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What does any computer industry pro do to reality check the latest technology trends? Thumb through Computer Shopper, of course.
The October 1997, 830-page issue carried less than a dozen ads from PC system integrators that offer one or several PC configurations that include DVD-ROM drives. Some of the integrators are well-known, like Gateway 2000, and some are second-tier Taiwanese direct-mail clone builders. It can take a close reading of Computer Shopper to find DVD-ROM PCs, and it is doubtful every vendor claiming to offer such configurations of PCs with DVD-ROM drives and the ever-present DVDVideo/MPEG-2 subsystems would really be able to ship them, but slowly, surely, DVD-ROM PCs are becoming available. The same ad review exercise undertaken with the November 1997 issue of Computer Shopper found four new PC makers advertising DVD-ROM systems.
Some of the mainstays of PC systems have joined in, including industry leaders like IBM, Compaq, and Toshiba. Among the 18 PC manufacturers EMedia Professional has identified as offering DVD-ROM systems, however, few big names predominate. The direct market companies seeking to gain an early edge include Comtrade, CyberMax, Digitron MicroSolution, Directwave, EDO Micro Technology, Gateway 2000, Micro X, ProGen Systems, Quantex, Racer Computer, Royal Computer, Vektron International, and Zenon Computer, Inc. Though all are taking risks with DVD's continuing title/decoder compatibility problems-not to mention the still minuscule number of DVD-ROM titles available, and mostly through bundles, at thatthe bet these companies are making is likely based on the need...