LCD monitors gain in popularity: IDC

LCD monitors outsold their CRT counterparts for the first time in Australia during the last quarter, according to research from industry analyst IDC.

In its research of the Australian monitor market for the October to December quarter last year, IDC found the overall market grew only slightly, at 0.1 percent.

Michael Sager, an analyst at IDC, said in a statement that the Q4 results were significant because they were an indication about the future of Australia's monitor market. “Despite challenges from LCD panel supply, the overall monitor market CRTs were outsold by the new displays for the first time ever,” Sager said.

Sager argued that the market would continue to be competitive in 2004, “with smaller tenders to be had, decreasing ASVs, and growth from the OEM market”.

For the Q4 period, LCD sales into the channel accounted for 53 percent of branded unit shipments, which was up from the 51.5 percent recorded in Q3 last year. Q4 saw LCDs secure 50.6 percent of unit shipments in the total monitor market, which IDC said signified the movement of the Australian market towards this form factor.

In the branded LCD market, Samsung held 20.9 percent share, followed by LG with 12 percent share, and BenQ came in third with 11.6 percent share. For branded CRT monitors, LG held 23.2 percent share, with Philips second with 17.2 percent share and Samsung in third place with 14.9 percent.