Conference 7.286::digital

1131.0. "Ken Olsen Interview" by CSG001::MAKSIN (Joe Maksin 291-0378 PDM1-2/H4) Tue Jun 19 1990 07:22

    "Take it from the top" written by Glenn Rifkin, appearing in
    June 18,1990 issue of Computrerworld.
    
    
    Ken Olsen, DEC's only president in its 33-year history, is known
    to be colorful and candid.  In an interview with "Computerworld"
    last week, Olsen spiced his comments with views of DEC and the
    industry.
    
    0 On the confusion casued by DEC's stream of product annoucements:
    
      "There are a lot of prodcuts coming out, and that does cause
       confusion.  But we have a choice of getting behind of making
       to many products."
    
    0 On whether problems within the sales force drove away former
      Senior Vice-President Jack Shields after 28 year at DEC:
    
      "I don't know.  I never asked him.  It just didn't seem polite.
       He didn't say that was why.  He didn't say at all."
    
    0  On efforts to reduce the employee head count:
    
       "I'm not saying that's not going on.  I'm not conscious of it
        because it's not at the level where it's my kind of problem."
    
    0  On whether DEC has plans to resell Apple Computer, Inc. Macintoches:
    
       "I asked that question and so far haven't gotten any good answers
        back.  If anything, I say we should have done it years ago."
    
    0  On the continuing doldrums for DEC stock:
    
       "Wall Street is interested in profit today, and we're not making
        the profit today we should."
    
    0  On paying a dividend to shareholders:
    
       "We've been making cash for quite a while now.  It's probably
        the right assumption that we should pay dividends.  The problem
        is, our advisers say 'Not now.'''
    

    When asked at DECWORLD if we were going to sell MACintoshes, Ken
    replied "Yes".  Has anyone out there any new information?
    
    (Rumors will be honored as such.)
    
    KClay