Strong unit shipment growth is expected within all DVD application segments during the forecast period. The home networking market has attracted a great deal of attention in the press with tales of connecting common household appliances, PCs, and other devices with broadband Internet access. However, the reality of the market is that it appears to many to be a confusing mass of competing, incompatible technologies with no obvious winners. This scenario is likely to persist as technologies work to establish standards. Nevertheless, products have been brought to market, and many more are expected through this year.
Many households use the PC for multiple activities, such as Internet surfing and word processing.
This report examines data gathered in response to survey questions related to all aspects of PC gaming, including demographics of PC gamers, the types of games they play, and how long they play. This report also examines other habits related to gaming, such as buying patterns and the use of Web sites and magazines for game-related news, tips, and tricks. The next two years will be filled with overwhelming marketing campaigns, impressive and glitzy games, and interactive gaming opportunities, as each company attempts to establish its platform as the premier videogame console. Opinions on this range anywhere from the thought that four platforms can happily coexist to the opinion that market forces will ensure that only one or two platforms succeeds. However, keep in mind that there are still many, many unanswered questions about products and strategies.