AMD: AMD is betting its Optron processor is a contender for the 64-bit processor slot.
Apple Computer: Apple is mounting a server assault and wooing the *nix faithful with OS X.
Cisco: Cisco is making a major play into storage, both in iSCSI and Fibre Channel.
Dell: Dell, too, is making a run at the storage market, hand in hand with EMC on most fronts.
EMC: EMC faces continuing price pressures on its hardware and has been expanding its software focus.
Gadzoox Networks: Will Gadzoox get out of Chapter 11 next year?
Hewlett-Packard: The year ahead will deliver the report card we've all been waiting for regarding the Hewlett-Packard/Compaq merger.
Intel: Is the Itanium processor the 64-bit processor of the future?
Microsoft: Microsoft needs to fend off rabid Linux users. Much of its future success hinges on the .Net server OS and the .Net framework.
Network Appliance: Network Appliance took the plunge into SANs this year.
Nexsan Technologies: Nexsan, an ATA RAID storage vendor, should continue to assault traditional tape backup.
Qlogic: QLogic continues to bring highly compatible products to the storage market.
Red Hat: The leading Linux vendor greatly influences the Linux scene.