Don't read this if you're easily depressed!

One of my regular morning coffee stops on the Internet Highway is the Register. If you’re in Tech then you either are very familiar with that site; if you’re not you absolutely need to bookmark (http://www.theregister.co.uk/). Yes, it’s a UK-based news site but it covers the Tech Industry like no other news organization I’ve seen. (Note that this isn’t a blog so, while there are the occasionally opinion articles -- and I’m completely aware of the outspoken opinions that are sprinkled throughout the coverage -- I’m not comparing this site to the many tech blogs out there...) So, where was I? Oh, yeah, I’ve been seeing a bit of general coverage that may lead one to determine that the recession may be improving and a recovery may be at hand.

And then I saw this: From: IDC: Server market to decline through 2010 by TP Morgan
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/06/17/idc_server_forecast/

Quote:

“The server market could show a 29.6 per cent revenue decline to $10.6bn - which will be the largest decline in the history of systems and servers, worse than even the first quarter - given that the global economy is still down and the second quarter of last year was pre-meltdown and therefore not bad. And everyone knows even if the third quarter is flat and the fourth quarter is flat or even up a bit, those are easier compares. So there will be no joy if this comes to pass, but not much panic, either.”

Ouch. Sorry but I don’t see much of anything to be pleased about in this announcement. I was expecting flat to - 10% revenue in the server space. An almost 30% decline says nothing to me short of “wow, we’ll be screwed just a little bit longer...” Reminds me of Bob Uecker’s Harry Doyle in Major League describing an errant pitch as “... just a little bit outside” as it pelts the crowd way out of reach of the catcher. I’m thinking “euphemism depression!“ As someone directly challenging the employment market I struggle to find the silver linings day-in and day-out. While I do fancy myself a Master Networker and I do have some irons in the fire, if things don’t turn around sooner rather than later I’m afraid for my friends. I’m afraid for Silicon Valley.

Sorry. I know I’m probably breaking a cardinal rule in blogging by ending the week on a down note.

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