Silicon Valley grows up: Tech industry matures, stabilizes

Silicon Valley has long been the kind of place where offices have slides, khakis are formalwear and the hottest companies in town spell their names in big, multicolored letters.

It’s the kind of place where two billionaire software tycoons, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Siebel Systems Chairman Tom Siebel, can engage in a 15-year playground-like fight — and few find it weird.

It’s the kind of place where a young industry — one constantly flinging itself into boom-and-bust cycles while chasing the next big thing — thrives.

Except now, there are signs that tech is maturing — possibly even approaching middle age.

Gulp.

By Michelle Kessler, USA TODAY

Full Story; http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-10-11-silicon-valley-matures_x.htm