DVD Drives Growing in Popularity
Author: ENRIQUE RIVERO
erivero@advanstar.com
Posted: August 7, 2003

DVD drives are becoming increasingly popular among personal computer buyers, according to a new survey from the Consumer Electronics Association.

According to the survey, some 42 percent of home computers contain DVD drives, compared with 60 percent with CD drives. The survey also found that 47 percent of non-owners would add DVD drives to their computers within the next two years.

DVD writers are also enjoying some popularity, with 10 percent of computer owners having the drives that can record onto DVD discs, the CEA survey said. The survey, however, also found that only 56 percent of those owners use the writers to burn DVDs, though that percentage will likely swell as content that must be stored and managed increases.

Also, 51 percent of survey respondents said that they watch at least one DVD movie per month on their personal computers.

Consumers surveyed also reported high satisfaction with DVD drives -- 73 percent were either “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with the devices, and 71 percent also said they had not encountered any problems with the drives.

“The wide adoption of PC-based DVD further illustrates consumer acceptance of the DVD as the medium of choice for a wide variety of content,” said Sean Wargo, the CEA’s director of industry analysis. “DVD on PC also holds tremendous possibilities for expanding usage of the PC as a home entertainment device, and sparking consumer interest and investment in an enhanced experience through better speakers and monitors for their home computer.”