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Form: SC 13G/A

Schedule filed to report acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities by passive investors and certain institutions

March 10, 1999

SC 13G/A: Schedule filed to report acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities by passive investors and certain institutions

Published on March 10, 1999



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


SCHEDULE 13G/A
(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO 13d-2


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 28, 1999

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE
PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED:
[ x ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)




MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)



COMMON STOCK
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)


595017104
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)



CUSIP Number 595017104
1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED
13-3043476

2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) / /
(b) / x /

3) SEC USE ONLY



4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

(5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0-
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 4,792,500*
BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON WITH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0-

(8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,160,258*


9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,160,258*

10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES / /



11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

10.18%

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IA, CO


J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (JWS), as investment adviser for
Seligman Communications and Information Fund, Inc. (the Fund), may be deemed
to beneficially own the shares reported herein by the Fund.
Accordingly, the shares reported herein by JWS include those shares
separately reported herein by the Fund.

--------------------------------------------------

CUSIP Number 595017104
1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

WILLIAM C. MORRIS

2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) / /
(b) / x /

3) SEC USE ONLY



4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

UNITED STATES

(5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0-
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 4,792,500*
BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON WITH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0-

(8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,160,258*


9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,160,258*

10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES / /



11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

10.18%

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN


* William C. Morris, as the owner of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (JWS), may be deemed to
beneficially own the shares reported herein by JWS. Accordingly, the shares
reported herein by William C. Morris include those shares separately reported
herein by JWS.

--------------------------------------------------

CUSIP Number 595017104
1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Seligman Communications & Information Fund, Inc.
13-31544499

2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) / /
(b) / x /

3) SEC USE ONLY



4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Maryland


(5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0-
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 2,800,000
BY EACH REPORTING
PERSON WITH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0-

(8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,800,000


9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,800,000

10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES / /



11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.52%

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IC


--------------------------------------------------


Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.

Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

2355 W. CHANDLER BLVD
CHANDLER, AZ 85224-6199

Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:

(1) J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED (JWS)
(2) WILLIAM C. MORRIS (Mr. Morris)
(3) SELIGMAN COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION FUND, INC. (the Fund)

Item 2(b) Address or Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

100 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017

Item 2(c) Citizenship:

(1) DELAWARE CORPORATION
(2) UNITED STATES
(3) MARYLAND

Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:

COMMON STOCK

Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:

595017104

Item 3 If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b),
check whether the person is filing as a:

JWS is an investment adviser in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). Mr. Morris is a control person of JWS in
accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). The Fund is an Investment
Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940.


Item 4 Ownership.

Incorporated by reference to Items (5)-(9) and (11) of the cover page
pertaining to each reporting person.

JWS, as investment adviser for the Fund, may be deemed to beneficially own
the shares reported herein by the Fund. Accordingly, the shares reported
herein by JWS include those shares separately reported herein by the Fund.

Mr. Morris, as the owner of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of JWS, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares reported herein by JWS.
Accordingly, the shares reported herein by Mr. Morris include those shares
separately reported herein by JWS.


Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

NOT APPLICABLE

Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

The shares reported herein by JWS include those shares separately
reported herein by the Fund.

Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which acquired
the security being reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

NOT APPLICABLE

Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

NOT APPLICABLE

Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group.

NOT APPLICABLE

Item 10 Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above
were acquired in the ordinary course of business and
were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have
the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having such purpose or effect.



SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

DATE: March 10, 1999


J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED

BY /s/ Lawrence P. Vogel
-------------------------------------
Name: Lawrence P. Vogel
Title: Senior Vice President, Finance



/s/ Frank J. Nasta
- ----------------------------------------
Frank J. Nasta, as
Attorney-in-fact for William C. Morris



SELIGMAN COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION FUND, INC.

BY /s/ Lawrence P. Vogel
-------------------------------------
Name: Lawrence P. Vogel
Title: Vice President



EXHIBIT

7.1 Agreement of Joint Filing between J. & W. Seligman & Co.
Incorporated, William C. Morris and Seligman Communications &
Information Fund, Inc. dated March 10, 1999.

7.2 Power of Attorney for William C. Morris



EXHIBIT 7.1

AGREEMENT OF JOINT FILING


J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated, William C. Morris and Seligman
Communications & Information Fund, Inc. hereby agree that the Statement
on Schedule 13G to which this agreement is attached as an exhibit, as well as
all future amendments to such Statement, shall be filed jointly on behalf of
each of them. This agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of
Rule 13d-1(f)(1)(iii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Dated: March 10, 1999


J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED

BY /s/ Lawrence P. Vogel
-------------------------------------
Name: Lawrence P. Vogel
Title: Senior Vice President, Finance



/s/ Frank J. Nasta
- ----------------------------------------
Frank J. Nasta, as
Attorney-in-fact for William C. Morris


Seligman Communications & Information Fund, Inc.

BY /s/ Lawrence P. Vogel
-------------------------------------
Name: Lawrence P. Vogel
Title: Vice President



EXHIBIT 7.2

POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR
WILLIAM C. MORRIS


KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby appoints
Frank J. Nasta, attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for in name and stead, to sign and file Forms 13D and 13G
promulgated under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or further Amendments thereto, and any and all applications or other
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining
thereto, with full power and authority to do and perform all acts and things
requisite and necessary to be done on the premises. This appointment shall
be valid for the sole purpose stated above and shall be in effect and force,
unless sooner revoked by me in writing.


Executed this 2nd day of February, 1998.


/s/ William C. Morris
------------------------------
William C. Morris