Analyst Predicts Slow Growth for Blu-ray in the PC

According to a report issued by analyst firm iSuppli Corp., Blu-ray drives in PCs will only hit 16.3% penetration by 2013, up from 3.6% in 2009. The main reasons given for such a slow growth are the cost and scarcity of content, and the domination of DVD writers as the prime storage medium for computers.

“BDs won't be replacing DVDs as the primary optical drive in PC systems through at least the year 2013,” said Michael Yang, senior analyst for storage and mobile memory at iSuppli. “They eventually will find success, but during the next five years, that success will be limited in the PC segment.”

The company said that new PC storage media usually finds success only after content becomes readily available and when consumers understand its value. Yang added that the better picture and sound quality offered by Blu-ray “may have little or no value when viewing the content on a smaller desktop or laptop PC screen and using poor speakers.”

However, iSuppli didn't consider the gain in convenience a BD drive offers, by allowing the consumer to play the BD movies he owns on his desktop or laptop. Of course, he or she won't take advantage of the better picture or sound, but unless the studio bundles a DVD or digital copy with the Blu-ray, a BD drive is the only legal solution to play one's BD collection on the PC.