Can disks overtake discs in Japan's portable audio player market?
Apple Computer Inc.'s immensely popular iPod mini music player will finally hit local store shelves today. Not to be outdone, Japanese electronics manufacturers are rolling out their own products equipped with large-capacity hard disk drives.
Together, the companies are determined to crack the market dominated by Mini Disc (MD) and compact disc (CD) players.
MD players accounted for an overwhelming 59 percent of Japan's portable audio player market in 2003, according to researcher GfK Marketing Services Japan Ltd., which tracks unit sales at mass electronics retailers. Larger CD players followed with a 29-percent share.
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