microsoft will pay Stac $US120 million in compensatory damages for infringing on Stac Electronics's patents in its DoubleSpace data compression utility.
  • Intel and Nestor are developing a neural network chip called Ni1000 that will clone a user's actions, bringing us one step closer to software agents.
  • Oracle 7.1 will be shipped this month, featuring improved replication capabilities and parallel-query capabilities, which will allow for synchronized data updates across servers in real time.
  • Unisys Australia is handing back its reins to the US company, with the South Pacific Group being dissolved and the managing director leaving the company.
  • Gupta Corp is due to release version 6.0 of its SQLBase database, including built-in ODBC support for access to corporate databases and data sharing with applications like spreadsheets.

Statistics:

  • 20% shortage of 16MB DRAM chips predicted for the first quarter of 1995
  • 15% growth in worldwide PC unit shipments for 1994
  • 5.5MB average memory per desktop PC in 1993
  • 8MB average memory per desktop PC expected in 1995
  • $US120 million compensatory damages paid by Microsoft to Stac for infringing on Stac Electronics's patents
  • 20-200 price range for Interactive Systems International's affordable Ni1000 applications

Sources:

  • "Reuter News Service"
  • "PC Week"
  • "Dataquest's Memories Worldwide Service unit"
  • "Dataquest Japan"
  • "Microsoft"
  • "Stac Electronics"
  • "Intel"
  • "Nestor"
  • "Oracle Corp"
  • "Sybase"
  • "Unisys Australia"
  • "Gupta Corp"
  • "Corel Systems"

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