TSMC, Intel, Toshiba, and Samsung all support the transition to 450mm citing both important technological advancements as well as significant capacity increases to meet the needs of future smartphone users around the world. One 450mm wafer should yield more than twice as much compared to todays 300mm, and well over four times the number from yesterdays 200mm. Why are the potato chip guys smarter than the silicon chip guys? Because potato chip vendors can hike prices by adding the word 'Gourmet' to their product description, while silicon chip vendors compete so fiercely they are always offering lower prices. Dr Keh-Ching Huang of Global Unichip, TSMC's design subsidiary, recalls seeing potato chips being sold under the label 'Gourmet Potato Chips' and selling for 20% more than ordinary potato chips. So why hasn't the Gourmet ASIC yet been invented? It has been an interesting month in the semiconductor business. Record revenues, profits, aggressive expansion plans, something we have not seen before and may not see again. Lets start in Taiwan then move to Silicon Valley, Upstate New York, China, and Korea, with a look at: financials, capacity, and consolidation.