Adaptec to launch VideOh! DVD

Adaptec is getting into the video/DVD cards market with the launch of its VideOh!DVD for the home and SOHO market
here. The product will be available in both the internal and external variants. Unlike the internal product,
which is a PC/MCI card, the external product will be a self-contained unit with its own power supply.

The VCD creator will feature USB 1.1 connectivity while the DVD will feature USB 2.0. The company is looking at
expanding its channel network to ensure the product is easily available across the country. "We are also exploring
the options of tying up with retail chains across the country," says David Noah Nair, Country Manager, Indian Sub Continent, Adaptec
(India). Since the product is targeted at existing PC users, the option of tying with the
consumer durable channel was also not ruled out.

The company is looking at reaching out the home market through the distribution of evaluation units. "We want the customers
to get a hang of the product," adds Nair. Also on the agenda are a series of roadshows in the
first quarter of the new year. "We see a potentially huge market exist for this product here in India," says Nair, hinting that the company shall leave
no stone unturned to capture the same. The company is looking at clocking anywhere between US$ 70,000 to 80,000 per quarter
from the product.

The company has also trained its distributors and is looking at the product to help demystify Adaptec as being a tech-heavy
company. "The distributors have committed manpower to selling Adaptec products," says Nair. The company
is also looking at a distributor to take the product to other countries of the Indian sub-continent.

MOHIT CHHABRA