News posts from 2002

Ken Tanaka · December 21st, 2002, 10:58 AM

I'm glad that Rick shone some practical light on this comapny's dilemma. I don't know much about this company and do not use any of its products. But 10 minutes of research on Sonic Foundry's financial situation and background revealed that "greed" is not the issue here. As Rick suggested, the situation is "fear". This is a very tiny ("micro-cap") company that has little prospect of surviving, let alone thriving, if it doesn't take actions now. With only $14 mil in market capitalization and its shares trading at $0.51 nobody's going to get rich from this venture.

Vilifying business people has become a favorite spectator sport, packaged and sold by the media in much the same way that they sell people music, cars, professional sports and clothing. But it's just plain damn wrong to indict someone categorically with little or no knowledge of the matters at hand. Perhaps SOFO had a poor business plan, perhaps their management is inept, perhaps many other possibilities led them to this juncture. But to declare this tiny company's management to be the same ilk as some of the scoundrels that the media has paraded past us lately is just thoughtless band-wagonning.

Bill Ravens · December 21st, 2002, 02:48 PM

Thanx for the voice of reason, Ken.
I appreciate it. The sad part is that Sonic Foundry has been a company that literally bent over backwards to listen to its customers and try to give them what they wanted. Unlike some of these other companies, like Adobe or Creative, who give a tinker's damn for what their paying public wants and needs.

Jeff Donald · December 21st, 2002, 03:46 PM

The deal is for $8.2 million in cash and $15.8 million in Pinnacle Systems common stock. Even with the cash I doubt they can make a go of it. I would expect Pinnacle systems to buy the remnants in a year or two.

Jeff

Ken Tanaka · December 21st, 2002, 04:22 PM

With the stock trading so low the complete buy-out may actually happen much sooner if NASDAQ de-lists them, an inevitabllity if it continues to fall and liquidity in SOFO shares evaporates.

Ken Tanaka · December 31st, 2002, 12:10 AM

I came across this interesting news release, dated December 2, 2002. Digital linear projection appears to be on its way towards ubiquity.

http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/subcat...01/01_158.html

Dylan Couper · December 31st, 2002, 10:41 AM

THat'd work pretty nice in my rec room. Is there a price for it? I didn't see one.

Ken Tanaka · December 31st, 2002, 10:46 AM

US$23,000 for the PT-D7600U and US$30,000 for the PT-D7500U. Not quite priced for most homes but certainly a modest price for a public theater.

December 21st, 2002, 10:58 AM	#286
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I'm glad that Rick shone some practical light on this comapny's dilemma. I don't know much about this company and do not use any of its products. But 10 minutes of research on Sonic Foundry's financial situation and background revealed that "greed" is not the issue here. As Rick suggested, the situation is "fear". This is a very tiny ("micro-cap") company that has little prospect of surviving, let alone thriving, if it doesn't take actions now. With only $14 mil in market capitalization and its shares trading at $0.51 nobody's going to get rich from this venture. Vilifying business people has become a favorite spectator sport, packaged and sold by the media in much the same way that they sell people music, cars, professional sports and clothing. But it's just plain damn wrong to indict someone categorically with little or no knowledge of the matters at hand. Perhaps SOFO had a poor business plan, perhaps their management is inept, perhaps many other possibilities led them to this juncture. But to declare this tiny company's management to be the same ilk as some of the scoundrels that the media has paraded past us lately is just thoughtless band-wagonning. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 21st, 2002, 04:22 PM	#289
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	With the stock trading so low the complete buy-out may actually happen much sooner if NASDAQ de-lists them, an inevitabllity if it continues to fall and liquidity in SOFO shares evaporates. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 31st, 2002, 12:10 AM	#290
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Panasonic' New Compact, Low-Cost 3-Chip DLP Projector I came across this interesting news release, dated December 2, 2002. Digital linear projection appears to be on its way towards ubiquity. http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/subcat...01/01_158.html __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 31st, 2002, 10:46 AM	#292
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	US$23,000 for the PT-D7600U and US$30,000 for the PT-D7500U. Not quite priced for most homes but certainly a modest price for a public theater. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 21st, 2002, 02:48 PM	#287
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Thanx for the voice of reason, Ken. I appreciate it. The sad part is that Sonic Foundry has been a company that literally bent over backwards to listen to its customers and try to give them what they wanted. Unlike some of these other companies, like Adobe or Creative, who give a tinker's damn for what their paying public wants and needs.

December 21st, 2002, 03:46 PM	#288
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The deal is for $8.2 million in cash and $15.8 million in Pinnacle Systems common stock. Even with the cash I doubt they can make a go of it. I would expect Pinnacle systems to buy the remnants in a year or two. Jeff

December 31st, 2002, 10:41 AM	#291
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	THat'd work pretty nice in my rec room. Is there a price for it? I didn't see one.