Robertson Stephens Conference

Tuck a packet of Kleenex into your suit pocket -- it's investor conference time.

You can count on hearing a few sob stories this week as the Robertson Stephens Tech 2001 Conference takes shape in San Francisco. In the natural progression of loss, last year's winter conference hit during the dizzy inebriation of the market before the Internet music died. This week's conference will provide tear-jerking renditions of a December and January gone sour, a baffling economy and a handful of stiff upper lips who say they're above the fray.

TSC's Dan Colarusso, Adam Lashinsky, Scott Moritz and Tish Williams are reporting from the conference on how the companies are dealing with today's environment and whether they're offering any of the visibility everyone wants. ...