Although MIPS Computer Systems Inc blames the loss it expects to report for the quarter just ended (CI No 1,526) on shortage of R6000 chips for its top-end RC6280 machine – the news saw a savage 32% slump in the share price to $9.25, there are growing fears of a rapidly deteriorating market for Unix workstations, which has seen a 40% fall in Sun Microsystems Inc shares over the past two weeks, taking them down to $17.625: Sun is doing nothing to counter the fears, saying it has set an immediate hiring freeze, cut corporate travel and cancelled non-essential expenses.
