Q1. What are the key differences between Sony's and Bacro's strategies as far as their product roll out is concerned prior to Aug 1989 in the projector market (that is, you need to compare and contrast the chronological order and the scan rate/prices/other features of the models that both players introduced in the market prior to Aug 1989)? Why is it that both players were playing such different strategies prior to Aug 1989?
Barco started producing projection systems in 1981 and Sony entered industrial projection in 1985. From Barco's point of view, the industrial projection market was divided into three segments based on scan rate ? video (scan rate 16 kHz), data (scan rate upto 45 kHz) and graphics (scan rate over 64 kHz). Before August 1989, Sony was only into data and video projectors. Sony's projectors were inferior to Barco's and were, on average, 15% lower in price. They were expected to produce better data projectors by late 1989 and the first ever graphics projector in late 1990. This is how they both rolled out products in each segment.
Video projector
Barco entered the market in 1981 with its first launch ? a video projector, BV1 with scan rate 16 kHz and price 450K Bfr. In 1984, for broader compatibility they upgraded to BV2 with scan rate 16-18 kHz and price 395K Bfr. Sony entered the market in 1985 with a video projector, 1020, which was slower than Barco's video projectors at that time but had a better quality tube. In 1988, Barco produced a new video projector, BV600 with scan rate 16 kHz and price 350K Bfr.
Data projector
By 1983 end, Barco introduced first computer-compatible projector ? a data projector, BD1 with scan rate 18 kHz and price 540K Bfr. In 1984, for broader compatibility they upgraded to BD2 with scan ra ...