Cisco Waiting For Gigabit And So Are HP, 3Com Network switch makers await bigger sales boost from gigabit Ethernet.(A)

Byline: MIKE ANGELL

Network gear makers are releasing faster products to link computers in offices. But while customers want newer and faster, they also want cheaper.

The Ethernet standard used to link desktop computers has reached gigabit-per-second speeds. That's 1 billion bits of data a second, or 62.5 million normal typewritten pages.

That's superfast, which is why makers of gigabit Ethernet switches -- products that transmit data on networks at these speeds -- hope the advance to gigabit brings a much-needed boost to their sales and profits.

But they shouldn't expect too much too soon, warn many analysts. They give two reasons. For …