As the amount of digital content available to the consumer and the desire to store it continues to increase, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of devices integrating hard disk drives, reports In-Stat/MDR. The high-tech market research firm finds that because a growing number of consumers are interested in storing video content, the choice of magnetic hard drive storage over other formats continues to make the most sense. This year, In-Stat/MDR estimates that consumer electronics with integrated hard drives will represent about 7% of the total hard drive market, which is nearly double that of 2002. The market is forecasted to grow from 9.3 million units in 2002 to about 16.7 million units this year.

"As the PC market, which represents the bulk of hard drive shipments, has matured, there has been an increased emphasis by storage manufacturers to address, and even formulate, specific strategies to address the consumer electronics (CE) market," says Cindy Wolf, an Industry Analyst with In-Stat/MDR. The number of consumer CE devices with integrated hard drives includes a variety of products in the audio and video segments. The most notable products in the CE segment, at this time, include the PVR, DVD recorder, video game console, and portable digital audio player markets. However, according to Wolf, "There are a number of emerging markets which will also represent significant opportunities for storage providers in the coming years, including PDAs/Handheld PCs, portable A/V players, televisions, and digital camcorders."

In-Stat/MDR has also found that:

• This market is forecasted to have a 56.7% compound annual growth rate over the 2002-2007 period, with the highest growth (79.2%) expected this year.
• The CE market utilizes 3.5-inch, 2.5-inch, 1.8-inch and 1-inch drives. The 3.5 inch drives will continue to be the most popular because they are the most inexpensive and have the highest capacities. In 2002, this size drive was integrated into 92% of CE devices with integrated hard drives.
• This year has seen an increase in interest in PVRs from both consumers and box manufacturers. Satellite set top boxes with integrated hard disk drives will continue to make up the bulk of PVR unit shipments, although the Cable set top box-based PVR shipments have risen from 83,000 in 2002 to nearly 800,000 this year.
• Over the forecasted period, the video game console segment will remain the largest product segment for CE devices with integrated hard drives. However, DVD players and recorders (especially recorders) with integrated hard drives are growing very quickly for being such as nascent market, growing over 200% this year.

The report, "Hard Disk Drives For Consumer Electronics: Digital Entertainment Devices Drive Demand for Storage", examines the integration of hard disk drive-based storage in consumer electronics products. It offers worldwide unit shipment and revenue forecasts for the following segments of consumer electronics with integrated hard drives: PVRs, DVD players/Recorders, video game consoles, portable digital audio players, and digital audio jukeboxes. Additionally, it examines emerging product segments, specifically highlighting PDAs/handhelds, portable A/V players, televisions, digital camcorders and mobile phones. The forecast summary consolidates shipments for the entire market and compares drive sizes and regional shipments, as well as trends and issues affecting the market.

In-Stat/MDR offers a broad range of information resources and analytical assets to technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals, and market specialists worldwide. The company stands alone in its ability to integrate both supply-side and demand-side research methodologies into a single comprehensive view of technology markets and products. This capability relies on a unique ability to cover the entire value chain from engineering-level technology, through equipment, infrastructure, services and end-users.