Optical Storage Market Continues to Grow, Says IDC Report

According to a new International Data Corporation (IDC, Framingham, MA) report, the market for optical storage is still maturing, and will grow 20% in 1998. The report,

Optical Storage Market: 1997 Year in Review and 1998 Forecast, says that while CD drives and MO storage devices had excellent results in 1997, the larger form factor drives continued to struggle. The market for CD- and DVD-recordable media (CD-R, CD-RW and PD drives) is predicted to collectively grow 70% in 1998, having been the fastest growing segment of the market in 1997. Shipments of WORM systems were down in 1997, and IDC predicts the trend to continue this year. Although highly-touted DVD-ROM drives didn't appear until Q4 '97, they are "in a much better position to compete with CD-ROM drives," according to senior research analyst Wolfgang Schlichting. IDC is still cautious, however, noting that DVD has to make "some significant strides to live up to its advanced billing." Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting Cheryl Toffel at 508-935-4389.