Japan's PC Sales in Third Week of Sept. Show Minor Decline
October 10, 2000 (TOKYO) -- Japan's PC sales in the third week of September (Sept. 11- 17,
2000) declined by 0.5 percent on a unit basis from the previous week, according to Nikkei
Market Access.
The survey period was directly before the launch of Microsoft's Windows Millennium
Edition (Windows Me) operating system on Sept. 22.
The average retail price fell 3,785 yen to 174,829 yen, from the previous week's 178,614
yen, according to the statistics compiled by GfK Japan Ltd. (*1) (109.26 yen = US$1)
As compared with the same week in the previous year (Sept. 13 - 19, 1999), Japan's PC
sales rose 28.5 percent in volume and increased 10.8 percent in value.
Many leading PC companies are taking different approaches for the Windows Me OS.
While Sony Corp. launched many kinds of Win Me models, NEC Corp. launched only
low-end U-series models of desktop and notebook PCs. Meanwhile, Fujitsu Ltd. and IBM
Japan Ltd. are expected to market their products with Windows Me installed over the
counter after the middle of October.
Some PC makers are featuring upgrade campaigns of Windows Me for Windows 98 users.
Because its basic functions and operability are nearly the same as Windows 98, consumer
interest isn't too high for Windows Me so far, said an official at a large retailer of PCs. |
