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CDROM Forum · General

#What Price Should it Be?

10 messages in this thread

#36557From: JAN SCHWENKJan 11, 1993 8:03 AM

Richard, Rich Bowers can confirm or correct this but there are somewhere around 5,000,000 CD-ROMs in use in the U.S. and the number is growing by something like 300,000/month. Most of the manufacturers are back-logged with orders and can't accept new orders! Check out Mr. Richard Day's message! Rgds Jan

#36567From: Rich Bowers/OPAJan 11, 1993 8:56 AM

Jan: >>5,000,000 CD-ROMs in use in the U.S. and the number is growing by something like 300,000/month<< My estimates are about half those you quoted. Best – Rich Bowers

#36879From: JAN SCHWENKJan 14, 1993 12:29 AM

Rich, Sony is selling something over 100,000 cd-rom drives per month in the U.S. That is only one (albeit, a major) producer. The other guys (and gals) are probably selling some too, don't you think? Your comment that your estimate is about half of mine (300,000) prompted me to start talking to some of the "horses's mouths". An interesting aside – try to get delivery on CD-ROM drives as a manufacture from ANY of the producers! Good luck! All the best! Jan

#36881From: Alan CobbJan 14, 1993 1:04 AM

Jan, Are there any statistics on what the top selling CD-ROM titles are? For instance, it would be interesting to know how many Carmen San Diego CD's have been sold. Any idea? Alan Cobb

#36888From: JAN SCHWENKJan 14, 1993 2:17 AM

Alan, The statistics are pretty well guarded. I will try to get some for you. Rich Bowers, sysop, runs the Optical Publishing Assoc. He might have some figures. Rgds Jan

#36955From: Rich Bowers/OPAJan 14, 1993 9:15 PM

Jan: Like most issues in this business, there are some complications in definitions and sources. Companies like Sony, for example, have many "horse's mouths" (I assume the expected smart-aleck comment is unnecessarily <g>), and Sony happens to be a good example of a company which has many different definitions of CDROM (Phillips is another). OPA is in the process of designing a a data collection procedure for this part of the industry, and we may have some results as early as mid-year. In the meantime, I try to triangulate multiple data sources and come up with as realistic estimates as I can. Until we have a more formal procedure, your sources could easily be as good as mine. The one thing that is absolutely true, regardless of absolute numbers, is that I currently expect the current (end of '92) installed base to double in '93, not counting special purpose CDROM platforms. I hope this clarifies things a little! Rich

#37007From: JAN SCHWENKJan 15, 1993 9:13 AM

Rich, "The one thing that is absolutely true, regardless of absolute numbers, is that I currently expect the current (end of '92) installed base to double in '93, not counting special purpose CDROM platforms." What is your figure for "end of '92 installed base"? Thanks. Jan

#37037From: Rich Bowers/OPAJan 15, 1993 2:00 PM

Jan: >>What is your figure for "end of '92 installed base"?<< As for computer-hosted CDROM, 2-2.5 million. Rich

#37046From: Jim DivokyJan 15, 1993 4:27 PM

FYI, Byte Magazine, February, 1993, shows CD-ROM player installed base as follows: 1986-9K, 1987-32.5K, 1988-168K, 1989-550K, 1990-1200K, 1991-2500K, 1992-5300K. The data is from InfoTech and represents both commercial and in-house units (whatever that means). Byte also indicates 5000 titles in print. Jim

#37113From: Rich Bowers/OPAJan 16, 1993 12:06 PM

Jim: Thanks for the update on the source. I am familiar with the source and its methodology. Given that background I stand by my estimates. However, it is true that – in an industry with such little reliable reporting as this one – you can find a source with a statistic to suit any purpose. Thanks. Rich Bowers