================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 X   Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
- ---
     Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal quarter ended:  September 30, 2002 or

     Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
- ---
     Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number:     0-25426
                        ---------------

                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                                   74-1871327
- ----------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
    (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                 Identification Number)
     11500 North MoPac Expressway
             Austin, Texas                                 78759
- ----------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
    (address of principal executive                      (zip code)
               offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (512) 338-9119
                              ---------------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No __

Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

                  Class                        Outstanding at November 5, 2002
     Common Stock - $0.01 par value                       50,993,284



                         NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION


              INDEX
                                                                        Page No.
              PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                            --------

Item 1        Financial Statements:

                 Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 September 30, 2002 (unaudited) and December 31, 2001      3

                 Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
                 Three months and nine months ended September 30, 2002
                 and 2001                                                  4

                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
                 Nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001             5

                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                6

Item 2        Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                         10

Item 3        Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk  19

Item 4        Controls and Procedures                                     19


              PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1        Legal Proceedings                                           20

Item 6        Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                            20



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.     Financial Statements

                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        (in thousands, except share data)

                                                  September 30,    December 31,
                                                      2002             2001
                                                  -------------    ------------
Assets                                             (unaudited)
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents...................    $   66,200       $   49,089
   Short-term investments......................        77,185          101,422
   Accounts receivable, net....................        55,518           53,624
   Inventories, net............................        39,622           32,607
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets...        14,805           20,608
   Deferred income tax, net....................         7,708            6,408
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total current assets.....................       261,038          263,758
Property and equipment, net....................       150,720          137,360
Intangibles and other assets...................        25,268           23,501
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total assets.............................    $  437,026       $  424,619
                                                  =============    ============

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable............................    $   26,147       $   28,958
   Accrued compensation........................        10,874            8,944
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities......         8,963            6,819
   Income taxes payable........................         6,110            1,298
   Other taxes payable.........................         9,708            7,903
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total current liabilities................        61,802           53,922
Deferred income taxes..........................         3,230            4,533
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total liabilities........................        65,032           58,455
                                                  -------------    ------------
Commitments and contingencies                              --               --
Stockholders' equity:
   Common Stock: par value $0.01; 180,000,000
   shares authorized; 50,769,239 and
   51,162,469 shares issued and outstanding,
   respectively................................           508              512
Additional paid-in capital.....................        65,308           78,261
Retained earnings..............................       311,849          290,408
Accumulated other comprehensive loss...........        (5,671)          (3,017)
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total stockholders' equity...............       371,994          366,164
                                                  -------------    ------------
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $  437,026       $  424,619
                                                  =============    ============

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                      (in thousands, except per share data)
                                   (unaudited)


                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,           September 30,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                     2002        2001        2002        2001
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Net sales.......................  $  96,020   $  85,062   $ 284,264   $ 290,849

Cost of sales...................     25,196      23,288      77,157      75,789
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Gross profit..................     70,824      61,774     207,107     215,060
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating expenses:
   Sales and marketing..........     36,679      34,275     105,653     109,167
   Research and development.....     16,095      14,920      47,762      45,950
   General and administrative...      9,444       6,070      26,072      21,459
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
      Total operating expenses..     62,218      55,265     179,487     176,576
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

      Operating income..........      8,606       6,509      27,620      38,484

Other income (expense):
   Interest income, net.........        785       1,303       2,419       4,574
   Net foreign exchange gain
    (loss)......................       (612)        341      (1,288)       (921)
   Other income.................        506         206       1,028         601
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income before income taxes......      9,285       8,359      29,779      42,738
Provision for income taxes......      2,600       2,674       8,338      13,676
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

      Net income................  $   6,685   $   5,685   $  21,441   $  29,062
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Basic earnings per share........  $    0.13   $    0.11   $    0.42   $    0.57
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Weighted average shares
 outstanding-basic..............     51,195      50,956      51,286      50,848
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Diluted earnings per share......  $    0.13   $    0.11   $    0.40   $    0.54
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Weighted average shares
 outstanding-diluted............     52,906      53,288      53,603      53,682
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)
                                                             Nine Months Ended
                                                               September 30,
                                                          ----------------------
                                                             2002        2001
                                                          ----------  ----------
Cash flow from operating activities:
   Net income..........................................   $  21,441   $  29,062
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
   provided by operating activities:
      Charges to income not requiring cash outlays:
        Depreciation and amortization..................      14,862      12,393
        Provision for (benefit from) deferred income
        taxes..........................................      (2,605)      1,067
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
        Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable.....      (1,894)     21,356
        Increase in inventory..........................      (7,015)     (1,702)
        Decrease (increase) in prepaid expense and
        other assets...................................       3,154      (8,971)
        Increase in current liabilities................       5,677       1,507
                                                          ----------  ----------
      Net cash provided by operating activities........      33,620      54,712
                                                          ----------  ----------

Cash flow from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures................................     (24,753)    (45,149)
   Additions to intangibles ...........................      (5,239)     (3,918)
   Purchases of short-term investments.................    (106,294)   (110,790)
   Sales of short-term investments.....................     130,531     101,855
                                                          ----------  ----------
      Net cash used in investing activities............      (5,755)    (58,002)
                                                          ----------  ----------
Cash flow from financing activities:
   Proceeds from issuance of common stock..............       6,666       6,233
   Repurchase of common stock..........................     (17,420)     (3,433)
                                                          ----------  ----------
      Net cash (used in) provided by financing
      activities.......................................     (10,754)      2,800
                                                          ----------  ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents...      17,111        (490)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.......      49,089      75,277
                                                          ----------  ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.............   $  66,200   $  74,787
                                                          ==========  ==========


Non-cash financing activities:
   Accrued liability for repurchase of common stock....   $   2,203   $      --
                                                          ==========  ==========

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying  unaudited  consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the
year ended  December 31, 2001,  included in the Company's  annual report on Form
10-K,  filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  In the opinion of
management,  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  reflect all
adjustments  (consisting only of normal recurring items) considered necessary to
present fairly the financial  position of National  Instruments  Corporation and
its  consolidated  subsidiaries at September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, and
the results of  operations  for the  three-month  and  nine-month  periods ended
September 30, 2002 and 2001, and the cash flows for the nine-month periods ended
September  30,  2002  and  2001.  Operating  results  for  the  three-month  and
nine-month  periods ended September 30, 2002 are not  necessarily  indicative of
the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2002.

NOTE 2 - Earnings Per Share

Basic  earnings  per share  ("EPS") is computed  by  dividing  net income by the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted
EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted  average number of common
shares and common  share  equivalents  outstanding  (if  dilutive)  during  each
period.  Common share  equivalents  include stock options.  The number of common
share  equivalents  outstanding  relating to stock options is computed using the
treasury stock method.

The  reconciliation  of the denominators used to calculate basic EPS and diluted
EPS for the  three-month  and  nine-month  periods ended  September 30, 2002 and
2001, respectively, are as follows (in thousands):

                                    Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,           September 30,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                        (unaudited)             (unaudited)
                                     2002        2001        2002        2001
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Weighted average shares
outstanding-basic...............     51,195      50,956      51,286      50,848
Plus: Common share equivalents
   Stock options................      1,711       2,332       2,317       2,834
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Weighted average shares
outstanding-diluted.............     52,906      53,288      53,603      53,682
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Stock options to acquire  3,071,000 and 1,541,000  shares for the quarters ended
September 30, 2002 and 2001,  respectively,  and 1,545,000 and 1,382,000  shares
for the nine months ended  September 30, 2002 and 2001,  respectively,  were not
included in the computations of diluted earnings per share because the effect of
including the stock options would have been anti-dilutive.

NOTE 3 - Inventories

Inventories, net consist of the following (in thousands):
                                      September 30, 2002       December 31, 2001
                                          (unaudited)
                                      ------------------       -----------------
      Raw materials...............        $  20,811                $  15,394
      Work-in-process.............            1,855                      824
      Finished goods..............           16,956                   16,389
                                      ------------------       -----------------
                                          $  39,622                $  32,607
                                      ==================       =================

NOTE 4 - Comprehensive Income

Total comprehensive income for the quarters ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 is
$6.5 million and $4.7 million,  respectively,  and includes other  comprehensive
loss of $235,000 and $1.0  million,  respectively.  For the first nine months of
2002  and  2001,  comprehensive  income  is $18.8  million  and  $29.8  million,
respectively,  and includes other  comprehensive  loss of $2.7 million and other
comprehensive income of $697,000, respectively.



NOTE 5 - Segment Information

While the Company sells its products to many different  markets,  its management
has chosen to organize  the  Company by  geographic  areas,  and as a result has
determined that it has one reportable segment. Substantially all of the interest
income,  interest  expense,  depreciation  and amortization is recorded in North
America. Net sales, operating income and identifiable assets,  classified by the
major  geographic  areas in which  the  Company  operates,  are as  follows  (in
thousands):

                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,           September 30,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                        (unaudited)             (unaudited)
                                     2002        2001        2002        2001
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net sales:
Americas:
  Unaffiliated customer sales...  $  50,432   $  44,671   $ 147,620   $ 151,729
  Geographic transfers..........     15,087      12,329      42,329      41,591
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                     65,519      57,000     189,949     193,320
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Europe:
  Unaffiliated customer sales...     27,065      26,991      85,430      93,879
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Asia Pacific:
  Unaffiliated customer sales...     18,523      13,400      51,214      45,241
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Eliminations....................    (15,087)    (12,329)    (42,329)    (41,591)
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                  $  96,020   $  85,062   $ 284,264   $ 290,849
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,           September 30,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                        (unaudited)             (unaudited)
                                     2002        2001        2002        2001
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating income:
Americas........................  $   7,625   $   8,583   $  25,778   $  34,268
Europe..........................      7,337       7,524      24,149      29,801
Asia Pacific....................      9,739       5,322      25,455      20,365
Unallocated:
Research and development
expenses........................    (16,095)    (14,920)    (47,762)    (45,950)
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                  $   8,606   $   6,509   $  27,620   $  38,484
                                  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

                                  September 30,      December 31,
                                      2002              2001
                                   (unaudited)
                                  -------------      ------------
Identifiable assets:
Americas........................  $   358,987        $   349,209
Europe..........................       58,516             65,201
Asia Pacific....................       19,523             10,209
                                  -------------      ------------
                                  $   437,026        $   424,619
                                  =============      ============

NOTE 6 - Commitments and Contingencies

The  Company  has filed  two  complaints  in the U.S.  District  Court,  Eastern
District of Texas (Marshall Division) against The MathWorks,  Inc. ("Defendant")
for patent  infringement.  In the first  complaint,  filed January 25, 2001, the
Company  claims  that the  Defendant  infringes  certain of the  Company's  U.S.
patents.  The  Defendant  challenges  the validity and  enforceability  of these
patents and asserts that it does not infringe the claims of these  patents.  The
case is scheduled for trial on January 6, 2003. In the second  complaint,  filed
October 21, 2002, the Company claims that the Defendant  infringes certain other
of the Company's U.S. patents. In each case, the Company seeks monetary damages,
injunction of the sale of certain products of the Defendant, and attorney's fees
and costs. For both  complaints,  the Company expects to incur legal expenses of
approximately  $2.4  million  over  the  next six  months.  Due to the  inherent
uncertainties of litigation,  there may be significant changes in the amount and
timing of these expected expenses.



NOTE 7 - Subsequent Events

On October 16, 2002, the Company and Trilogy Software,  Inc. ("Trilogy") settled
a dispute regarding  Trilogy's  buy-out of the lease of the Company's  Millenium
office building, which will result in a gain from lease termination. The Company
also announced its intention to contribute  approximately  $4 million during the
fourth  quarter of 2002 to a 501(c)(3)  charitable  foundation  to continue  its
promotion  of  scientific  and  engineering  research  and  education  at higher
education institutions  worldwide.  The expense associated with this donation is
expected  to  offset  the  impact  of the net gain from  lease  termination  and
additional lease consolidation in the Company's results of operations.

NOTE 8 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2002, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement
of  Financial   Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS")  No.  145,  Rescission  of  FASB
Statements No. 4, 44, and 64,  Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical
Corrections  as of April 2002.  The  Statement  rescinds SFAS No. 4 and requires
that only unusual or  infrequent  gains and losses from  extinguishment  of debt
should be classified as  extraordinary  items,  consistent  with APB Opinion 30.
This  Statement  amends SFAS No. 13 to  eliminate an  inconsistency  between the
required accounting for sale-leaseback  transactions and the required accounting
for certain lease  modifications  that have economic effects that are similar to
sale-leaseback  transactions.   This  Statement  also  amends  certain  existing
authoritative  pronouncements  to make various  technical  corrections,  clarify
meanings, or describe their applicability under changed conditions. The adoption
of SFAS No.  145 did not  have a  material  effect  on the  Company's  financial
position or results of operations.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with
Exit or Disposal  Activities.  This Statement addresses financial accounting and
reporting for costs  associated  with exit or disposal  activities and nullifies
Emerging  Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 94-3,  Liability  Recognition for
Certain  Employee  Termination  Benefits  and  Other  Costs to Exit an  Activity
(including  Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).  This Statement requires
that a liability  for a cost  associated  with an exit or  disposal  activity be
recognized  when the  liability  is  incurred  as  opposed  to on the date of an
entity's  commitment to an exit plan, which was the practice employed under EITF
Issue 94-3.  The provisions of this Statement are effective for exit or disposal
activities that are initiated  after December 31, 2002,  with early  application
encouraged.  SFAS No.  146 is not  expected  to have a  material  effect  on the
Company's financial position or results of operations.



Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations

     This  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q  contains  forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934.  Any  statements  contained  herein
regarding  the  future  financial  performance  or  operations  of  the  Company
(including,  without  limitation,  statements  to the  effect  that the  Company
"expects,"  "plans," "may," "will,"  "projects,"  "continues," or "estimates" or
other  variations  thereof or comparable  terminology  or the negative  thereof)
should be considered  forward-looking  statements.  Actual  results could differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of
a number of important factors.  For a discussion of important factors that could
affect the Company's results, please refer to the Issues and Outlook section and
financial statement line item discussions below.  Readers are also encouraged to
refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for further  discussion of the
Company's business and the risks and opportunities attendant thereto.

Results of Operations

     The following table sets forth, for the periods  indicated,  the percentage
of  net  sales   represented  by  certain  items   reflected  in  the  Company's
consolidated statements of income:

                                      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                         September 30,         September 30,
                                     --------------------- ---------------------
                                        2002       2001       2002       2001
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net sales:
   Americas                             52.5%      52.5%      51.9%      52.2%
   Europe                               28.2       31.7       30.1       32.3
   Asia Pacific                         19.3       15.8       18.0       15.5
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Consolidated net sales              100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0
Cost of sales                           26.2       27.4       27.2       26.1
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Gross profit                         73.8       72.6       72.8       73.9
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Sales and marketing                  38.2       40.3       37.2       37.5
   Research and development             16.8       17.5       16.8       15.8
   General and administrative            9.8        7.1        9.1        7.4
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Total operating expenses             64.8       64.9       63.1       60.7
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
     Operating income                    9.0        7.7        9.7       13.2
Other income (expense):
   Interest income, net                  0.8        1.5        0.8        1.6
   Net foreign exchange gain (loss)     (0.6)       0.4       (0.5)      (0.3)
   Other income                          0.5        0.2        0.4        0.2
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income before income taxes               9.7        9.8       10.4       14.7
Provision for income taxes               2.7        3.1        2.9        4.7
                                     ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

   Net income                            7.0%       6.7%       7.5%      10.0%
                                     ========== ========== ========== ==========

     Net Sales.  Consolidated  net sales increased by $11.0 million or 12.9% for
the three months ended  September  30, 2002 to $96.0  million from $85.1 million
for the three months ended  September 30, 2001,  and  decreased  $6.6 million or
2.3% to $284.3 million for the nine months ended  September 30, 2002 from $290.8
million for the  comparable  period in the prior year.  The increase in sales in
the third quarter of 2002 was primarily  attributable to the introduction of new
and upgraded products,  increased market acceptance of the Company's products in
each of the geographical  areas in which the Company  operates,  and an expanded
customer  base.  The  decrease  in sales  for the first  nine  months of 2002 is
attributable to the  approximate  16% decline in the sales of hardware  products
that  are used to  control  traditional  instruments,  which  resulted  from the
downturn  in the  industrial  economy and the severe  deterioration  of sales of
traditional   instruments  by  other  vendors  used  in  test  and   measurement
applications.  In the nine month period ended  September 30, 2002,  the sales of
hardware products that are used to control traditional  instruments  represented
19% of revenue compared to 23% in the comparable prior year period.



     Sales in the  Americas in the third  quarter of 2002  increased by 13% from
the third  quarter of 2001 and sales in the  Americas  for the nine months ended
September  30, 2002  decreased  by 3% from the nine months ended  September  30,
2001. Sales outside of North America,  as a percentage of consolidated sales for
the quarter ended September 30, 2002 remained  constant at 47.5% compared to the
quarter  ended  September  30, 2001 and for the nine months ended  September 30,
2002 increased to 48.1% from 47.8% over the  comparable  2001 period as a result
of stronger  sales in Asia  Pacific.  Compared to the  corresponding  periods in
2001, the Company's  European sales remained flat at  approximately  $27 million
for the quarter  ended  September  30, 2002 and decreased by 9% to $85.4 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Sales in Asia Pacific increased by
38% to $18.5  million for the quarter  ended  September 30, 2002 compared to the
same period in 2001 and increased 13% to $51.2 million for the nine months ended
September  30, 2002  compared to the same  period in 2001.  The Company  expects
sales outside of North America to continue to represent a significant portion of
its revenue.

     Sales made by the Company's direct sales offices in Europe and Asia Pacific
are denominated in local currencies, and accordingly, the U.S. dollar equivalent
of these sales is affected by changes in the weighted  average value of the U.S.
dollar.  This weighted  average is calculated  as the  percentage  change in the
value of the currency relative to the U.S. dollar,  multiplied by the proportion
of international  sales recorded in the particular  currency.  Between the third
quarter  of 2001 and the third  quarter of 2002 the  weighted  value of the U.S.
dollar  decreased by 10.5%,  causing an equivalent  increase in the U.S.  dollar
value of the Company's  foreign  currency  sales and  expenses.  If the weighted
average value of the U.S.  dollar in the third quarter of 2002 had been the same
as that in the third quarter of 2001, on a pro-forma  basis the Company's  sales
for the third quarter of 2002 would have  increased by 10%.  Pro-forma  European
sales for the third  quarter of 2002 would have  decreased  by 2% from the third
quarter 2001.  Pro-forma  Asia Pacific sales for the third quarter of 2002 would
have  increased by 26% from third  quarter 2001 sales.  If the weighted  average
value of the dollar in the nine  months  ended  September  30, 2002 had been the
same as that in the nine months ended  September 30, 2001, on a pro-forma  basis
the  Company's  year-to-date  sales  would  have  decreased  by 4% from the 2001
year-to-date sales. Since most of the Company's international operating expenses
are also  incurred in local  currencies,  the change in  exchange  rates had the
effect of increasing  operating  expenses $3.4 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2002 and by $1.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2002.

     Gross Profit. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 73.8%
for the third  quarter  of 2002 from  72.6%  for the third  quarter  of 2001 and
decreased  to 72.8%  for the  first  nine  months  of 2002  from  73.9%  for the
comparable  period a year ago. The gross margin increase in the third quarter of
2002 is primarily  attributable to favorable  foreign exchange rates, and to the
impact of fixed  charges  relative to higher sales  volume.  The decrease in the
gross margin for the first nine months of 2002 compared to the comparable  prior
year period is primarily due to the reduced sales of certain  hardware  products
that are used to control traditional  instruments,  and to inventory  writedowns
resulting from lower sales volume of certain products. There can be no assurance
that the Company will maintain its historical margins.

     The Company  established a new  manufacturing  facility in Hungary in 2001.
The  Company  believes  its current  manufacturing  capacity is adequate to meet
current needs.

     Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of
2002  increased  to $36.7  million,  a 7.0%  increase,  as compared to the third
quarter of 2001,  and decreased 3.2% to $105.7 million for the first nine months
of 2002 from the comparable 2001 period. As a percentage of net sales, sales and
marketing  expenses  were 38.2% and 40.3% for the quarters  ended  September 30,
2002 and 2001,  respectively,  and 37.2%  and  37.5% for the nine  months  ended
September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively.  Approximately 76% of the decrease in
these expenses for the nine months ended  September 30, 2002, is attributable to
decreases in advertising  and literature  costs,  and  approximately  24% of the
decrease is the result of decreased special event activity. Approximately 70% of
the increase in sales and marketing expenses for the quarter ended September 30,
2002,  is  attributable  to the increase in sales and marketing  personnel  both
internationally  and in North America and  approximately  30% of the increase is
attributable  to increased  advertising  costs.  The Company  expects  sales and
marketing  expenses in future  periods to increase in absolute  dollars,  and to
fluctuate as a percentage of sales based on  recruiting,  initial  marketing and
advertising  campaign costs associated with major new product releases and entry
into new market areas, investment in web sales and marketing efforts, increasing
product  demonstration  costs  and the  timing  of  domestic  and  international
conferences and trade shows.



     Research and Development.  Research and development  expenses  increased to
$16.1 million for the quarter  ended  September  30, 2002, a 7.9%  increase,  as
compared to $14.9  million for the three months ended  September  30, 2001,  and
increased  3.9% to $47.8  million for the nine months ended  September  30, 2002
from $46.0 million in the comparable 2001 period.  As a percentage of net sales,
research  and  development  expenses  represented  16.8% and 17.5% for the third
quarters ended  September 30, 2002 and 2001,  respectively,  and 16.8% and 15.8%
for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  2002 and  2001,  respectively.  The
increase in research and  development  costs in absolute  amounts in each period
and as a percentage of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 is due
to increases in personnel  costs from hiring of additional  product  development
engineers.  Research and development  personnel  increased from 728 at September
30, 2001 to 802 at September 30, 2002.  The Company  plans to continue  making a
significant   investment  in  research  and   development  in  order  to  remain
competitive and continue revenue growth.

     The Company capitalizes  software development costs in accordance with SFAS
No. 86,  Accounting for the Costs of Computer  Software to be Sold,  Leased,  or
Otherwise Marketed.  The Company amortizes such costs over the related product's
estimated economic useful life, generally three years,  beginning when a product
becomes  available for general release.  Software  amortization  expense totaled
$953,000  and  $802,000  for the  quarters  ended  September  30, 2002 and 2001,
respectively,  and $3.0  million and $2.3  million  during the nine months ended
September  30,  2002  and  2001,   respectively.   Software   development  costs
capitalized  were $1.5 million and $1.2 million for the quarters ended September
30, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and $3.0 million and $3.2 million for the first
nine months of 2002 and 2001, respectively.

     General and  Administrative.  General and  administrative  expenses for the
quarter  ended  September  30, 2002  increased  55.6% to $9.4  million from $6.1
million for the comparable prior year period. For the first nine months of 2002,
general and administrative  expenses increased 21.4% to $26.1 million from $21.4
million for the first nine months of 2001. As a percentage of net sales, general
and  administrative  expenses  increased to 9.8% for the quarter ended September
30, 2002 from 7.1% for the third  quarter of 2001.  During the first nine months
of 2002, general and administrative  expenses as a percentage of sales increased
to 9.1% from 7.4% in the comparable  prior year period.  The increase in general
and administrative  expenses for the quarter and nine months ended September 30,
2002,  from the  comparable  prior year  periods is  attributable  to  increased
litigation costs of $1.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively, associated with
a legal action by the Company  brought  against The  MathWorks,  Inc. in 2001 to
enforce the Company's intellectual property, compared to a gain of approximately
$1.2 million in the third  quarter of 2001,  recorded  upon the  settlement of a
previous case. The Company expects to incur  litigation  expenses related to the
MathWorks case of approximately $2.4 million over the next six months. (See Note
6 -  Commitments  and  Contengencies).  The  Company  expects  that  general and
administrative  expenses in future periods will increase in absolute amounts and
will fluctuate as a percentage of revenue.

     Interest  Income,  Net.  Net interest  income in the third  quarter of 2002
decreased  to  $785,000  from  $1.3  million  in the third  quarter  of 2001 and
decreased  to $2.4  million for the first nine months of 2002 from $4.6  million
for the comparable 2001 period. Net interest income has historically represented
less than two percent of revenue and has  fluctuated  as a result of  investment
balances,  bank borrowings and interest terms thereon.  The decrease in interest
income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2002 was due to lower
yields on the Company's  investments.  The primary source of interest  income is
from the investment of the Company's cash.

     Net Foreign  Exchange  Gain  (Loss).  The Company  experienced  net foreign
exchange  losses of $612,000 in the third  quarter of 2002  compared to gains of
$341,000  in the third  quarter of 2001.  Net  foreign  exchange  losses of $1.3
million were  recognized for the first nine months of 2002 compared to losses of
$921,000 for the first nine months of 2001.  Foreign  exchange  gains and losses
are  attributable to movements  between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies
in countries in which the Company's  subsidiaries  are located.  The net foreign
exchange losses in the third quarter of 2002 is mainly due to the  strengthening
of the U.S. dollar.

     The Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to hedge a majority
of its foreign currency-denominated  receivables in order to reduce its exposure
to significant foreign currency  fluctuations.  The Company typically limits the
duration of its "receivables" foreign currency forward contracts to 90 days.



     The Company also utilizes foreign  currency  forward  contracts and foreign
currency  purchased  option  contracts  in  order  to  reduce  its  exposure  to
fluctuations in future foreign currency cash flows. The Company  purchases these
contracts  for up to 100% of its  forecasted  cash flows in selected  currencies
(primarily  the euro,  yen and pound  sterling) and limits the duration of these
contracts to 40 months.  The foreign  currency  purchased  option  contracts are
purchased  "at-the-money"  or  "out-of-the-money."  As a result,  the  Company's
hedging  activities  only  partially  address  its  risks  in  foreign  currency
transactions,  and  there  can  be no  assurance  that  this  strategy  will  be
successful.  The Company does not invest in contracts for speculative  purposes.
The Company's  hedging  strategy  reduced the foreign exchange losses by $10,000
during the quarter ended  September 30, 2002,  and reduced the foreign  exchange
gains by $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

     Provision  for Income Taxes.  The  provision  for income taxes  reflects an
effective tax rate of 28% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002
and 32% for the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2001. The decrease in
the  effective  rate  resulted  from  income tax  benefits  attributable  to the
extraterritorial  income  exclusion and a change in the  distribution  of income
among  taxing  jurisdictions,  particularly  the  impact  of the  Company's  new
manufacturing facility in Hungary. The effective tax rate is lower than the U.S.
federal  statutory  rate of 35%  primarily  as a result of the  extraterritorial
income exclusion,  tax-exempt  interest and reduced tax rates in certain foreign
jurisdictions.

Subsequent Events

     On October 16, 2002,  the Company and Trilogy  Software,  Inc.  ("Trilogy")
settled a dispute  regarding  Trilogy's  buy-out  of the lease of the  Company's
Millenium office building,  which will result in a gain from lease  termination.
The Company also announced its intention to contribute  approximately $4 million
during  the fourth  quarter  of 2002 to a  501(c)(3)  charitable  foundation  to
continue its promotion of scientific and  engineering  research and education at
higher  education  institutions  worldwide.  The  expense  associated  with this
donation is expected to offset the impact of the net gain from lease termination
and additional lease consolidation in the Company's results of operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     The Company is currently financing its operations and capital  expenditures
through  cash flow from  operations.  At  September  30,  2002,  the Company had
working capital of  approximately  $199.2 million  compared to $209.8 million at
December 31, 2001. In the first nine months of 2002, the Company generated $33.6
million of cash provided by operating  activities,  primarily from net income of
$21.4 million.

     Accounts  receivable  increased to $55.5 million at September 30, 2002 from
$53.6 million at December 31, 2001.  Days sales  outstanding  decreased to 53 at
September 30, 2002 compared to 57 at September 30, 2001.  Consolidated inventory
balances  increased to $39.6 million at September 30, 2002 from $32.6 million at
December 31, 2001. Inventory turns of 2.6 represent a decrease from turns of 3.1
at December 31, 2001. The increase in inventory was due to the planned  increase
in finished goods and safety stock inventory which enabled the Company to reduce
delivery time of products to customers thereby increasing customer satisfaction.
Cash used in the first nine months of 2002 for the  purchase of the property and
equipment  totaled $24.8  million,  $17.4 million was used for the repurchase of
common  stock  and $3.0  million  was used for the  capitalization  of  software
development costs.

     During the third quarter of 2002, the Company  completed  construction  of,
and began its move into an office  building  ("Mopac  C")  located  on the North
Austin  campus.  The  total  cost  for the new  building,  including  furniture,
fixtures and equipment was approximately  $57.4 million.  The Company expects to
consolidate  its leaseholds and complete its move into "Mopac C" by December 31,
2002. As part of this the Company intends to lease the remaining  84,000 sq. ft.
of its Millenium office building.

     The Company currently expects to fund expenditures for capital requirements
as well as  liquidity  needs  created  by  changes  in  working  capital  from a
combination of available cash and short-term  investment balances and internally
generated funds. As of September 30, 2002, the Company had no debt outstanding.

     The Company believes that cash flow from operations,  if any, existing cash
balances  and  short-term  investments  will  be  sufficient  to meet  its  cash
requirements for at least the next twelve months.  Cash requirements for periods
beyond the next twelve  months will depend on the Company's  profitability,  its
ability to manage working capital requirements and its rate of growth.



Financial Risk Management

     The Company's  international sales are subject to inherent risks, including
fluctuations in local  economies;  difficulties in staffing and managing foreign
operations;  greater  difficulty in accounts  receivable  collection;  costs and
risks of  localizing  products  for  foreign  countries;  unexpected  changes in
regulatory requirements,  tariffs and other trade barriers;  difficulties in the
repatriation of earnings and burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign
laws.  The Company's  sales outside of North  America are  denominated  in local
currencies, and accordingly, the Company is subject to the risks associated with
fluctuations  in currency  rates.  In particular,  increases in the value of the
dollar  against  foreign  currencies  decrease the U.S.  dollar value of foreign
sales  requiring the Company either to increase its price in the local currency,
which could render the Company's  product  prices  noncompetitive,  or to suffer
reduced revenues and gross margins as measured in U.S. dollars.  As has occurred
in the past,  most recently in the quarter ended March 31, 2002,  these dynamics
have adversely affected revenue growth in international  markets.  The Company's
foreign  currency  hedging program  includes both foreign  currency  forward and
purchased option  contracts to reduce the effect of exchange rate  fluctuations.
However,  the hedging  program will not eliminate  all of the Company's  foreign
exchange risks. (See "Net Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss)").

     The  marketplace  for the  Company's  products  dictates  that  many of the
Company's  products be shipped  very quickly  after an order is  received.  As a
result, the Company is required to maintain significant inventories.  Therefore,
inventory  obsolescence  is a risk for the Company  due to frequent  engineering
changes,  shifting customer demand,  the emergence of new industry standards and
rapid  technological  advances  including the introduction by the Company or its
competitors of products  embodying new technology.  While the Company  maintains
valuation  allowances for excess and obsolete inventory and management continues
to monitor the adequacy of such valuation allowances,  there can be no assurance
that such valuation allowances will be sufficient.

     The Company has no debt or  off-balance  sheet debt.  As of  September  30,
2002, the Company has  outstanding  guarantees for payment of foreign  operating
leases,  customs and foreign  grants  totaling  approximately  $3.3 million.  At
September  30,  2002,  the  Company  did not  have  any  relationships  with any
unconsolidated  entities  or  financial  partnerships,  such as  entities  often
referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities,  which would have
been established for the purpose of facilitating  off-balance sheet arrangements
or other contractually  narrow or limited purposes.  As such, the Company is not
exposed to any financing,  liquidity,  market or credit risk that could arise if
the Company were engaged in such relationships.

Market Risk

     The Company is exposed to a variety of risks,  including  foreign  currency
fluctuations and changes in the market value of its  investments.  In the normal
course of business,  the Company employs established  policies and procedures to
manage its exposure to  fluctuations  in foreign  currency values and changes in
the market value of its investments.

     Foreign Currency Hedging  Activities.  The Company's  objective in managing
its exposure to foreign  currency  exchange rate  fluctuations  is to reduce the
impact of adverse  fluctuations in such exchange rates on the Company's earnings
and cash flow.  Accordingly,  the Company  utilizes  purchased  foreign currency
option  contracts  and forward  contracts to hedge its  exposure on  anticipated
transactions and firm commitments. The principal currencies hedged are the euro,
British  pound and  Japanese  yen.  The Company  monitors  its foreign  exchange
exposures regularly to ensure the overall  effectiveness of its foreign currency
hedge  positions.  However,  there can be no  assurance  the  Company's  foreign
currency hedging activities will substantially offset the impact of fluctuations
in currency exchange rates on its results of operations and financial  position.
Based on the foreign exchange instruments  outstanding at September 30, 2002, an
adverse  change  (defined  as 20% in the Asian  currencies  and 10% in all other
currencies)  in exchange  rates would result in a decline in the aggregate  fair
market value of all  instruments  outstanding  of  approximately  $13.7 million.
However,  as the  Company  utilizes  foreign  currency  instruments  for hedging
anticipated and firmly committed  transactions,  management believes that a loss
in fair value for those instruments will be substantially offset by increases in
the value of the underlying exposure.



     Short-term  Investments.  The fair value of the  Company's  investments  in
marketable  securities  at September 30, 2002 was $77.2  million.  The Company's
investment  policy is to manage its investment  portfolio to preserve  principal
and liquidity while  maximizing the return on the investment  portfolio  through
the full investment of available funds.  The Company  diversifies the marketable
securities   portfolio  by  investing  in  multiple  types  of  investment-grade
securities.   The  Company's  investment  portfolio  is  primarily  invested  in
short-term  securities  with at least an  investment  grade  rating to  minimize
interest  rate and credit risk as well as to provide for an immediate  source of
funds.  Based  on the  Company's  investment  portfolio  and  interest  rates at
September  30,  2002, a 100 basis point  increase or decrease in interest  rates
would result in a decrease or increase of approximately $625,000,  respectively,
in the  fair  value of the  investment  portfolio,  which  is not  significantly
different from December 31, 2001.  Although changes in interest rates may affect
the fair value of the investment portfolio and cause unrealized gains or losses,
such gains or losses would not be realized unless the investments are sold.

Non-Audit Services

     Prior to adoption of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, the Company's  Audit
Committee  modified  its  charter  to  require  pre-approval  of  the  following
non-audit   services:   tax  research  and   consultations;   international  tax
consulting; tax assistance and compliance in international locations; assistance
with transfer  pricing;  expatriate tax services;  consultations  and assistance
with other taxes including state and local taxes,  sales and use taxes,  customs
and duties; review of intercompany agreements; and assistance with international
manufacturing tax issues.  The Company is currently  monitoring the developments
regarding  possible new  regulations  as a result of the recent  adoption of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and will comply with any new requirements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

     In May 2002,  the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  ("FASB")  issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 145, Rescission of FASB
Statements No. 4, 44, and 64,  Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical
Corrections  as of April 2002.  The  Statement  rescinds SFAS No. 4 and requires
that only unusual or  infrequent  gains and losses from  extinguishment  of debt
should be classified as  extraordinary  items,  consistent  with APB Opinion 30.
This  Statement  amends SFAS No. 13 to  eliminate an  inconsistency  between the
required accounting for sale-leaseback  transactions and the required accounting
for certain lease  modifications  that have economic effects that are similar to
sale-leaseback  transactions.   This  Statement  also  amends  certain  existing
authoritative  pronouncements  to make various  technical  corrections,  clarify
meanings, or describe their applicability under changed conditions. The adoption
of SFAS No.  145 did not have a material  effect on our  financial  position  or
results of operations.

     In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated
with Exit or Disposal Activities.  This Statement addresses financial accounting
and  reporting  for  costs  associated  with  exit or  disposal  activities  and
nullifies  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force  ("EITF")  Issue  No.  94-3,  Liability
Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an
Activity  (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).  This Statement
requires  that a  liability  for a cost  associated  with an  exit  or  disposal
activity be recognized  when the liability is incurred as opposed to on the date
of an entity's commitment to an exit plan, which was the practice employed under
EITF Issue 94-3.  The  provisions  of this  Statement  are effective for exit or
disposal  activities  that are  initiated  after  December 31, 2002,  with early
application  encouraged.  SFAS No. 146 is not expected to have a material effect
on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Factors Affecting the Company's Business and Prospects

     U.S./Global Economic Slowdown. As recently experienced,  when the worsening
of  the  industrial  economy  resulted  in  a  deterioration  of  the  test  and
measurement and industrial  automation markets, the markets in which the Company
does business could again  experience the negative  effects of a slowdown in the
U.S., and/or Global  economies.  Downturns in the U.S. or Global economies could
result in reduced  purchasing and capital  spending in any of the markets served
by the  Company  which  could have a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's
operating results.



     Budgets.  The Company has established an operating budget for the remainder
of 2002. The Company's  spending for the remainder of the year could exceed this
budget due to a number of factors;  including:  additional  marketing  costs for
conferences  and  tradeshows;  increased  costs from the  over-hiring of product
development  engineers  or  other  personnel;   increased   manufacturing  costs
resulting from component supply  shortages and/or component price  fluctuations;
additional litigation expenses related to intellectual property litigation.  Any
future decreased  demand for our products could result in decreased  revenue and
could  require  the  Company  to revise  its  budget  and  reduce  expenditures.
Exceeding the  established  operating  budget or failing to revise its budget in
response to any decrease in revenue could have a material  adverse effect on the
Company's operating results.

     Risk of  Component  Shortages.  As has  occurred  in the past and as may be
expected to occur in the future,  supply  shortages  of  components  used in our
products, including sole source components, can result in significant additional
costs and  inefficiencies  in  manufacturing.  If the Company is unsuccessful in
resolving any such component shortages,  it will experience a significant impact
on the timing of revenue and/or an increase in  manufacturing  costs,  either of
which would have a material adverse impact on the Company's operating results.

     Fluctuations  in  Quarterly  Results.  The  Company's  quarterly  operating
results  have  fluctuated  in the past and may  fluctuate  significantly  in the
future due to a number of  factors,  including:  changes in the mix of  products
sold; the availability and pricing of components from third parties  (especially
sole sources);  the timing of orders;  level of pricing of international  sales;
fluctuations in foreign  currency  exchange rates; the difficulty in maintaining
margins,  including the higher margins  traditionally  achieved in international
sales;  and  changes in pricing  policies by the  Company,  its  competitors  or
suppliers.  Specifically,  if the local  currencies  in which the Company  sells
weaken against the U.S. dollar,  and if the local sales prices cannot be raised,
the Company will experience a deterioration of its gross and net profit margins.
If the U.S. dollar  strengthens in the future,  it could have a material adverse
effect on gross and net profit margins.

     As has  occurred in the past and as may be expected to occur in the future,
new software  products of the Company or new operating  systems of third parties
on which the Company's products are based, often contain bugs or errors that can
result in reduced  sales and/or cause the  Company's  support costs to increase,
either of which could have a material adverse impact on the Company's  operating
results.  Furthermore,  the Company has  significant  revenues from customers in
industries such as semiconductors, automated test equipment, telecommunications,
aerospace,  defense and  automotive  which are cyclical in nature.  Downturns in
these industries could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating
results.

     In recent years,  with the exception of 2001,  the Company's  revenues have
been  characterized  by seasonality,  with revenues  typically being  relatively
constant in the first, second and third quarters,  growing in the fourth quarter
and being  relatively  flat or declining  from the fourth quarter of the year to
the first quarter of the following year. The Company believes the seasonality of
its  revenue  results  from  the  international  mix  of  its  revenue  and  the
variability of the budgeting and purchasing  cycles of its customers  throughout
each  international  region. In addition,  total operating  expenses have in the
past tended to be higher in the second and third  quarters of each year,  due to
recruiting and significantly increased intern personnel expenses.

     New  Product  Introductions  and  Market  Acceptance.  The  market  for the
Company's  products is characterized  by rapid  technological  change,  evolving
industry  standards,   changes  in  customer  needs  and  frequent  new  product
introductions, and is therefore highly dependent upon timely product innovation.
The  Company's  success is  dependent  in part on its  ability  to  successfully
develop and  introduce  new and  enhanced  products on a timely basis to replace
declining  revenues  from  older  products,  and on  increasing  penetration  in
domestic and  international  markets.  In the past, the Company has  experienced
significant  delays between the announcement and the commercial  availability of
new  products.  Any  significant  delay in releasing  new products  could have a
material  adverse effect on the ultimate  success of a product and other related
products and could impede continued sales of predecessor products,  any of which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's  operating results.  There
can be no assurance  that the Company will be able to introduce  new products in
accordance with announced  release dates,  that new products will achieve market
acceptance or that any such  acceptance  will be sustained  for any  significant
period.  Failure of new products to achieve or sustain market  acceptance  could
have a material  adverse effect on the Company's  operating  results.  Moreover,
there can be no assurance that the Company's  international  sales will continue
at existing levels or grow in accordance with the Company's  efforts to increase
foreign market penetration.



     Risks  Associated  with Increased  Development of Web Site. The Company has
devoted significant  resources in developing its Web site as a key marketing and
sales  tool and  expects to  continue  to do so in the  future.  There can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in its attempt to leverage the Web
to  increase  sales.  The  Company  hosts its Web site  internally.  Failure  to
successfully  maintain the Web site and to protect it from hackers  could have a
significant adverse impact on the Company's operating results.

     Operation  in  Intensely  Competitive  Markets.  The  markets  in which the
Company  operates  are  characterized  by  intense   competition  from  numerous
competitors,  some of which  are  divisions  of large  corporations  having  far
greater  resources  than the  Company,  and the Company  expects to face further
competition  from new market entrants in the future. A key competitor is Agilent
Technologies  Inc.  ("Agilent").  Agilent  offers  its own  line  of  instrument
controllers   and  also  offers   hardware  and  software  add-on  products  for
third-party  desktop  computers and  workstations  that provide  solutions  that
directly compete with the Company's virtual instrumentation products. Agilent is
aggressively  advertising and marketing  products that are competitive  with the
Company's products.  Because of Agilent's strong position in the instrumentation
business,  changes in its marketing  strategy or product  offerings could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operating results.

     The  Company  believes  its  ability to compete  successfully  depends on a
number of factors  both within and outside its control,  including:  new product
introductions by competitors;  product pricing; quality and performance; success
in  developing  new  products;  adequate  manufacturing  capacity  and supply of
components and materials; efficiency of manufacturing operations;  effectiveness
of sales and marketing  resources and strategies;  strategic  relationships with
other suppliers;  timing of new product introductions by the Company; protection
of the  Company's  products by  effective  use of  intellectual  property  laws;
general market and economic  conditions;  and government  actions throughout the
world.  There  can be no  assurance  that the  Company  will be able to  compete
successfully in the future.

     Management  Information  Systems.  The  Company  relies  on  three  primary
regional centers for its management information systems. As with any information
system,  unforeseen issues may arise that could affect  management's  ability to
receive adequate,  accurate and timely financial information which in turn could
inhibit effective and timely decisions.  Furthermore, it is possible that one or
more of the Company's  three  regional  information  systems could  experience a
complete  or partial  shutdown.  If such a shutdown  occurred  near the end of a
quarter it could impact the Company's product shipments and revenues, as product
distribution  is heavily  dependent  on the  integrated  management  information
systems in each region. Accordingly,  operating results in that quarter would be
adversely  impacted.  The  Company  is  working  to  achieve  reliable  regional
management  information  systems to control  costs and  improve  the  ability to
deliver its products in substantially  all of its direct markets  worldwide.  No
assurances  can be given that the  Company's  efforts  will be  successful.  The
failure to receive  adequate,  accurate and timely financial  information  could
inhibit management's ability to make effective and timely decisions.

     Risks  Associated  with  International  Operations  and Foreign  Economies.
International  sales are subject to inherent  risks,  including  fluctuations in
local  economies,  difficulties  in staffing  and managing  foreign  operations,
greater  difficulty  in  accounts  receivable  collection,  costs  and  risks of
localizing  products for foreign  countries,  unexpected  changes in  regulatory
requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, difficulties in the repatriation
of earnings  and the burdens of complying  with a wide variety of foreign  laws.
The Company must also comply with various export regulations.  Failure to comply
with  these  regulations  could  result in fines  and/or  termination  of export
licenses,  which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating
results.  Additionally,  the  regulatory  environment  in some countries is very
restrictive as their governments try to protect their local economy and value of
their  local  currency  against  the U.S.  dollar.  Sales made by the  Company's
international  direct sales offices are  denominated  in local  currencies,  and
accordingly, the U.S. dollar equivalent of these sales is affected by changes in
the  weighted  average  value of the  U.S.  dollar.  This  weighted  average  is
calculated as the percentage change in the value of the currency relative to the
dollar,  multiplied by the  proportion of  international  sales  recorded in the
particular currency.  Between the third quarter of 2001 and the third quarter of
2002, the weighted average value of the U.S. dollar decreased by 10.5%,  causing
an  equivalent  increase  in the  U.S.  dollar  value of the  Company's  foreign
currency  sales and  expenses.  If the weighted  average  value during the third
quarter  of 2002 had been the same as that in the third  quarter  of 2001,  on a
pro-forma  basis the  Company's  sales for the third  quarter of 2002 would have
increased by 10%. If the weighted average value of the dollar in the nine months
ended  September  30,  2002 had been the same as in the  comparable  prior  year
period,  on a  pro-forma  basis the  Company's  year-to-date  sales  would  have
decreased by 4% over 2001  year-to-date  sales.  If the weighted  average  value
during the third  quarter of 2002 had been the same as that in the third quarter
of 2001, on a pro-forma  basis the  Company's  consolidated  operating  expenses
would have been $60.4 million.  If the U.S. dollar strengthens in the future, it
could have a materially adverse effect on the operating results of the Company.



     As of September 30, 2002, the Company has $2.6 million of deferred gains on
yen foreign  currency cash flow hedge  contracts  recorded in accumulated  other
comprehensive income that are expected to be reclassified into earnings over the
next 15 months.  If the yen fails to strengthen  before the  expiration of these
contracts,  and if the  Company  is unable to  increase  prices in Japan  and/or
globally,  the Company will experience a deterioration  of revenue and gross and
net profit margins,  which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
operating results.

     Expansion of  Manufacturing  Capacity.  During 2001, the Company  completed
construction  of a second  manufacturing  facility.  This facility is located in
Hungary and became  operational  in the fourth  quarter of 2001.  This  facility
sources a significant  portion of the Company's sales.  Currently the Company is
continuing  to  recruit  and train the local  work  force and is  continuing  to
develop  and  implement  information  systems to  support  its  operation.  This
facility  and its  operation  are also  subject to risks  associated  with a new
manufacturing  facility  and  with  doing  business  internationally,  including
difficulty in managing manufacturing operations in a foreign country, difficulty
in achieving or maintaining  product  quality,  interruption  to  transportation
flows for delivery of components to us and finished goods to our customers,  and
changes in the country's political or economic  conditions.  No assurance can be
given that the Company's  efforts will be  successful.  Accordingly,  failure to
deal with these factors could result in interruption in the facility's operation
or delays in  expanding  its  capacity,  either of which  could  have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

     Income Tax Rate.  The  Company  established  a  manufacturing  facility  in
Hungary in 2001. As a result of certain foreign investment  incentives available
under  Hungarian  law,  the profit from the  Company's  Hungarian  operation  is
currently  exempt  from  income tax  through  2011.  These  benefits  may not be
available in the future due to changes in Hungary's  political  condition and/or
tax laws.  Specifically,  Hungary has applied for  inclusion  into the  European
Union.  In order for Hungary to gain  acceptance  into the European  Union,  the
Hungarian  government may choose to change  existing tax laws which could result
in the reduction or  elimination  of these foreign  investment  incentives.  The
reduction or elimination of these foreign investment  incentives would result in
the reduction or  elimination  of certain tax benefits  thereby  increasing  the
Company's  future effective income tax rate, which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations.

     The  Company   receives  a   substantial   income  tax  benefit   from  the
extraterritorial  income exemption ("ETI") under U.S. law. The ETI rules provide
that a percentage of the profits from products and intangibles exported from the
U.S. are exempt from U.S.  tax.  This benefit may not be available in the future
as the ETI  has  been  ruled  an  illegal  export  subsidy  by the  World  Trade
Organization.  Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would repeal the
ETI as of  December  31,  2002.  The  repeal  of the  ETI  would  result  in the
elimination  of  this  tax  benefit  thereby  increasing  the  Company's  future
effective  income tax rate,  which could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's results of operations.

     Products Dependent on Certain  Industries.  Sales of the Company's products
are   dependent   on   customers  in  certain   industries,   particularly   the
telecommunications, semiconductor, automotive, automated test equipment, defense
and aerospace industries.  As experienced in the past, and as may be expected to
occur in the future, downturns characterized by diminished product demand in any
one or more of these  industries  could result in decreased  sales,  which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

     Dependence  on Key  Suppliers.  The Company's  manufacturing  processes use
large volumes of high-quality  components and subassemblies  supplied by outside
sources.  Several of these  components  are  available  through  sole or limited
sources.   Sole-source  components  purchased  by  the  Company  include  custom
application-specific  integrated  circuits  ("ASICs") and other components.  The
Company has in the past  experienced  delays and quality  problems in connection
with sole-source  components,  and there can be no assurance that these problems
will not recur in the future.  Accordingly,  the failure to receive  sole-source
components from suppliers could result in a material  adverse effect on revenues
and results of operations.



     Stock-based  Compensation  Plans.  The Company  has two active  stock-based
compensation   plans  and  one  inactive  plan.   The  two  active   stock-based
compensation  plans are the 1994  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan and the Employee
Stock  Purchase  Plan.  The Company  currently  adheres to the  disclosure  only
provisions of SFAS No. 123,  Accounting  for  Stock-Based  Compensation,  and as
such,  no  compensation  cost has been  recognized  in the  Company's  financial
statements for the stock option plan and the stock purchase plan. The Company is
currently  monitoring the recent discussions related to possible new regulations
regarding the accounting  treatment for stock  options.  The Company will comply
with any changes in the accounting of stock options required by the FASB. If the
fair value based method of accounting for stock options  established  under SFAS
No. 123 were adopted  effective  January 1, 2002, for the options granted during
2002,  the Company  estimates it would have  recognized  stock option expense of
approximately $204,000 and $378,000 for the quarter and nine month periods ended
September 30, 2002,  respectively.  If the Company were to adopt the  accounting
provision of SFAS No. 123, the adoption would be prospective.  Accordingly,  the
Company  would  expect  stock  option  expense  to  increase  in the  future  if
additional stock options are issued.

     Proprietary  Rights and  Intellectual  Property  Litigation.  The Company's
success depends in part on its ability to obtain and maintain  patents and other
proprietary rights relative to the technologies used in its principal  products.
Despite the Company's  efforts to protect its proprietary  rights,  unauthorized
parties  may have in the past  infringed  or violated  certain of the  Company's
intellectual property rights. The Company is currently involved in litigation in
federal court alleging patent infringement by the products of a defendant. As is
typical in the  industry,  the Company from time to time may be notified that it
is infringing  certain patent or intellectual  property rights of others.  There
can be no assurance  that this  litigation  or any other  intellectual  property
litigation  initiated  in the  future  will  not  cause  significant  litigation
expense,  liability and a diversion of  management's  attention which may have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

     Dependence on Key Management and Technical Personnel. The Company's success
depends to a  significant  degree upon the  continued  contributions  of its key
management,   sales,   marketing,   research  and  development  and  operational
personnel,  including Dr. Truchard,  the Company's  Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, and other members of senior management and key technical personnel. The
Company  has no  agreements  providing  for  the  employment  of any of its  key
employees for any fixed term and the  Company's  key  employees may  voluntarily
terminate  their  employment  with  the  Company  at any  time.  The loss of the
services of one or more of the  Company's key employees in the future could have
a material  adverse affect on operating  results.  The Company also believes its
future  success will depend in large part upon its ability to attract and retain
additional  highly  skilled  management,   technical,  marketing,  research  and
development,  and  operational  personnel with  experience in managing large and
rapidly changing companies, including companies acquired through acquisition, as
well as training,  motivating and  supervising the employees.  In addition,  the
recruiting  environment  for  software  engineering,  sales and other  technical
professionals is very competitive.  Competition for qualified software engineers
is particularly  intense and is likely to result in increased  personnel  costs.
Failure to attract or retain qualified  software engineers could have an adverse
effect on the Company's operating results. The Company also recruits and employs
foreign  nationals to achieve its hiring goals  primarily  for  engineering  and
software positions.  There can be no guarantee that the Company will continue to
be able to recruit  foreign  nationals  to the  current  degree.  These  factors
further intensify  competition for key personnel,  and there can be no assurance
that the Company will be  successful  in retaining its existing key personnel or
attracting and retaining additional key personnel. Failure to attract and retain
a sufficient number of technical  personnel could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's results of operations.

     Risk of Product  Liability Claims.  The Company's  products are designed in
part to provide  information upon which the users may rely. The Company attempts
to assure the quality and accuracy of the  processes  contained in its products,
and to limit its product liability exposure through  contractual  limitations on
liability,  including  disclaimers in its "shrink wrap" license  agreements with
end-users.  If future products contain errors that produce  incorrect results on
which  users  rely,  customer  acceptance  of the  Company's  products  could be
adversely  affected.  Further,  the Company could be subject to liability claims
that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's  operating results or
financial position.  Although the Company maintains liability  insurance,  there
can be no assurance that such insurance or the  contractual  provisions  used by
the Company to limit its liability will be sufficient.



Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     Response to this item is included in "Item 2 - Management's  Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Market Risk" above.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

     The Company's Chief Executive  Officer and Chief Financial  Officer,  after
evaluating the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rules  13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as amended)  as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this  quarterly
report (the "Evaluation  Date"), have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date,
the Company's  disclosure  controls and procedures  were effective to ensure the
timely  collection,  evaluation and  disclosure of  information  relating to the
Company that would  potentially  be subject to disclosure  under the  Securities
Exchange Action of 1934, as amended,  and the rules and regulations  promulgated
thereunder. There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls
or in other  factors  that  could  significantly  affect the  internal  controls
subsequent to the Evaluation Date.



PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


The  Company  has filed  two  complaints  in the U.S.  District  Court,  Eastern
District of Texas (Marshall Division) against The MathWorks,  Inc. ("Defendant")
for patent  infringement.  In the first  complaint,  filed January 25, 2001, the
Company  claims  that the  Defendant  infringes  certain of the  Company's  U.S.
patents.  The  Defendant  challenges  the validity and  enforceability  of these
patents and asserts that it does not infringe the claims of these  patents.  The
case is scheduled for trial on January 6, 2003. In the second  complaint,  filed
October 21, 2002, the Company claims that the Defendant  infringes certain other
of the Company's U.S. patents. In each case, the Company seeks monetary damages,
injunction of the sale of certain products of the Defendant, and attorney's fees
and costs. For both  complaints,  the Company expects to incur legal expenses of
approximately  $2.4  million  over  the  next six  months.  Due to the  inherent
uncertainties of litigation,  there may be significant changes in the amount and
timing of these expected expenses.

ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)   Exhibits.

         3.1*  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

         3.2*  Bylaws of the Company.

         4.1*  Specimen of Common Stock certificate of the Company.

         4.2*  Rights Agreement dated as of May 19, 1994, between the Company
               and The First National Bank of Boston.

         11.1  Computation of Earnings Per Share.

         99.1  Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
               Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
               to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

      *  Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on
         Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-88386) declared effective March 13, 1995.

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K.

     No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company  during the quarter  ended
September 30, 2002.


                                         SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                          NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
                                          Registrant




                                      BY:  /s/ Alex Davern
                                           Alex Davern
                                           Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                                           (principal financial and accounting
                                           officer)


Dated:  November 7, 2002



I, James Truchard, certify that:


1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National  Instruments
     Corporation;


2.   Based on my knowledge,  this  quarterly  report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to
     make the statements  made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such
     statements  were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this quarterly report;


3.   Based on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
     information  included  in this  quarterly  report,  fairly  present  in all
     material respects the financial  condition,  results of operations and cash
     flows of the  registrant  as of, and for,  the  periods  presented  in this
     quarterly report;


4.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and I are  responsible  for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:


     a)   designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to ensure  that
          material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its
          consolidated subsidiaries,  is made known to us by others within those
          entities,  particularly  during  the  period in which  this  quarterly
          report is being prepared;


     b)   evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure  controls
          and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
          this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and


     c)   presented  in  this  quarterly   report  our  conclusions   about  the
          effectiveness  of the disclosure  controls and procedures based on our
          evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;


5.   The registrant's other certifying  officers and I have disclosed,  based on
     our most recent  evaluation,  to the  registrant's  auditors  and the audit
     committee of  registrant's  board of directors (or persons  performing  the
     equivalent functions):


     a)   all  significant  deficiencies  in the design or operation of internal
          controls  which could  adversely  affect the  registrant's  ability to
          record,  process,   summarize  and  report  financial  data  and  have
          identified for the  registrant's  auditors any material  weaknesses in
          internal controls; and


     b)   any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other
          employees who have a  significant  role in the  registrant's  internal
          controls; and


6.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers and I have indicated in this
     quarterly report whether or not there were significant  changes in internal
     controls  or in other  factors  that could  significantly  affect  internal
     controls  subsequent to the date of our most recent  evaluation,  including
     any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
     weaknesses.


Date: November 7, 2002



                                             /s/ James Truchard
                                             James Truchard
                                             Chief Executive Officer



I, Alexander Davern, certify that:


1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National  Instruments
     Corporation;


2.   Based on my knowledge,  this  quarterly  report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary to
     make the statements  made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such
     statements  were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this quarterly report;


3.   Based on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
     information  included  in this  quarterly  report,  fairly  present  in all
     material respects the financial  condition,  results of operations and cash
     flows of the  registrant  as of, and for,  the  periods  presented  in this
     quarterly report;


4.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers  and I are  responsible  for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:


     a)   designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to ensure  that
          material  information  relating  to  the  registrant,   including  its
          consolidated subsidiaries,  is made known to us by others within those
          entities,  particularly  during  the  period in which  this  quarterly
          report is being prepared;


     b)   evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure  controls
          and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
          this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and


     c)   presented  in  this  quarterly   report  our  conclusions   about  the
          effectiveness  of the disclosure  controls and procedures based on our
          evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;


5.   The registrant's other certifying  officers and I have disclosed,  based on
     our most recent  evaluation,  to the  registrant's  auditors  and the audit
     committee of  registrant's  board of directors (or persons  performing  the
     equivalent functions):


     a)   all  significant  deficiencies  in the design or operation of internal
          controls  which could  adversely  affect the  registrant's  ability to
          record,  process,   summarize  and  report  financial  data  and  have
          identified for the  registrant's  auditors any material  weaknesses in
          internal controls; and


     b)   any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other
          employees who have a  significant  role in the  registrant's  internal
          controls; and


6.   The  registrant's  other  certifying  officers and I have indicated in this
     quarterly report whether or not there were significant  changes in internal
     controls  or in other  factors  that could  significantly  affect  internal
     controls  subsequent to the date of our most recent  evaluation,  including
     any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
     weaknesses.


Date: November 7, 2002



                                             /s/ Alexander Davern
                                             Alexander Davern
                                             Chief Financial Officer



                        NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



      Exhibit No.                   Description                     Page

          11.1           Statement Regarding Computation             25
                         of Earnings per Share

          99.1           Certification of Chief Executive            26
                         Officer and Chief Financial
                         Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
                         Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant
                         to Section 906 of the
                         Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002