Network World, 1/4/99

After determining whether the network companies and CEOs gained or lost power in the previous year, we asked readers to look into their chrystal balls and predict whether the vendors and their leaders will get stronger or weaker in 1999. The Power Predictor Index is the difference betwen the number of reader who said the company or executive would gain power and those who said they would lose power.

Move mouse over names to see their ranking on the Power Predictor Gauge.

Winners:

• The big winner is Novell. Readers clearly expect big things from Big Red in 1999, after it pulled itself out of the basement in 1998.

• Look who's topping the list of companies expected to gain power in 1999 - yes, that's right, Lucent.

• AT&T is seen picking up even more steam in 1999, as is Nortel with Bay under its belt.

• Microsoft is the big loser, falling to No. 5, thanks to a 25-point drop in its Power Predictor Index.

• Netscape? More of the same - bad news, that is.

• GTE also took a big hit in the index, while HP, Intel and Sun all dropped as well.