Josh wrote to say: "I agree that strategically Sandisk is a much better company than Lexar. They execute, execute. Execute. However, Lexar has a potential upside that is quite significant in the next month or two, if the trial against Toshiba goes well. I have not followed the litigation that closely but it made it to trial, and these kind of claims (essentially IP theft) are always a crap shoot."

Terry added: "I read the response on SNDK/LEXR. He is right about SNDK having market dominance and pricing power through licencing out their patents, and that they also have many OEM customers. The question is, how long will these OEMs stay sourcing just SNDK when they see SNDK becoming an OEM competing directly in their own market? Maybe SNDK's OEM customers will spread their orders around and some will fall to LEXR. Same reasoning as to why Magna Int'l isn't assembling autos or Intel Corp selling computers in North America despite having the capability to do so. If the Lexar vs. Toshiba suit goes against Toshiba, other OEM's might be unwilling to work similar arrangements with SNDK lest it be found that patent infringements might surface? Or would anyone upon finding Toshiba guilty actually believe that SNDK was not culpable?"

As for me, I'm just happy that readers are responding.

BCara@BillCara.com