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Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Futurist who wrote (4291)	12/6/1999 1:19:00 PM
From: Don Devlin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

Just purchased 5 CD-RW disks for $4.95 at FRYS Electronics. Don Devlin.. CD-RW, DVD-ROM to Gain Popularity as Prices Drop December 6, 1999 (TAIPEI) -- Due to hefty royalties imposed by Japanese patent holders for DVD-ROM technology, Taiwan and Korean DVD-ROM drive manufacturers are having second thoughts about expanding output in 2000. Demand is weaker than expected in the local market, where Japanese products still enjoy a dominant share. So, Taiwan's makers had better come up with a solution. According to the estimate of the U.S. market research firm International Data Corp., DVD-ROM drives will become the mainstream product for high-end PCs priced above US$1,000 next year. CD-ROM drives will continue to dominate the low-cost PC market, and CD-RW drives will enjoy sharp growth next year, according to the same IDC report. IDC also predicts that DVD-ROM drives will account for more than 60 percent and 15-17 percent of the PC and corporate computer markets, respectively, by 2001. CD-RW drives have been enjoying a robust growth in the retail market this year, as IBM Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. began to ship high-end PCs equipped with CD-RW drives. Since the OEM prices of CD-RW drives are on the decline, the device is likely to enjoy a significant growth in market share by 2001, up from the current share of less than 10 percent in Taiwan. IDC predicts that the prices of CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives will fall to US$51 and US$40 per unit, respectively, by 2001. (Commercial Times, Taiwan)