RE: Real Y2K issue

[Lawrence Lewis <lel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just because an embedded computer system has a date function doesn't mean   
it is used to "control" the device. Most of the time it is used for   
passive information. And even if it 's used for control information, it   
doesn't mean the device will fail when we roll over to 2000.

I've written many embedded systems - yes - even some which used a 2 digit   
year for the date. I can't think of one which used the date to control   
anything that would fail when we roll over to 2000. You know, many   
programmers were not as dumb as they're being made out to be. They put in   
code to check for unreasonable numbers.

I think this is going to be the biggest "buy the rumor, sell the news"   
event in history. Anyways, that's the only rational way to play it. If   
I'm right, I make millions. If I wrong, the money I lose will be   
worthless anyways.

BTW, the real problem will occur on January 18, 2038 when Microsoft's   
 CTime class, which records time as the number of seconds since January   
1, 1970 rolls over. I think UNIX's time function has similar problems.   
It's always something!

Larry Lewis

 -----Original Message-----
From: "R.M." (reply to: mailbox@xxxxxxxxxx) [SMTP:mailbox@xxxxxxxxxx   
(MIME) (actually from: owner-realtraders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx)]
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 1998 7:50 AM
To: realtraders
Subject: Re: Real Y2K issue


Rt'ers,
       Forget the doom and gloom. In Europe they have a song "On the 30th
of May is the end of the world"
The result is they wake up on May 31 and everything is still ok. They   
know
they have at least one more year to go....... Very practical........They   
do
not worry about it in between.

Now on to Y2K.
There are 10-20 million devices with embedded chips that have a date   
function.
Video camera's for example.
This chip controls the camera.
If your camera is under waranty then set it to 12/31/1999 and see what
happens.
If it is not under warranty set it to 10 or 20 years earlier.

If 20 million products become disfunctional that are not under warranty
will people replace them with new ones? What companies make these   
products?

May the bird of paradise lay golden eggs in your lap.
RM




At 10:24 AM 8/1/98 EDT, Bando57@xxxxxxx wrote:
>Forget shorting the power utilities...
>
>Go long the publisher of Amish Equipment Catalogues...
>
>butter churners, washboards, etc are going to be in high demand....
>
>Rick
>
>