Silicon Valley quiets down for holiday lull

SAN FRANCISCO: Many Silicon Valley companies said they would close down over
the holidays, following something of a tradition in the technology center
reinforced this year by plans to cut costs in the weak economy.

Network computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc. will close between Christmas,
Dec. 25, and Jan. 2, after taking a week off to trim costs around the July 4
Independence Day holiday.

Hewlett-Packard Co. will close down on Dec. 24 and also reopen on Jan. 2,
asking employees to use accrued vacation time or take time off without pay for
four of those days, part of a bid to trim costs announced months ago.

Austin, Texas-based Dell Computer Corp. will also close corporate offices for
the week between the holidays, as it has done in recent years.

Houston, Texas-based Compaq Computer Corp. and Armonk, New York-based
International Business Machines Corp. both plan to take off Dec. 24 as well as
Dec. 25 but otherwise stay open for the week.

(C) Reuters Limited.