No error. Note that this price is for 12TB raw (that's the cost to get into the NearStore dance). Well under $0.03 per raw MB (NetApp promotional materials cite $0.02, but I think that's just for the h/w - list price is $275K for the base 12TB system). That's a whole bunch less than a filer -- an F840c or F880c at 12TB will run you 2.5-3x more, and multiple smaller filers even more than that.

Of course, the NearStore isn't meant to replace production filers. You're right to make the comparison to other nearline storage devices, and that's where NetApp has to sell its value proposition. I.e. integration with other filers (SnapMirror, SnapVault, SnapRestore), snapshot technology, no latency (compared to libraries w/ media pickers), universal access, better reliability, etc... Other disk-based nearline products are rushing to market now, too. Some are simply repackaged low-end NAS being repositioned to grab some market share. Others may be real players. However, I don't think there's another vendor going this aggressively into the nearline market space that has the comprehensive solution and integration across the enterprise that you can get with NetApp, though. Of course I'm a little biased, since I make some of my living selling these things. :-]

Joe

Joe Luchtenberg Dataline, Inc.

Email: joe.luchtenberg@data-line.com Phone: 757-457-0504 (direct line) 757-858-0600 (front desk) 757-285-1223 (mobile) Fax: 757-858-0606

Please visit us at www.data-line.com

-----Original Message----- From: Allen_Chang@syscape.com.tw [mailto:Allen_Chang@syscape.com.tw] Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 3:51 AM To: toasters@mathworks.com Subject: R100 Price?

From what I heard from NetApp sales and managers for the past few months, it seems the new NearStore product line will be a cost-effective, low-performance, large capacity filer designated for near-line storage.

However, I just downloaded the newest Quoter from the NOW site. The new Quoter indicated that an R100-12TB preconfigured is priced for nearly USD$330,000(Wow!!!). Is this an error of the new Quoter? Or, NetApp executives really think they can use this AMAZING price to compete with other nearline storage devices?

*Sigh*

Regards,

Allen TK. Chang Project Manager allen_chang@syscape.com.tw Syscape Technology